If you have a pet, you likely want to know absolutely everything you can about them. Unfortunately, that’s not always an easy thing to find out, particularly if you have a rescue. You can always ask your dog, of course, but somehow the mystery seems to remain. It’s honestly a little strange to think about the fact that they’re part of our families, yet we are often in the dark on such things like their ancestry, history, genetic predispositions, etc. Luckily, dog DNA tests have been on the rise and are getting increasingly more detailed and more accurate with each passing year. Here are some of the things you might be curious to learn about your pet and how a DNA test might just be the way to go about it.
Breed
For those of you with mixed-breed dogs, it’s always a big question as to what kind of dog you actually have. You might be asked regularly by curious strangers or you might need to list their breeds for something like travel or housing, but whatever the reason, it's definitely a useful thing to know. At some point, you’ve likely researched it, asked your vet, etc. but there’s really no substitute for unquestionably knowing what breed or breeds your dog is. Knowing the specifics is not only extremely useful for vets to use for potential diagnoses, there are many additional characteristics that align with specific breeds, which might be extremely useful for things like training or rewarding your pet.
Having a breakdown of your pet’s breed composition gives you an abundance of information about their physical traits. Things like the type of coat they're likely to have and how you can best care for it, whether or not they’re prone to things like shedding, overheating, snoring, etc. are just a few of the many details that are hidden in their genetics. Of course, it’s not only physical traits that can be identified. Certain breeds were bred for specific behaviors as well, and with a DNA test confirmation, you can use this knowledge to help provide a more attuned lifestyle for your pup. Questions ranging from how much exercise they should be getting to what is their preferred method of motivation can all be traced back to breeding.
Health
Another huge advantage to pet DNA tests is their ability to share pertinent health information about your precious fur-babies. In addition to verifying common breed conditions (like allergies, asthma, etc.), the information gleaned from your pet’s DNA can indicate other potential health risks as well, such as genetic disorders and certain predispositions. Of course, as this technology is still advancing, everything must be taken with a grain of salt (susceptibility does not necessarily mean inevitability), but it can still be a very useful tool in the early detection of some prevalent canine illnesses, particularly those associated with specific mutant genes.
Additionally, newer DNA tests also offer features like “age tests” and “relative matches”. With your dog’s DNA there are definitive methods that allow for a fairly accurate age evaluation of your furry little friend, which, of course, is also quite a valuable piece of information to have when making decisions about their health, diet, etc. If your pet has had puppies or was part of a litter themselves, they might also be able to reunite with their relatives, so long as owners on all sides perform the same tests and agree to be in the company’s database. Can you imagine how adorable a long-lost dog-family reunion would be?
Additional Benefits
There are other benefits to these tests as well, one of which is being a part of the funding efforts for further pet DNA research and testing. Genetic testing takes a lot of time and money (whether it’s for humans or animals), and if we want to extend the most cutting-edge research to include aspects that might help our canine companions, we have to put our money where our mouths are, so to say. The higher the demand for products like these, the more research and development will go into them. It’s one small way we can do our part to ensure that there are resources and methodologies in place to potentially save someone’s beloved pet.
And finally, another amazing bonus with pet DNA tests is that they are simply a fun way to learn more about one of your best friends. You get to spend some quality time with your pup, which is likely their favorite part, so make your guesses, get the whole family involved, and find out whatever you can about your furry friend while you can!
