Until recently it was not extremely common for people to use a DNA kit for dogs. However, with the amount of time that this technology has been available and the compilation of data, it is now extremely affordable to have done. There are a number of reasons that people decide to do this testing. Below you will find just a few of those reasons.
A lot of people like to have this testing done just for the fun of it. The vast majority of dogs are actually a combination of a number of breeds. This is especially true if you got your dog from a shelter or another person that isn’t a breeder. Knowing exactly what breeds your dog is can give you the ability to actually answering correctly when someone asks you the popular question of which breed are they.
Another reason so many people are choosing to learn the DNA make-up of their dogs is the fact that it can tell them a good deal about their future health. While being a certain breed does not mean that they will become sick for sure, it can tell you about their risk level. This can be for a range of health issues as well as physical conditions. For example, some dog breeds have higher rates of congested heart failure or arthritis. Knowing this information can tell you what you need to watch out for as your pet ages so that they can have the highest quality of life possible.
If your dog has a high risk of health issues due to their breed you can then have more extensive tests done. A more specific DNA test can show whether or not your beloved family member has the genes that will increase their chances of disease in the future. Not only will this make you aware of their risk, but it can give you the opportunity to cater their diet, medications and other factors of their life to reduce the chances that this will be the case.
When choosing a DNA kit for dogs you will want to do some research. They all offer different levels of testing and come at a wide variety of costs. The most basic tests will just tell you their breed percentages, while others can identify genetic markers for disease. The best tests come with comprehensive information that then could be shared with your vet. This level of information will help you to work with your vet to create a customized health care plan based on your dog’s specific needs and risks.
Having a DNA test done on your dog has a number of benefits. The biggest one, clearly, is the ability to prepare for potential diseases they may face as they age. Given that your pet is part of your family, it is only natural that you will want to do everything to help increase their life span and quality of life. This tool is great because it can help you to do just that.
