Where does Rosie get her short dainty legs from? How about that big barrel chest? Why does she love digging holes in the backyard? Those are just a few of the questions we had when we decided to do a little sleuthing into Rosie's ancestors.
A dog's ancestry can not only influence behavior and appearance, but also it's health. We wanted to make sure we could give Rosie the best life we could. These days we do genetic testing on our human babies to ensure they are as healthy as possible, why not on our fur babies?
We believed that knowing Rosie's specific breed information could be a huge help when it came to her proper nutrition, training and overall healthcare.
So we turned to the Wisdom Panel for some DNA insights. The Wisdom Panel tests for more than 190 dog breeds (the largest database currently on the market)
As I noted in Ignorance Meant Bliss - Rosie and her Wisdom Panel DNA Results, we're still laughing about Rosie's DNA. She also gained a new nickname: our little Akita. Laughing because the shelter claimed Rosie was a black Golden Retriever. Nope.
Rosie is 12.5% Akita, 12.5% Labrador Retriever, 12.5% Smooth Fox Terrier. The other 62.5% is made up of other dog breeds which most likely are: Dogue de Bordeaux, Belgian Tervuren, French Bulldog, Basset Hound, and Shetland Sheepdog.
I'd have to say the big "ah ha" here were the Smooth Fox Terrier, French Bulldog and Basset Hound dog breeds present. Reading these dog breed profiles actually told us quite a bit about our girl. Enough that when the next mixed breed dog joins our family we'll be doing a Wisdom Panel for him or her.
Mars Veterinary, the industry leader in canine genetic testing, just released their next evolution of the canine DNA test—Wisdom Panel® 3.0— which not only expands the breed screening coverage, but the medical applications as well with the new MDR1 Genetic Mutation screening.
Why is the MDR1 screening important? Dogs with the MDR1-mutation may have severe adverse reactions to some common drugs, so it is important to test mixed-breed (and purebreds with the high-propensity breeds) dogs and for owners to share results with their veterinarian so they can provide the dog with the best possible care. For more information on breeds and drugs affected by the MDR1 mutation, visit Wisdom Panel's MDRI screening page.
The canine DNA test is so simple to use it can even be performed at home. Swab your dog's gum line for 15 seconds then send your test in to the lab for quick results. You'll get the results a few weeks later. To make things even easier for you, the cost of shipping in your swab is included in the price of the kit. Kits can be purchased 24/7 at Wisdom Panel's site.
When you send in your swab, your dog's DNA information is checked against a growing database of DNA information (over 10,000 samples). The Wisdom Panel test now covers over 250 breeds (including mixes), in addition to some medical screenings.
For testimonials and inspirational stories on how Wisdom Panel has helped dogs just like yours, watch the following video about Rocco who was previously tested:
Want to get the kit at a discounted price? Visit one of the events below. Stop by to get your kit at a discounted rate ($49.99, regularly $84.99), or even have Wisdom Panel test your dog on site for a discounted rate ($39.99).
Wisdom Panel will be visiting several cities throughout 2015 including:
- GoPro Mountain Games - Vail, CO
- Amazing Pet Expo - Austin, TX
- Mars Pet Adoption Fair - Franklin, TN
- Amazing Pet Expo Holiday - Los Angeles, CA
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0. We are being compensated for helping spread the word about the Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test Kit, but Talking Dogs only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Mars Veterinary is not responsible for the content of this article.
If I had a dog that wasn't a purebred I would give this a try.
ReplyDeleteThis is so interesting. I should get a DNA test for my mixed breed puppy. Everyone is always trying to guess her breed(s).
ReplyDeleteSo fun to find out what your dog is. We had quite a laugh over Rita's results as well. I'm glad they've added the MDR1 test. They didn't have that when we tested Rita (although she'd already been tested for it at the vet because of the Rx she needed for her mange when we first got her!).
ReplyDeleteFun post! We have had some clients do the wisdom panel and it is so much fun to see what they come back as.
ReplyDeleteSo funny! Of course the shelters are just going on appearance or whatever the owners said. Or maybe someone thought "black golden retriever" would give Rosie a better chance of being adopted. Thank you for the info about the testing.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to do these tests on my dogs, but never have the extra $. I do remember Little Akita though, that did bring me a lot of enjoyment. :-)
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