This post is sponsored by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0. All opinions are 100% my own and may differ from yours. I will only endorse companies, products and services that I believe, based on my own experiences, are worthy of endorsement. I think dog DNA testing can be an important resource for mixed breed dog owners.
I’ve been owned by several dogs in my life, some purebreds some mutts, and have loved them all equally. I’ve never known a dog I didn’t like, really. As I type this our fur baby, Baxter, a male Shih Tzu, is lying at my feet. He is the sweetest little doggie and a huge part of our family.
We know he is a Shih Tzu because we got him from a private breeder who provided us with all his papers. Plus he is AKC registered, but we’ve had mutts before and always wondered what breeds they were a mix of… like our Roscoe.
Roscoe came with our house. What I mean by that is, when we bought our home the owners couldn’t take him and asked us if we would keep him. Well, this was already his home and we couldn’t imagine uprooting him from the only home he knew and from the only humans he knew at the same time. Roscoe proved to be great company for our Basset Hound, Aries.
We were never quite sure what breeds Roscoe was a mix of, but always wanted to know. Sadly, Roscoe passed away a few years ago, so we will never know what breeds made up his lineage. If we had done a canine DNA test, who knows, he may have had a few more years with us because we would know better how to take care of him.
Knowing a dog’s ancestry provides an owner with critical health information since certain breeds of dogs have certain medical issues that can be specific to certain breeds. There are millions of mixed-breed dog owners in the U.S., and having access to reliable breed ancestry information can be critical for not only their mutt’s nutrition, but for training and the overall healthcare of their furry family member.
I think it’s important to understand the breeds that make up our dogs so we can take care better care of them and in some cases it can provide lifesaving information with dog DNA testing.
Dog DNA Testing
Thanks to Mars Veterinary, the industry leader in canine genetic testing, for launching their next evolution in dog DNA testing, Wisdom Panel® 3.0, and is not only expanding the breed screening coverage, but the medical applications as well with the new MDR1 Genetic Mutation screening.
What is MDR1?
MDR1 or Multi-Drug Resistance 1 is a genetic mutation found in some herding and sighthound breeds, as well as many mixed-breed dogs. The MDR1 gene is responsible for production of a protein called P-glycoprotein. The P-glycoprotein molecule is a drug transport pump that plays an important role in limiting drug absorption and distribution (particularly to the brain) and enhancing the excretion/elimination of many drugs used in dogs. For more information on breeds and drugs affected by the MDR1 mutation, visit www.wisdompanel.com/MDR1_Disease_Screening.
According to Mars Veterinary, the benefits of DNA testing include…
- MDR1 mutation testing for drug sensitivity.
- The ability to develop a training program that works with their natural instincts (breeds) and a better understanding their behavior characteristics.
- Developing a nutrition plan for breed-specific needs and/or achieving/maintaining healthy weight.
- Assists in determining what the adult size of your dog might be.
- Understanding the breeds within your dog, in order to lookout for any breed-specific health concerns or common issues.
About Wisdom Panel:
- Covers 250+ breeds, types and varieties including all those recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and can be run for mixed-breed, designer, or purebred dogs.
- Provides ancestry information back to the great-grandparent level, MDR1 Genetic Mutation screening results, and a predicted weight profile.
- Can be done at home and consists of two swabs that the owner rubs between the gum and the cheek for 15 seconds to collect skin cells for DNA extraction.
- Results take approximately 2-3 weeks from the time the test reaches the lab.
- Can be run for mixed-breed, purebred and designer dogs. The owner chooses at the time of kit activation.
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 for the best possible care. For more information on breeds and drugs affected by the MDR1 mutation, visit www.wisdompanel.com/MDR1_Disease_Screening.
Wisdom Panel® 3.0 Canine DNA Test Kit includes:
- Instructions
- DNA cheek swabs – all for use on one dog
- Drying insert for swabs
- Pre-paid return shipping box
Visit www.WisdomPanel.com to learn more about how dog DNA testing works and to purchase a kit.
On December 5th Wisdom Panel will be at the Holiday Pet Festival in Scottsdale, AZ, where they will be swabbing and sharing more information about Wisdom Panel® 3.0 and to educate on the benefits of Canine DNA testing. For more information about this event, go to http://holidaypetfestival.com/. If you live in or near Scottsdale, consumers can swab onsite at the event for a discounted price of $39.99. For those wanting to take home a kit, they can be purchased for the discounted price of $49.99 (MSRP $84.99).
To keep up-to-date on events and product discounts, connect with Wisdom Panel on:
- Facebook: facebook.com/DoggieDNA
- Twitter: @WisdomPanel
- Instagram: @WisdomPanel
- Pinterest: @WisdomPanel
I am sure that at some point we will adopt a shelter dog and if he/she is a mixed-breed, and I know all too well what wonderful dogs mutts can be, it’s nice to know that I can purchase a Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine DNA Test.
This is really interesting.
Very interesting. I would love to have my pup tested and see what we find out.
this is cool! i would love to know what breeds my dog is
This is actually a good idea.
I find this interesting. Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to checking out more of your blog!
Good article, and Baxter is too precious! Thanks for sharing
Interesting. Never considered this an option until I read your post. Thanks for sharing it.
I’d love to have my dog tested–we think he is part German Shepard, but no clue what the rest of him is!
This would be awesome if you weren’t quite sure what all your dog was!
this is very cool and interesting dont have a dog but i find it very interesting
Very cool! This is awesome! Thanks for sharing!
This is really great information and to tell the truth I didn’t really know most of this.It was an excellent post to read.
If a dog is DNA tested and the results show that it has a hereditary gene that will cause health problems what if the owners decide to put the dog to sleep because they don’t want any vet bills? I’m sorry, I don’t like it.
I’d do this in a heartbeat! I love our babies and I would want to know as much as I could about them. Good or bad they are stuck with me for the long haul. I wonder if they would do cats too? This is so interesting.
It’s interesting but they need to quit breeding dogs and get the ones available at the shelters adopted. They still kill these animals in a metal gas box. It is a terrible thing and dogs that live in puppy mills are stuck in a cage until they can no longer bread. Never knowing love and kindness.
I’ve never thought about doing this before.