Lifestyle

Wisdom Panel® DNA Test for Dogs

May 28, 2015COMtnMom

With millions of mixed-breed dog owners in the U.S., having access to reliable breed information can be critical for the nutrition, training and overall healthcare of your four-legged family member. Have you adopted a dog? Understanding the breeds that make up your pet enables much more targeted care and in some cases provides lifesaving information!

Knowing your dog’s genetics can indicate health issues, and it can help you know what health issues to watch for. It can even help you develop an appropriate diet and exercise plan for your dog with its specific breed health concerns in mind.

Mars Veterinary, the industry leader in canine genetic testing, just launched their next evolution of the canine DNA test—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.

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.

How easy it to test? Very! The canine DNA test can be performed at home, and involves swabbing your dog’s gum line for 15 seconds then sending it in to the lab. You’ll get the results a few weeks later. The cost of shipping in your swab is included in the price of the kit, which you can get at Wisdom Panel’s site.

Your dog’s DNA information is checked against a growing database of DNA information (over 10,000 samples) – the more information, the more accurate the results. The Wisdom Panel test now covers over 250 breeds (including mixes), in addition to some medical screenings.

For testimonials and inspirational stories, watch the following videos about Rocco who was previously tested using Wisdom Panel:

Wisdom Panel 3.0 ~ Where to Get One

For a discount on the kit, you can also visit Wisdom Panel at one of the events below – there’s even one here in Colorado! You can get a 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 five (5) cities throughout 2015 including: