A Complete Guide To DNA Testing Your Pet: How To Identify The Breed Of Your Dog Through DNA Testing?
DNA also called Deoxyribonucleic acid is a genetic molecule found in every living organism. DNA testing can be helpful to find out the genetic feature and specialties in living beings. It is no more only for human beings. Even you can test the DNA of your dogs and find out their genetic ancestors. DNA can also tell you if your dog is suffering from any genetic disease which may have come in him from his ancestor.
Pet owners who are curious to know their dog’s exact genetic specializations then the DNA testing is the prominent solution to their curiosity. DNA in dogs works the same as DNA in human beings. DNA can help you in understanding any genetic disorder or disease in your dog. DNA tests are very reliable and accurate. They can help you in understanding the hidden features of your pet. DNA testing is a very common practice to understand your dog’s breed and health.
In this guide, we will focus on DNA testing and how it could be helpful for you and your doggo.
Dogs DNA
Just like human beings and other living species, dogs also have DNA. DNA in the dog is found in every part of the cell except the red blood cells. It can state the ancestral cycle of the dogs along with the actual breed and breed specifications. DNA can also describe the diseases which are inherited by the ancestors in your dog. It also provides you the exact size and growth of your dog. DNA can be examined by comparing samples of two or more dogs together.
What is DNA Testing?
DNA testing is one of the easiest methods of finding more about your pets and their ancestors. It may sound a bit weird, but it has been used in pets for more than 20 years. It is simple, reliable, and based on the updated technologies for the best results yet pocket friendly.
The DNA tests reveal a lot more about the bloodline and facts related to your pet’s health. It discloses the unique facts about their genetics. DNA testing is done by comparing the DNA samples of dogs and getting a result in order to examine breed information and disease-related information.
What features of your dog can DNA testing tell?
Breed information: DNA test can reflect if your dog is original or mixed although a dog is a dog whether it is pure or mixed. But for some curious owners who exactly want to know the purity DNA test will help them.
Height and weight: If you are adopting a dog and worried about the size to which it will get then DNA testing can be helpful to know its overall height and weight.
Genetic disorder or disease: Sometimes your dog may suffer from a disease that you cannot notice while adopting him. DNA can also find if your dog is suffering from any disorder from their parents.
Ancestor’s information: DNA acts like a social networking site where people meet with their lost family members. DNA can also help in knowing your dog’s real parents and siblings.
How it can be helpful?
There are several benefits of getting your dog’s DNA reports. DNA can help you in figuring out the purity of your dog and from which family of dogs it belongs. Along with this DNA can also help in understanding your dog’s disease and disorders. Sometimes doctors fail to recognize the cause of a particular disease and fail to operate. Then the most prominent way to encounter a disease is by performing DNA tests and knowing its history.
Along with this, sometimes dogs are allergenic to some particular objects or animals. DNA testing helps in understanding the cause in a better way. DNA tests are reliable sources for knowing your dog’s size and weight.
How to Perform DNA testing in Dogs?
As the term DNA might be sounding difficult and tough to understand, doing the test is vice versa. Once you have made up your mind to do the test of your pet, then you just need to get a test kit and follow these simple steps.
Firstly, you have to buy a DNA test kit and read the instructions leaf carefully. You can get the kit online or in any of the pet chemist store. Next, you have to insert it into your pet’s mouth and dab his mouth so that the saliva cell sample can get collected onto the edge. Carefully pack the cell into a tube and be careful while packing as you need to preserve the sample proactively. The last step is to send it to the company’s or the laboratory’s address and wait for a standard time of around 8 to 10 days to get the results.
Following are the things you must consider while testing the DNA of your dog:
Purpose of testing
If you are a pet parent and want to know from which family your dog belongs to then DNA testing can be a reliable solution to your curiosity. Another purpose of performing a DNA test can be understanding your dog’s actual growth, breed information, and traits that are inherited in him from his ancestors. Sometimes you may adopt a dog that looks fine while looking at him but can carry any genetic disorder or disease. DNA testing helps in knowing the genetic disorders of your pet.
If you are a breeder and prefer to get a breed that is highly pure and can get you pure puppies, then DNA testing is the most accurate and trustworthy way to know the real facts.
How to get good results
If you are performing a DNA test on your dog, then you must be seeking good results. To obtain the good results you need to take care of a few little things. While collecting a sample from your dog, make sure that you are taking the sample correctly to avoid any kinds of mismatches in the result. The sample can be taken from the saliva, dead hairs, and blood, but be very sure about the quantity and quality of the sample.
Another way to get results is by getting a proper reliable DNA test kit. Check the details mentioned on the kit before purchasing. Finally, after getting a kit and performing the test either consult to a good veterinarian or refer to the company from which you are purchasing the kit. They will help you in getting good results out of your testing.
Accuracy of test
Accuracy of the test can depend on several factors like the reliability of the testing kit, collection of samples, and understanding the DNA attributes. Companies claim that DNA testing is 95-99% accurate and can be inaccurate some times. Have you ever wondered how an inaccurate test can change your perspective towards your dog? How it can hide any genetic disorder in your dog.
To get accurate results, consult your dog’s veterinarian, he will rightly guide you. You must know the process of collecting the samples and performing the test to get an accurate result. If you are unaware of testing, then refer to the explanation giving on the kit or refer to a testing expert. To get the most accurate results, you have to use the best samples, as the quality of the sample and the results of the test are interlinked.
Wrap up
We have already discussed above why is it important to go have a DNA test for your dog. A DNA test is performed to know about the unknown facts of your dog. Through this test, you get to know about his bloodline, purity, and genetic disorders of your dog.
DNA testing in puppies is very common nowadays. Every second person is getting this test done for a healthy life of their pets. These tests have a lot of benefits, such as you can detect any internal disease, if any, and get it diagnosed at an early stage only. Another benefit can be you will get to know if your dog is having any allergies by any food. You can also check the purity of your dog.
Hence, if you are curious about your dog’s hidden features, go and get a DNA test done and reveal the unseen attributes of your dog.
