What Kind of Dog Do I Have?
DNA Test Kit Cheek Swab Reveals Genetic Heredity for Mixed Breeds
Nov 5, 2009
Wisdom Panel Insights, the new DNA test kit for determining dog genetics was made available in the Fall of 2009 by Mars Veterinary, makers of the Wisdom Panel MX. The Insights kit is cheaper and more convenient than their blood based MX test, as the sample is obtained through a cheek swab done by the owner at home and eliminates a visit to the veterinarian for blood drawing.
How the Wisdom Panel Insights DNA Kit Works
The owner simply swipes the inside of the dog’s cheek with the swab provided in the kit, mails it back in the postage paid package and gets a report of the dog’s ancestry within three weeks. The Wisdom Panel Insights is capable of detecting 170 breeds in determining a dog’s heritage. Blood samples drawn for the Wisdom Panel MX have less chance of contamination than a cheek swab but detect only 157 breeds.
Dog DNA Tests Aid in Health and Training
Dog owners who want to know everything about their dog, including why he digs so much or why he has certain chronic health problems, can find valuable information through DNA testing. Knowing the breeds that make up a dog can aid in understanding the behavior of that dog and in tailoring an individualized training program for him.
Understanding a dog’s heredity can also be beneficial in developing an optimal nutrition program and sometimes aid in the diagnosis and choice of treatment of some diseases.
Scientific Advancements in Dog DNA Testing
Although dog DNA test kits are not without drawbacks, Mars Veterinary claims their tests are the most complete and comprehensive products on the market. Their development involved nearly ten years of extensive research and analysis of more than 19 million DNA markers from more than 13,000 dogs.
Mars is currently developing yet another DNA test called the Wisdom Panel Professional which will be available only through veterinarians and detect more than 200 breeds, types and varieties with unprecedented accuracy on a blood sample. It will also screen for 14 breed-related diseases and let new puppy owners know the adult weight range their puppy will grow up to be.
Why Dog Owners Buy Dog DNA Test Kits
Each mixed breed dog is unique and one of a kind. Most owners are curious what kind of dog they have. Although DNA testing offers insight as to why Max has wiry hair or floppy ears, it’s about more than curiosity. DNA testing is about better understanding the dog in order to provide better care and enjoy a stronger human/pet bond.
As the Wisdom Panel website says, “The smarter you are about your dog’s past, the smarter you can be about his future.”
Readers may interested to know how DNA testing revealed the true identity of a south Texas chupacabra or perhaps how mixed breeds can also be show dogs just like purebreds.
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