If you have a dog, consider these kits
I don’t have a dog, so I didn’t try these DNA test kits home for dogs, but these are the kits specifically for dogs of Basepows AND Wisdom panelThe two companies that I tested for my cats.
How does a DNA test kit work?
DNA PET tests are based on pet owners who collect cells for tests through a bacon swab, in which the sample is put in a stabilizing or preserved fluid for transport. You will send the sample to the laboratory in the prepaid envelope. It takes up to five weeks to get results. (The first time I sent my basil for cats Basepows Example, the company sent an e-mail that the results were inconclusive and I had to wait for another kit to be sent, reiterate and wait another five weeks for the results.)
In the laboratory, the sample is analyzed compared to the corporate genetic health and health database. They use Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Array – The standard technology used to identify the ancestors of the breed, as well as various hereditary traits and risk of common diseases. In essence, several breeds have distinct SNP schemes in their genomes, which act as genetic markers. These tests analyze the DNA sample of the animal for specific SNPs and therefore compare with the company’s existing database to estimate the composition of the types of breed in the animal. This not only tells you about the composition of the breed, but can also identify the specific DNA sequences that are markers for potential health risks, as predispositions to hereditary diseases or tumors.
However, do not take the results of health or DNA as absolute truth. “This can lead to a false sense of security or false alarms,” says the veterinarian Amanda Chambers. Send the results to the vet and always follow the programming of a visit to the vet if your pet is marked as a carrier for any genetic disease.
LIGHTS OF DNA TEST KITS AT HOME
After chatting with Jamie Richardson, head of veterinary medicine at Small Door Veterinary, I discovered that these are the main limits of limits with DNA test kits at home:
- The results depend on the dimension/diversity of the genetic database
- Most of the Kit Tests know only markers: not the complete genomes
- Feline data are less developed
- The incorrect interpretation of the results can lead to unnecessary concerns
How accurate is DNA test at home?
Wisdom panel The results of the race for cats are accurate of over 98 % and that dog tests are accurate by over 99 %.
I outlined the results below, so you can see the disparity in the results of the two kits that I tested, in particular with the ancestors of the breed.
A problem with the vast disparity in the results is that the two companies have dimensions and metrics of different samples to identify the breeds. But the biggest problem for cat owners who take these DNA tests at home is that you cannot really identify most of the races of cats in the way you can with dogs. Unless your cat is race around 95 percent of cats Do not belong to a recognized breed. The genetic wallpapers of cats are confused: they are only similar mixes with different physical characteristics, so the tests show only the breeds with which they share the greatest number of markers. Basically, these cats for cats are unable to tell us reliably on the composition of the breed, only similarity with the traits of other breeds in the company’s data pool.
From my research, it seems that the part of identification of the breed of these tests is more accurate for dogs, such as DNA of the dog It is much more diversified. The breeds were clearly defined after centuries of diversification by other breeds e DNA of the dog It changes quickly, with genes that change quickly after a few generations. Cats are not very different from their Egyptian ancestors.
It is interesting to note, in This report from the CBS In 2023, the organization of news sent DNA to dogs and humans to various tests at home and obtained various results, ranging from 65 to only 29 % of the German shepherd DNA for the dog. The results of the human DNA were attributed to a bulldog, the collie edge and mix of cane corso.
TL; dr
There is no way to determine the makeup or genetic ancest of a pet. Humans like categories. And the races are essentially built human, based on the appearance of the dog or cat. The genetic part of the test is fun, but take it with a grain of salt, especially with cats.
Results of the ancestors
If you read above, you know that there is a significant disparity in the results based on the pool with which the sample is compared.
For example, below are the results I got for my clover of cats, which is a Calico diluted with long white fur and visually it seems more a coon of the Maine or a Norwegian forest cat.
(I also tested my gray cat basil Run-Of-The-Mill, but it was almost entirely “American domestic cat” and “Polycat/home shorthair”, based on the final boss of Mutt, following many generations of mixed breeders between different types of cats, where accidents and origin are almost impossible to determine.)
Health results
Wisdom panel Test for 49 predispositions on genetic health by comparing the animal DNA with a group of genetic health checks for cats or dogs. Check for the first five genetic conditions that could affect the animal’s veterinary visits, essentially, the most common conditions that are seen in cats or dogs with a breed makeup similar to your pet. These are for things such as drug sensitivity, immune and bleeding disorders. They also identified the cat’s blood group (both my cats were a) and the risk of transfusion (both were moderate).
Basepows Test for a maximum of 115 health markers, but my cat has received results for only 44 genetic diseases (the owners are encouraged to control the results often in the event that the missing markers are added as they become more data available). This list seemed more in -depth the test of the wisdom panel, testing genes for markers against disorders in musculoskeletal and connective tissue; eyes; Metabolic, autoimmune and endocrine systems; blood; And more. Both my cats, clover and basil, have been authorized to have any of the genes that mark them as potential carriers of genetic diseases. He also identified the blood group and the risk of transfusion, which were a moderate (the same results I obtained with the test of the wisdom panel).
If your pet is marked for one of these results, do not panic. “The presence of a certain gene does not always mean that a patient will develop a certain disorder associated with that gene: it only means that they are at greater risk.
Oral health results
Wisdom panel It is not projected for oral health, which is a big problem in many pets and can lead to the extraction of the biggest teeth and health problems.
Oral health was a concern for me and Basepows Oral health test by testing an oral microbioma database. In this regard, Basepows wins.
According to the basepows results, the clover was low risk for periodontal disease AND Risoring of the teethbut at high risk of halitosis. The report states that halitosis could be indicative of a wider health problem, but was freed for the disease, so I was not sure what to do with such information.
For kind concession of Molly Higgins
The other cat of mine, Basil, was at high risk for all dental markers mentioned above and Basepows has devised a health plan for him: “Adopt a daily oral health care routine, consider integrating the Basil routine with the products accepted by the veterinary Oral Health Council and set an appointment with your vet in the next month.”
For kind concession of Molly Higgins
Although I was alarmed for the results, I liked what basepows it gave me the next recommended steps so that they could find an action plan for care. And it is important to remember that these results do not necessarily mean that a PET is guaranteed to develop the disease.
“These can be a useful flag for the vet to keep an eye on […] But at that moment it does not necessarily mean aggressive tests, “says Richardson.” DNA tests are tools to support – not to replace – veterinary care “.
Results of the traits
Both tests had this section, which tests for the stretches and variants of the color of the cloak, but I found it mostly useless. The statements of the wisdom panel of the physical traits of both cats were correct. But with Basepows, the clover, a diluted calico, was marked as a probable black color.
I can see with my eyes how my cats are, but if you are a genetic nerd, this could be fun to see what the royal DNA reflects.
A note on allergic test kits at home
I recently tested both my cats for their allergies and intolerances using a similar home test kit, 5strands Pet Food & Environment Inlelerance Test for $ 100. For this, you just have to send a fur sample by post to a laboratory; The results were sent to my mailbox within seven days. The report showed that both my cats showed strong intolerances to the common ingredients in their diet, such as various types of fish and chicken meal. This sent me to panic for health and (dis) comfort of my cats.
After more searches, I learned that hair/fur samples It is not an accurate way to measure allergies And intolerances and studies show that the kits that claim to provide these results do not get better than the case and often produce inconsistent or false results.
“There is no scientific tests to support allergic tests through hair, fur or saliva,” says Richardson. “The supervised elimination diets for veterinary veterinary to test food allergies and intact skin tests or blood tests to test the environmental allergies remain the Gold Standard.”
So, save your money and instead consult a veterinarian if you suspect that your pet is suffering from allergies or intolerances.
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