Your clients’ pets are unique, and their genetic signature may hold the key to hidden healthcare indicators. Information gained from genetic testing can have a big impact on their life. It’s unfortunate that many canine and feline breeds are prone to certain diseases due to their genetic makeup. With an underlying genetic disease, an animal’s health span can begin deteriorating long before it would otherwise. For many pets, this can mean having to cease doing the things that they love to do.
Veterinarians can extend the health span of the animals entrusted to their care by testing for genetic disorders that occur later in life. By knowing what to look for, you and your client can begin treatment immediately. By participating in genetic testing, owners and their pets can benefit from the newest and most advanced technologies while also contributing to the advancement of new scientific discoveries every day.
As certain breeds are prone to genetic diseases and numerous other inherited health ailments, knowing these potential risks from the beginning and working with your clients to keep a watchful eye out for them can not only save an animal’s life, but ensure their quality of life as well. Moreover, knowing the genetic status of an inherited condition will help breeders make prudent decisions in gradually reducing the incidence of this condition in a breed.
What We Offer
The Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health now offers a series of diagnostic genetic tests for the purpose of identifying an animal’s risk of developing inherited conditions. We provide fast, affordable, high-quality genetic testing and interpretive services. More information about our available genetic testing, including currently available tests, can be found in our online test catalog.
Additional tests, including tests for felines, will be added in the coming months.
When to Consider Genetic Testing
Carrier Testing
Many of these inherited disorders are recessive, meaning that a dog can be a carrier of a potentially devastating disease and not show any signs. DNA testing helps breeders improve the health of a litter by screening for genetic disorders.
Drug toxicity testing
This genetic testing will help determine whether the animal is susceptible to particular drug toxicity (multidrug sensitivity testing).
Diagnostic testing
If the animal has symptoms of a disease that may be caused by genetic alterations, genetic testing can reveal if he or she has the suspected disorder. An example of a disorder for which genetic testing may be used to confirm a diagnosis is polycystic kidney disease.
Pre-symptomatic and predictive testing
If the animal has a history of a familial genetic condition, undergoing genetic testing before having symptoms may show if the animal is at risk of developing that condition (such as degenerative myelopathy and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy).
For more information, read DCPAH's 2016 winter newsletter.