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How Genetic Testing Promotes Healthier Dogs

By June 13, 2024No Comments

In the realm of canine care, purposeful dog breeding has become increasingly vital for ensuring healthier generations of dogs. Genetic testing is at the forefront of this approach, providing dog breeders and pet owners with essential insights into a dog’s genetic code. 

Ultimately, by using DNA testing panels, dog breeders and pet parents can make informed decisions that promote the health and longevity of our canine companions. Here is a breakdown of genetic testing and how it promotes healthier dogs from the team at GenSol Diagnostics, offering fully customizable breed-specific panels for breeders. 

The Importance of Genetic Testing in Dog Breeding

Unfortunately, health problems in dogs, such as vision, neurological, or metabolic disorders, can significantly impact a dog’s quality of life. Thankfully, by identifying carriers of these genetic disorders, breeders can avoid breeding two carriers together, reducing the likelihood of a disease continuing into a new generation. 

That’s why genetic testing has revolutionized the world of dog breeding– it allows breeders and pet parents to identify potential genetic disorders before they can affect a dog’s health. These tests, easily done in the form of a cheek swab, analyze a dog’s DNA for specific markers associated with hereditary conditions, promoting healthier breeding. Furthermore, the scientific research behind genetic testing has grown at an incredible rate, which has led to breed-specific DNA test panels that can cover many of the conditions for most breeds. 

How Dog Genetic Testing Panels Work

DNA testing panels offered by genetic testing companies like GenSol Diagnostics are comprehensive tools that screen for multiple genetic conditions using a single cheek swab. As mentioned above, once a cheek swab is completed, it is then analyzed in a lab where state-of-the-art techniques are used to examine a dog’s genetic makeup. 

Essentially, instead of testing for multiple tests with multiple swabs, panels can detect numerous genetic conditions and traits (including those related to coat color) with a single swab. Using genetic test results can then empower dog breeders to make strategic health and breeding decisions.

Benefits of Genetic Testing for Dog Breeders

Here are a few of the main benefits genetic testing can offer to any dog breeder:

  • Improved Health Outcomes: By identifying genetic predispositions to diseases, breeders can select breeding pairs that are less likely to pass on harmful genes, leading to healthier puppies. 
  • Enhanced Breed Standards: With the detailed genetic information provided by dog DNA testing, breeders can work towards refining and enhancing specific breed standards.
  • Predictable Traits: Genetic testing can predict various physical and behavioral traits in puppies, such as coat color, aiding breeders in meeting breed standards or even owner preferences.

GenSol – Fast, Accurate, and Affordable Genetic Testing Panels

In conclusion, incorporating genetic testing into a dog breeding “workflow” is an essential task for any breeder looking to promote healthier breeding. Ultimately, by understanding and utilizing the insights provided by DNA testing panels, breeders can promote healthier and happier canine populations that benefit pet owners and dog breeds for years to come. 

Here at GenSol, we pride ourselves in offering fully customizable breed-specific dog DNA panels that are fast, accurate, and affordable. Looking to know the genetic traits of your dogs? Create your custom dog DNA panel today!