If you have a dog, consider these kits
I don’t have dogs, so I didn’t try the at-home DNA testing kits for these dogs, but these kits are specifically for the Basepaws and Wisdom Panel dogs, two companies I’ve tested for cats.
How does a DNA test suite work?
PET DNA tests rely on pet owners who collect cells to test through a cheek swab where samples are placed in sealed, stable or preserved fluid for transit. You will mail the sample back to the lab in the prepaid envelope. It takes up to five weeks to get results. (The first time I sent a basic sample of cat basil, the company emailed the results and the results were inconclusive, and I had to wait for another kit to be sent, lighten him again, and wait another five weeks to get the results.)
In the laboratory, the company’s variety and genetic health databases were analyzed. They use single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays (standard techniques for identifying reproductive ancestry) as well as a variety of hereditary traits and risks of common diseases. Essentially, different breeds have different SNP patterns in their genomes, which act as genetic markers. These tests analyzed specific SNPs of DNA samples from PET and then compared them with the company’s existing database to estimate the composition of breed types in the animals. This not only tells you what the breeding component is, but also identifies specific DNA sequences that are markers of potential health risks, such as disease or hereditary cancer tendency.
But don’t consider health or DNA test results as absolute truth. “This can lead to a false sense of security or false alarm,” said Veterinarian Amanda Chambers. Forward your results to your veterinarian and always follow up on visits to the veterinarian if your pet is marked as a carrier of any genetic disease.
Limitations of Indoor DNA Test Kits
After chatting with Jamie Richardson, the head of veterinary medicine at the wicket veterinarian, I found these are the main limiting areas of DNA testing kits at home:
- The results depend on the size/diversity of the genetic database
- Most kits only test for known markers, not the complete genome
- Feline animal data development is low
- Misunderstanding results can lead to unnecessary attention
How accurate is DNA testing at home?
The Wisdom Team claims that its cat’s breed results are 98% accurate and that the dog’s tests are 99%.
I’ve outlined the results below, so you can see the difference in the results of the two suites I’ve tested, especially in Breed Ancestry.
One problem with the huge difference in results is that the sample size and metrics of the two companies are used to identify varieties. But the biggest problem with doing these at-home DNA tests on cat owners is that you can’t really identify how most cats breed. Unless your cat is purebred, about 95% of cats are not considered a recognized breed. The cats’ genetic background is confused – they are just similar mixtures with different physical characteristics, so the tests show only the breeds they share with the most markers. Basically, these tests of cats don’t reliably tell us some breed composition, just similar to the characteristics of other breeds in the company’s database.
From my research, the breed identification part of these tests seems to be more accurate for dogs because the diversity of dog DNA is more diverse. After centuries of diversification from other breeds, the breed has been well defined, and dog DNA will soon mutate, and only a few generations later, the genes change rapidly. Cats are not very different from Egyptian ancestors.
Interestingly, in this report from CBS in 2023, news organizations sent dog and human DNA to different home testing companies and achieved various results, ranging from 65% to just 29% of German Shepherd DNA. Human DNA results are attributed to a mixture of bulldogs, border collie and sugar cane corso.
tl; dr
There is no way to determine the genetic makeup or ancestor of a pet. Humans like categories. Depending on the appearance of a dog or cat, the breed is essentially a human structure. The genetic part of the test is interesting, but taken with a grain of salt (especially cats).
The results of ancestors
If you read it above, you will know that there are big differences in pool-based results.
For example, here are the results I got for Cat Clovers, which is a diluted printed cloth with long, white fur that looks most visually like a Maine Coon or Norwegian Forest Cat.
(I also tested the grey cat basil I used regularly, but he was almost entirely “American domestic cat” and “polycat/hirper shorthair”, which is the result of multigenerational hybrid breeding between different types of cats, where ancestors and origins are almost impossible to determine.)
Health results
By comparing pet DNA with a set of cat or dog genetic health checks, the Smart Panel tested 49 genetic health susceptibility. It tests the top five genetic conditions that may affect pet veterinary visits – in fact, this is the most common disease seen in a cat or dog with a dog breed similar to a pet. These are for things like drug sensitivity, immunodeficiency, and bleeding disorders. They also determined the cat’s blood type (my cats are all A) and the risk of transfusion (both moderate).
The bottom wave tests up to 115 health markers, but my cat received only 44 genetic disorders (owners are encouraged to check the results frequently just in case the missing markers are added as more data is available). The list is deeper than the Smart Panel test, testing genes targeting markers of disease in musculoskeletal and connective tissue. Eye metabolism, autoimmune and endocrine systems; blood; and more. Neither of my two cats, clover and basil, labeled them as genes for potential genetic diseases. It also identified blood type and transfusion risk, which was a moderate and moderate (I got the same results in the tests with the Wisdom Group).
Don’t panic if your pet is marked as any of these results. “The existence of a certain gene does not always mean that the patient develops a certain disease associated with the gene, it just means that they are at a higher risk. If the results of a DNA test are received, I would encourage the owner to contact the veterinarian.”
Oral health results
Smart panels do not screen for oral health, which is a huge problem in many pets and can lead to tooth extraction and larger health issues.
Oral health is a concern for me, and Baspers tested oral health by testing against oral microbiome databases. In this regard, Baspers won.
According to the results of Bascos, clover is a low risk of periodontal disease and tooth absorption, but has a high risk of hypertension. The report said bad breath may indicate a bigger health problem, but she was cleared from the disease, so I was not sure what to do with the information.
Courtesy of Molly Higgins
My other cat, Basil, is at high risk for all the above dental markers, and Basepaws has proposed a health plan for him: “Use the daily oral health care routine, consider supplementing Boole’s daily products to products accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Board and schedule an appointment with your veterinarian next month.”
Courtesy of Molly Higgins
Although I was shocked by the results, I like that Basepaws recommended me the next step so that I could come up with a care plan. It is important to remember that these results do not necessarily mean that pets can guarantee the development of the disease.
“These can be a useful banner for your veterinarian […] “But that doesn’t necessarily mean that positive testing was needed at the time,” Richardson said. “DNA testing is a tool that supports (rather than replaces veterinary care).
Characteristic results
Both tests have this section, which tests the color features and variations of the jacket, but I found it mostly useless. The wisdom group’s assertions about the physical characteristics of both cats are correct. However, with Bascos, the sparse printed clover is marked as possibly black.
I can see what my cat(s) looks like with my eyes, but if you are a genetic nerd, it can be fun to see the reflection of the actual DNA.
Notes on the Home Allergy Test Kit
I recently tested allergies and intolerances in both cats using a similar at-home test kit, 5Strands Pet Food and Environmental Intolerance test for $100. To do this, you just need to send the fur sample from the mail to the lab; the results are delivered to my inbox within 7 days. Reports show that both my cats show strong intolerance to common ingredients in their diet, such as various types of fish and chicken powder. This made me panic about the health and (dis) comfort of the cat.
After more research, I learned that hair/fur samples are not the exact method to measure allergies and intolerances, and studies have shown that kits claiming to provide these results are not better than opportunities and often produce inconsistent or wrong results.
“There is no scientific evidence to support allergy testing through hair, fur or saliva,” Richardson said. “Veterinary-supervised elimination diets to test food allergies and DFAN skin or blood tests to test environmental allergies.”
So, if you suspect your pet is suffering from allergies or intolerance, save your money and consult a veterinarian.
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