Presented by Embark
Adopting our dog Booth from the Washington Animal Rescue league shelter has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. In return for his unconditional love, kisses, and unbelievable amount of white fuzz spread around my house, I’ve spent many hours researching everything from the best ingredients to feed him, to how to keep his coat beautiful…and preferably on him and not my floor.
Like many pet parents, I’ve also spent many hours wondering about his background without getting any good answers. Seriously, where did this giant white ball of fluff get that brown spot? And how did he get such cute ears?
After trying Embark Veterinary’s Dog DNA test with Booth, I finally have the answers. The kit explains Booth’s Booth’s breed and health background, and helped me understand where his herding instincts came from. I am now confident that I’m doing everything I can for his health. Booth’s DNA will even help Embark in its research to end preventable diseases in dogs.
To ensure the best care for your pet, it’s important to know their history. But even the best rescue centers often make educated guesses when it comes to the dog’s breed, age, and health record. In fact, breed identification by shelter personnel and veterinarians has been shown to be extremely unreliable and inconsistent.
Now you can forgo those finicky guessing games that come with rescuing a dog, regardless of their age. Embark dog DNA testing kits provide information your vet can’t even provide.
Consider it like a 23andMe DNA test, but for your dog. Embark sends you a kit, and you supply a swab of your dog’s saliva. Send the kit back in an included pre-paid envelope and the veterinarians and scientists over at Embark do the rest.
Once completed, Embark offers you the most accurate breed identification available, even breaking the DNA down to percentages for your beloved mutt. Other dog DNA tests look at less than 10,000 genetic markers—Embark tests over 200,000. You will not find that accuracy elsewhere.
You receive a family tree, genetic summary, and even a karyogram, a visual description of all of your dog’s chromosomes. Plus, you get a clinical description of your dog’s risk for over 160 genetic conditions and over a dozen traits, based on your dog’s specific genetic risk, not just their breed breakdown.
In our kit, we learned that Booth is a mix of six breeds: German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, Australian Cattle Dog, Boxer, Beagle, and Labrador Retriever. The provided family tree certainly made for some hilarious mental imagery about his past.
Though it’s exciting to finally figure out the genetic makeup of your pup, Embark’s health report is the most crucial part of this kit. For Booth, we found out that he isn’t at risk or considered a carrier for any of the 160+ health conditions he was tested for.
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Over a third of the dogs tested by Embark are at risk for a condition or a veterinary trait tested by Embark. These conditions include heart disease, canine hemophilia, autoimmune diseases, and numerous deficiencies that can lead to the sudden decline of a dog’s health.
With Embark’s test, you’re able to catch the serious stuff before your dog even starts showing symptoms. By taking preventative measures, you’re more likely to have fewer unexpected and expensive trips to the vet.
Embark’s mission is to end preventable disease in dogs, and every dog that tests with them gets them closer. The company’s credibility lies in being a research partner of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The staff works hand-in-hand with top-tier scientists to help you figure out your dog’s genetic portrait while also helping further veterinary medicine. That’s what Booth calls a win-win.
You can order a DNA testing kit for $199 (currently on sale for $179) on Embark’s website, and thank yourself later for saving money in the long run. Your healthy pet will certainly thank you.
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