Best Dog DNA Kits (Review) in 2021
- 1 Embark Dog DNA Kit
- 2 Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Kit
- 3 Wisdom Panel 3.0 Dog DNA Kit
- 4 Embark Dog DNA Kit
- 5 Wisdom Panel 3.0 Dog DNA Kit
- 6 Dna My Dog Dog DNA Kit
- 7 Find My Pet Dog DNA Kit
- 8 Embark | Dog DNA Test Kit
- 9 Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Kit
- 10 Wisdom Panel 3.0 Canine Dog DNA Kit
- 11 ORIVET Dog DNA Test Kit
DNA kit brands vary in the size their breed and disease databases, so selecting the right kit is extremely important. Best Dog DNA kits in 2021 help you understand your adopted friend’s background to help inform both pet parents and veterinarians of breed-related health risks and behavioral challenges related to your dog’s individual genetic makeup. If your dog is a mix of many, many breeds, the kits may struggle to identify all of your dog’s make-up, but will be able to determine dominant breeds and genetic characteristics of your dog.
Best Dog DNA Kit
Embark Dog DNA Kit
– Expert Choice
In addition to the 250 breeds, this tests for traces of wolf, coyote, and village dog. It also traces your dog’s lineage back to great grandparents. The comprehensive genetic testing is really what wins us over. With testing for degenerative myelopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and glaucoma, you are able to get prepared for common adult-onset genetic diseases. The only con is that this is the most expensive kit on the market.
We at DogGear agree this is the best dog DNA test kit. Embark screens for over 165 genetic conditions and their database includes over 250 dog breeds.
Wisdom Panel Dog DNA Kit
– Contender
Though is unclear how many breeds are in the database, the official Ancestry Report provides valuable insights about your dog, behaviors, breed, and potential height and weight. One downfall is that it only tests for MDR-1, instead of a more comprehensive disease screening.
With testing for MDR-1 gene, adult weight projections, and breed insights, this kit is very effective.
Wisdom Panel 3.0 Dog DNA Kit
– Bargain
This test provides nutrition guidance and a long term health roadmap for your dog. With one of the largest and most complete breed databases, the test provides critical insights in under two weeks. It does lack the comprehensive disease testing compared to Embark. We are excited to test Wisdom Panel 4.0 when it becomes available on Amazon.
With a 250+ breed database, Wisdom Panel is affordable and easy to use. Wisdom Panel tests for life saving drug sensitivity (MDR-1) and provides a 3 generation family tree.
Embark Dog DNA Kit
– Most Scientific
Co-developed with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine
Downloadable result out in 2-4 weeks
Free shipping and return shipping
This brand worked with academic experts to make its kit capable of testing more than 350 dog breeds and over 175 genetic ailments. This includes multidrug resistance mutation 1 (MDR1), glaucoma, platelet disorder, muscular dystrophy, and polycystic kidney disease, among others. A veterinarian will contact you if the test shows any bothersome results.
Best Dog DNA Kits Buying Guide
What to look for in a test
Breed is typically an indicator of general temperament and health of a dog. For example, German Shepherds are more prone to hip issues and degenerative myelopathy than other breeds. Dog DNA tests are new to many people, but are becoming more and more common as pet parents strive to deliver the best possible lives for their dogs.
HOW IT WORKS
Just like in the movies and TV shows, you will receive a real lab kit to harvest the sample, store it, transport it and finally receive the results. It starts with swabbing the inside of your pup’s mouth with the provided swap to get a saliva sample, placing it in the test tube, sealing it, and mailing it off. Wait two to four weeks for the test to deliver you the results.
WHAT IS DNA TESTING
Deoxyribonucleic acid is the transporter of genetic information in all living things. DNA is composed of adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. These are called bases. To put it in perspective, dogs have approximately three billion of these bases. Of the 2.8 billion bases, only a few hundred to a million are unique to your dog. So, all dogs share about 99.967% to 99.9999970% of the same DNA. Your test is designed to sort out that small percentage that is different and that makes your dog unique, special, cute, silly, drooly, a barker, etc. There are three types of DNA tests: Y Chromosome tests, mitochondrial DNA tests, and autosomal DNA tests. Y chromosome tests are only for men, while mitochondrial can only determine DNA from the mother’s side. Autosomal DNA tests are the most complete and are the type we review and recommend above.
That was probably more than you wanted to know about DNA. So the big question is, what do you really learn about your dog?
BREED TYPE
We recommend the tests with the largest breed databases. The American Kennel Club recognizes over 350 breeds. Some of our tests capture the majority of those breeds, plus coyote and wolf. They don’t get more complete than that. Be advised, some of the lower cost and lower value options only test 50 to 85 breeds. If you are paying for this test once, it is probably best to cover as many as possible.
WELLNESS
We recommend looking for tests with robust health screening. If you can find out what potential health conditions your pup is predisposed to suffer from, you can make conscious decisions now to mitigate those effects through behavioral changes, supplements, therapy, and discussions with your vet.
The most complete test analyzes your dog’s DNA for over 150 health conditions, while the most basic ones are looking for the multi-drug resistance-1 (MDR-1) genetic marker. MDR-1 is a dangerous condition and it is important to know if your has this genetic marker, but the more expensive kits are looking for a more complete makeup of potential diseases. Others analyze hormone levels, vitamin and minerals levels, and allergies.
After two to six weeks of processing, depending on the manufacturer, the test results will be finalized.
Overall, Embark leads the way when it comes to overall wellness testing and the number of breeds tested. At DogGear, we hope you learn valuable information about your dog that leads to a longer and more satisfying life together!
