If you own a dog, you might be wondering exactly what breed your pet is. Unless you own a dog, who has been bred, then chances are you might not have any idea which breed the parents are. Fortunately, dog parents can now have their pet’s DNA tested to see exactly which breed, or mix of breeds, their dog is.

Are dog DNA kits accurate?

The big question is “are these DNA kits accurate?” According to some animal researchers, the answer is no. Many experts say that dog DNA test results should be taken with a grain of salt. The lack of standardized testing on the part of the plethora of companies offering this type of testing means that each company tests for different things, giving mixed results.

“It’s hard to know how accurate they are,” says Lisa Moses, a veterinarian and a researcher with Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics. “Different test companies use different methodologies as far as we know.”

Angela Hughes, a veterinary geneticist with Mars Petcare, one of the companies that offer such DNA kits, says that the internal studies conducted by her company shows that the Mars Petcare DNA kits have a 93 percent accuracy when it comes to identifying mixed-breed animals.

Losing control of your pet’s information

Another downside to having your dog’s DNA tested is what happens to that information once it is out there. Just like with DNA testing for humans, companies might give your dog’s DNA information to a third party.

“Once you have given away your dog’s DNA and some company has the results, you may not have control over what happens to that information,” she says. There could be issues with prejudices and actual discrimination against certain breeds of dogs that might impact things like people’s housing and their ability to get insurance, says Moses. “So, you may want to think twice about doing a test for that reason.”

Finding out genetic risk factors

And while dog parents can use such testing to try and find about some of the genetic risks their dogs face, the tests are not that accurate, according to Moses. The FDA does not regulate them, so it leaves consumers open to be taken advantage of by unscrupulous companies selling tests with results that do not amount to much of anything.

“I want pet owners and veterinarians to understand that they should not be using direct-to-consumer dog DNA testing to make medical decisions about individual animals,” Moses says. She further argues the fact that there are no industry-wide standards for testing, adding, “Manufacturers are not obligated to tell us what methodologies they use — what quality control they use.”

The best way to take care of your dog

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Relying on potentially inaccurate information can create more problems than it solves. Pet owners should keep that in mind when having their dog’s DNA tested, realizing that just because a DNA test suggests a vulnerability to a disease, does not necessarily mean your dog will get it.

Your best bet is to talk to your veterinarian if you have concerns about the health of your dog. The vet has the best chance of diagnosing any potential problems early and putting in place treatment options that can quickly get your dog on the road to recovery.

Source: NPR