**This conversation is Sponsored by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel® 3.0. All opinions are my own.**
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I have a dog named Bud that came into my life in a most usual way. I attended a crawfish boil and he was there. When I saw this oh so cute but a little ugly mutt, I had to take my 5 week old fur ball home. 11 years later, he is, by far, the best dog I have ever had. He is sweet, protective, loving and a true family member. Over the years people have asked me what his breed is. Clearly a mix of so many things, I can only guess his real heritage. Until now, though, I figured I would never know for sure. But then I heard about Wisdom Panel® 3.0. Wisdom Panel® allows us to test our dogs DNA and to get a good idea of heritage. This can be a really beneficial thing for those of us with dogs who are a mystery to us! In fact, as Bud ages and shows signs of slowing down, I would love to know the diseases he might be susceptible to with his breed mix. Understanding the breeds that make up Bud enables much more targeted care and in some cases provides lifesaving information.
Mars Veterinary, the industry leader in canine genetic testing, is launching their next evolution of the canine DNA test—Wisdom Panel® 3.0— and is not only expanding the breed screening coverage, but the medical applications as well with the new MDR1 Genetic Mutation screening. Though I will always talk to my vet before making any decisions on what I may learn about Bud, I certainly am interested in knowing more about his possible diseases that he could be susceptible to!
But even I want to understand more about my two pure breed dogs. I have two Beagles that I rescued and though Beagles have a long and certain lineage, these two may have more to tell me with their swab. First of all, it can help me in developing a nutrition plan for breed-specific needs and/or achieving/maintaining healthy weight. As anyone who has a Beagle knows, they are prone to heaviness. So using their swab and info to choose the perfect balance of nutrition can be very helpful. In addition, with wild man #OneEyedJack, it can help me develop a training program that works with their natural instincts and a better understanding their behavior characteristics. I can look up online all day long facts about Beagles. But learned about my two specific dogs would be more fun!
In fact, the swab covers 250+ breeds, types and varieties including all those recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and can be run for mixed-breed, designer, or purebred dogs. You can find out how big your puppy will end up being. You can learn if your dog absorbs a certain medication better than others and so much more! The test can be done at home and consists of two swabs that you rub between the gum and the cheek for 15 seconds to collect skin cells for DNA extraction. Results take approximately 2-3 weeks from the time the test reaches the lab. So you will know more about your dog in a matter of weeks than you ever thought possible!
Visit www.WisdomPanel.com for more information and to purchase a kit. Right now, there are some events coming to a town near you where you can get a kit, get a swab and learn even more! Check out the dates below:
• For all events that allow dogs, consumers can swab onsite at event for a discounted price of $39.99. For those wanting to take home a kit, they can be purchased for the discounted price of $49.99 (MSRP $84.99).
• Wisdom Panel will be at the following events to share more information about Wisdom Panel® 3.0 and educate on the benefits of Canine DNA testing:
August 1-2: Amazing Pet Expo in Austin, TX – swabbing
TBD October: Mars Pet Adoption Fair in Franklin, TN – swabbing
TBD December: Amazing Pet Expo Holiday in Los Angeles, CA – swabbing
I can not wait to order a kit and learn all about my Bud! I think it can not only satisfy some curiosities but it can help me care for him better now that he is a senior dog as well!
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This is so cool! We adopted a mixed breed dog from our local humane society and would love to know more about her background. I wish one of the stops would come close to us but I still may check it out online. Thanks for sharing.