DNA Testing
Learn More About Your Dog’s Health and Breed
Bigger Road offers the Royal Canin Genetic Health Analysis DNA test for dogs.
In addition to showing three generations of your dog’s lineage, the Genetic Health Analysis provides you and us with detailed information about genetic markers that predispose your pet to certain illnesses.
Genetic Health Analysis is more accurate and provides more useful health information than cheek swab-based tests that you can purchase over the counter.
Read on for more information about dog DNA testing, and the Genetic Health Analysis. call or contact us online anytime to set up an appointment. You pay only for the cost of the test!
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens once my dog’s blood sample is received?
Once the lab receives your dog’s blood sample, it undergoes extensive analysis. Royal Canin’s proprietary algorithm involves more than 7 million comparisons against more than 250 different breeds and over 320 genetic markers. Once the analysis is completed, two reports are generated: a general overview of the results for you, and a more detailed, medically-focused report for your veterinarian. Once you receive the reports, schedule a consultation with us to review the report.
What is the difference between a blood-based breed identification test and over-the-counter swab DNA tests for dogs?
As opposed to over-the-counter DNA tests for dogs, ROYAL CANIN® Genetic Health Analysis™ is sold exclusively through veterinary clinics. While both types of tests give information about breed mix and optimal weight predictions, the blood test gives additional information about health conditions that the dog may be pre-disposed to as well as nutritional guidelines based on the dog’s breed mix.
Where can I go to check my status?
Royal Canin reports your dog’s results to us. Please call or contact us online to check your pet’s status. Once a completed report is generated, you will receive an email notification and a link to view your reports. Please keep in mind that tests may take up to 3 weeks from the time a sample is sent to the laboratory to generate results.
How long will the analysis take?
It will take approximately two to three weeks from the time the sample is received at the lab to process the dog’s blood sample and send the reports.
Why does Bigger Road receive a different report than I do?
ROYAL CANIN® Genetic Health Analysis™ tests for a predisposition to various health conditions. This information is highly technical and can be interpreted best by a medical professional. If there were any health conditions flagged, we will have detailed information about the results, and resources for further testing. If the results raise any concerns, we can identify these and discuss them with you.
What if my dog carries a genetic marker that indicates a possible disease? Should I be worried?
Remember, a predisposition is not a diagnosis of a disease. ROYAL CANIN® Genetic Health Analysis™ does not diagnose the presence of any disease but only shows whether or not a dog’s genetic code indicates increased risk of a disease. The health indicator alert is different for every individual dog and disease condition. If a predisposition is found, we can discuss with you whether to perform further diagnostic testing.
How do I know the results are accurate?
All breed determinations are made by Royal Canin’s proprietary computer algorithm, that performs more than 7 million calculations of each tested dog’s DNA. The algorithm scans over 320 genetic markers that have been collected and looks for matches to breed signatures, then provides a marker-by-marker certainty score for each breed match.
Royal Canin constantly validates their testing for accuracy. This includes repeated testing of a dog’s blood sample and review by independent third party specialists, geneticists and leading authorities on canine genetics. In each stage of DNA testing, the ROYAL CANIN® Genetic Health Analysis™ is run at Geneseek, a USDA-accredited laboratory, to ensure proper quality control.
I retested my dog and the results are different, why is that?
Royal Canin is constantly making upgrades and updates to their algorithm, as well as their reference database of purebred dogs. If a family line was not previously well represented, the algorithm would not be able to detect it. Also, improvements in sample quality can cause results to vary.
Can these results be used to register a dog with the AKC?
No, the results of this test are meant for your general knowledge and to aid a consultation with your veterinarian, results cannot be used to register a dog with the AKC.
What happens if I test a dog from a breed not in the database?
With over 250 breeds, types and varieties in our database, we would expect the algorithm would be looking at related breeds within that database and that the final tree would include closely related breeds.
The results claim that my dog’s family tree may include a breed that is banned by certain residential communities, should I be worried?
Genetic Health Analysis is not intended to be used by regulatory or animal control officials to determine whether a particular breed is legislated or banned in a particular community. Nor is Genetic Health Analysis intended to be used in any judicial proceedings.
I don’t understand the the results, who can I contact?
We offer the best dog breed DNA testing in the Dayton area. Please call or contact us online to discuss the results of your dog’s DNA test.
Schedule an Appointment
Schedule an appointment for a pet DNA test in Kettering or Springboro, OH!
