Keeping a pet dog, especially that of a purebred kind, requires a lot of maintenance and care. You will want to know as much as possible as you can about this dog. If you ware one of those hardcore dog enthusiasts, you may even be quite interesting in finding more about your canine companion’s family history. While it is quite impossible to sit down with your dog and start interviewing him, you may be able to glean a lot of information with a sample of DNA from your dog’s own blood samples. This is mostly used in cases where the owner wants to find out as much as he can about his pet.
- DNA provides the blueprint for the entire organism. What is contained in the DNA allows the body to know what traits to express and which traits have to be wiped out in future generations. Through DNA testing, pet owners are now capable of actually finding about the pet’s temperaments, quality, and even rodents. These are used in cases of contested parentage of the puppies. DNA can also help determine the temperament of your dog, as well as identify any possible congenital and inborn defects in bone structure, metabolism, behavior, etc.
- As with all mammals, DNA from your furry canine companion comes in a diploid manner. In layman’s terms, this simply means that one half of the chromosomal DNA comes from the mother (contributed by the egg cells from the maternal ovaries) and the other, homologous half, comes from the father (contributed in turn by the sperm cells from the testes of the mother). DNA testing can demonstrate both maternal and paternal DNA, but lineage can be better tested through the maternal mitochondrial DNA, which is passed on unchanged from the mother to all her progeny.
- You can start by ordering a ready to use kit online. There are several shops that can ship these DNA testing kits to your house. All it takes is a quick Google search for DNA testing kits for dogs to get you started. Normally, these testing kits are found within a price range of anywhere between $100 to up to $200. This is, of course, exclusive of any additional charges or professional fees your vet may decide to charge for the interpretation of the results.
- You will have to draw a blood sample from your pet in order to get enough DNA for the test. Unless you are experienced handling blood extraction, it is best you leave this step to your vet. They need at least 1mL of blood for a sufficient sample, however, it is best to get at least 2mL in order to be sure. After extraction, this blood sample should be placed inside the special anticoagulant tube. This tube must be turned upside down several times for mixing, in order to prevent clotting.
- Follow the instructions on the packaging regarding the sending to the laboratory for analysis. Your results will come out within a few days to months, depending on the speed and efficiency of the laboratory you send it to.
You may have to wait for several days, so just keep checking your email
and voice mail for alerts regarding the results of the DNA test. Always
make sure you leave a contact number that can easily be reached in case
results do come out.