A recent study — the largest ever of its kind — looked at 100,000 dogs and found that genetic testing can predict if an individual dog is at risk for developing certain genetically linked diseases.
The study, published in PLOS Genetics in April, showed that both mixed-breed dogs and purebred dogs potentially could develop many of the same inherited diseases, although mixed breeds were more likely to be carriers of the disease, and purebreds were more likely to be affected.
According to the study authors, approximately two in five dogs carried the genes for at least one of the screened-for diseases.
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Jackie Brown is a freelance writer from Southern California who specializes in the pet industry. Reach her at jackiebrownwriter.wordpress.com.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!
