Dog Living A lifestyle magazine for dog lovers
Our dogs don’t wonder where they came from – they’re dogs – but more and more of their owners are discovering how that information can help them provide better pet care. This July 31 is National Mutt Day, and Royal Canin, a global leader in pet health nutrition, is encouraging mixed breed pet owners to discover the secrets of their dog’s DNA through The ROYAL CANIN® Genetic Health Analysis (GHA). What they learn can be used to tailor the pet’s nutrition, predict a puppy’s full grown size, and provide information about possible inherited diseases.
According to the American Humane Association, mixed breed dogs are the most popular type of dog in the United States, comprising 53 percent of the nation’s canine population. Just like their purebred counterparts, mutts can have unique characteristics and pre-disposed health concerns associated with their genetic makeup.
Royal Canin Genetic Health Analysis recently commissioned a survey of U.S. adults that revealed uncertainty about the makeup of mixed breed dogs. Among dog owners, 45 percent do not know the breed makeup of their dog, and 44 percent don’t know what genetic diseases their dog is more susceptible to as a result of its breed ancestry.
GHA is a Royal Canin veterinary product that uses the latest science to scan dogs’ DNA for both ancestry information and specific genetic disease markers, helping to understand breed makeup and risk for many genetic disorders. GHA helps current mixed-breed owners satisfy their curiosity and better the lives of their beloved pets.
Royal Canin GHA can provide behavioral insights and help veterinarians tailor a health and wellness plan based on a dog’s genetic code, which can improve a dog’s overall quality of life. In addition to learning the breed makeup of your dog, GHA can help identify:
- Possible inherited diseases
- Nutritional needs
- Size predictions
“Genetic in veterinary medicine is a rapidly growing field. We have so much more information available to us now that veterinarians and owners can leverage to create an individualized care and wellness plan for each dog’s unique needs,” said Dr. Angela M Hughes DVM PhD, Veterinary Geneticist with Mars Veterinary. “Our dogs deserve the best care, nutrition, and training and with GHA we can give it to them.”
Royal Canin GHA is sold exclusively through veterinary clinics to ensure the most accurate interpretation of the results. The analysis begins by drawing a small, painless blood sample which is mailed to the laboratory. More than 130 genetic mutation tests are conducted on the sample, and the DNA is compared to more than 250 breeds, types and varieties of dogs.
The report sent to the pet owner’s veterinarian includes information on breed types, drug sensitivity and more. These results equip the veterinarian to create a proactive health and wellness plan that suits the dog’s lifestyle and genetic makeup.
To find a veterinarian or learn more, visit https://www.royalcaningha.com.
