Animal Genetics offers a variety of canine genetic testing services.  Coat color and length testing allows breeders to anticipate the phenotypes of potential offspring, maximizing the potential to produce the most favorable coat types.  Also, many canine genetic disorders are recessive, meaning that a dog can be a carrier of a potentially devastating disease and not show any signs.  DNA testing helps breeders to ensure the health of a litter by screening for genetic disorders.  Genetic testing is an extremely accurate and reliable way of determining a dog’s genotype and screening for possible genetic disorders.

The agouti gene controls distribution of black pigment, so in the case where a dog is homozygous for the “non-agouti” alleles (aa), black pigment is evenly distributed throughout the coat of the dog. The A^y allele is responsible for the phenotype known as “fawn” or “sable” in some breeds of dogs. This allele is recessive, so two copies of this allele must be present in order for the dog to express the “fawn” color in his coat.

Dogs can produce two types of pigment responsible for coat color, eumelanin, which is a black pigment, and phaeomelanin, which is a yellow pigment. A mutation in the Extension gene is responsible for the production of phaeomelanin in the coat of the dog, and is expressed in dogs with the “ee” genotype. This color is usually a yellow or apricot color, however, in some breeds, can be expressed as red.

The B locus determines whether a dog’s base coat color will be black or brown. The brown phenotype can also be referred to as chocolate, liver, or in some cases, red.

A mutation on the MLPH gene causes the dilute coat colors seen in some breeds of dogs. The dilution gene is responsible for the “blue” color often seen in many breeds. This mutation also affects brown pigment, causing the color to be much lighter. Brown dogs with the dilution gene can be referred to as “Isabella.

The Dominant Black gene controls the expression of the agouti gene in some breeds of dogs. Some dogs, such as Labrador Retrievers, are fixed for the dominant K^B allele, meaning that they do not express agouti and are “self-colored.” Other breeds, such as pugs, have other alleles at the K locus, such as k^br, meaning they will be brindle, or k^y, meaning they can express agouti. The k^br allele is dominant to the k^y allele, so a dog must have two copies of the k^y allele to express agouti patterns, such as the “fawn” coat color.

A recessive mutation in the FGF5 gene causes some breeds to have long hair, rather than the dominant short hair condition. This can be seen in a variety of breeds, such as Dachshunds, German Shepherds, and Collies.

Centronuclear Myopathy (CNM) is a recessive disease that affects Labrador Retrievers. This disease usually begins affecting the dog as a puppy, and causes an awkward gait and a general intolerance of exercise. Muscle atrophy usually increases with age. This is a recessive disease, so carriers of CNM are clinically normal, and are indistinguishable from dogs who do not carry this disease.

Canine Cystinuria (CY) is an autosomal recessive disorder that affects a dog's ability to filter cystine out of urine. Normally, tubules in the kidney are responsible for reabsorption of cystine, filtering it out of the urine. However, in dogs with Canine Cystinuria, the tubules are unable to transport the cystine, allowing it to accumulate in the urine. Cystine is generally insoluble in the acidic conditions of canine urine, allowing it to crystallize and form caliculi, also known as stones.

Cone-Rod Dystrophy (cord1-PRA) is a form of PRA that occurs in English Springer Spaniels, Miniature Long-Haired Dachshunds, and Smooth-Haired Dachshunds. This mutation causes the rods and cones of the retina to degenerate and cause blindness in dogs suffering from this recessive disorder.

Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC) is a disorder that affects Labrador Retrivers, as well as Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and Curly-Coated Retrievers. After short periods of moderate to extreme exercise, dogs suffering from EIC can experience episodes of muscle weakness and muscle collapse. The symptoms are primarily in the hind legs of the dog, however, the dog can also experience of collapse of the front limbs also. The dog usually recover from these episodes within 5-25 minutes from onset of the episode.

Fucosidosis is a lysosomal disease, in which a dog lacks an enzyme responsible for the breakdown of polysaccharides in the cell. Clinically, the disease presents with neurological deterioration, often accompanied by behavioral changes such as aggression, depression, or forgetting previously learned behaviors. Fucosidosis has been detected in show and field lines of English Springer Spaniels.

Cataracts are a clouding of lens of the eye caused by a breakdown of tissue in the eye. This generally results in an inability to see clearly, and can cause total blindness. In canines, cataracts are often familial; this type is known as Hereditary Cataracts. A mutation in the HSF4 gene causes this type of cataracts in several breeds of dogs.

A mutation in the Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR) gene causes sensitivity to ivermectin, loperamide, as well as some other related drugs. Dogs with this mutation lack a protein that transports chemicals out of the brain, leading to a toxic buildup causing neurological symptoms. The mutation responsible for this disorder has been found in a variety of breeds, and is most prevalent among Australian Shepherds, Collies, Whippets, and Silken Windhounds.

This test detects Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL) in English Setters. This disorders causes certain chemicals to accumulate in lysosomes, and leads to neurological symptoms in affected dogs. Dogs with NCL typically have worsening symptoms as they progress in age.

Phosphofructokinase (PFKD) is an enzyme that functions in the metabolic breakdown of glucose. Dogs suffering from PFK deficiency lack proper levels of this enzyme, resulting in cells that are not capable of converting sugar into usable energy. This is primarily seen in the muscle and blood cells, and causes exercise-intolerance and persistent anemia. This disease affects English Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels.