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New advances in genetic testing now enables dog owners to know their dogs more than fur deep. Embark, a new company working in collaboration with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, provides dog owners a complete genetic profile of their dog, including comprehensive genetic disease testing as well as breed, ancestry, and trait information.

This is the first dog DNA test to provide detailed health information in addition to breed information. To do this, Embark tests over 200,000 genetic markers, painting your dog’s genome, chromosome by chromosome. Previous dog DNA tests have traditionally focused on a breed reveal based on 200 to 2,000 genetic markers–Embark takes this effort to the next level, focusing instead on the critical health insights that can be gleaned from a scientific-grade analysis of your canine companion’s DNA. A breed reveal is included, but it’s followed by a deep dive into the health implications of the breeds makeup of your dog. The test also includes a research component that helps discover new traits and diseases, which Embark can then report to owners using their system.

Included in Embark’s Dog DNA test service is a genetic health report, testing your dog’s DNA for over 160 inherited health conditions. Vet bills can be costly. Americans spend an average of over $400 per dog in veterinary expenses each year, and this amount increases as a dog gets older. The average lifetime cost of vet bills is $9,420.

The Embark DNA test results help you prepare in advance for numerous possible genetic health conditions, allowing you to take preventative steps to avoid costly treatments later on, and reducing the likelihood you’ll face expensive bills for avoidable clinical or genetic tests later on if symptoms of these conditions develop in your dog. By knowing what to look for, dog owners and their vets can begin treatment as early as possible, and, in some cases, save on expensive medical bills later down the line.

A few common conditions Embark’s screening can help detect include: multiple drug sensitivity (MDR1), kidney and bladder stones, progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma, degenerative myopathy or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and gastrointestinal intolerance. Embark are partnering with some of the best academics in the world to push forward on tests for hip dysplasia and cancer, among others.

Embark’s Dog DNA Test and more information are available at embarkvet.com.

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