Why is it good to test for genetic screening in dogs and cats

Genetic screening is a method that uses DNA analysis to detect the presence of mutations. These can be associated with health problems, adverse reactions to treatment, or, conversely, useful information for breeding and prevention. The screening contains 298 markers specific for different dog breeds or 98 markers specific for cat breeds. The markers include causal mutations of hereditary diseases, linkage mutations of hereditary diseases and markers of appearance traits. Genetic screening brings a number of advantages both for the animals themselves and for breeders and owners.

Early diagnosis, disease prevention, personalized veterinary care

Many genetic disorders only become apparent in adulthood or even old age. Genetic screening allows us to detect risks even before the first symptoms appear. This allows the veterinarian to tailor care to the individual – setting up appropriate prevention, recommending a specific diet or lifestyle modification, monitoring health status and preventing complications. Some genetic mutations can also affect the animal's response to treatment or anaesthesia. Testing can provide veterinarians with valuable information for selecting safe and effective medications or setting up a vaccination, surgery, or long-term therapy schedule.

Responsible breeding and a healthy population

In many breed clubs, genetic testing is already part of the mandatory standards. By identifying carriers of undesirable mutations, breeding pairs can be responsibly selected, or breeding conditions can be appropriately set to reduce the risk of the birth of sick puppies or kittens, prevent the accumulation of hereditary diseases in the entire population, and at the same time maintain the genetic diversity of the breed.

For many breeds, there are genetic tests for specific mutations that are specific to the breed. Screening, on the other hand, covers a wide range of mutations, including those that are not yet typical for the breed. Genetic screening is therefore of great importance, not only for breeds for which specific tests do not yet exist.

Some mutations arose long before the division into individual breeds, and therefore they can appear even in races in which we would not expect them. In the history of breeding, hidden mutations have also spread during the crossing of breeds, which only became apparent when phenotypic traits were strengthened by inbreeding. Seemingly unrelated breeds can therefore carry the same mutation, and we can detect it thanks to screening.

Conclusion

Comprehensive screening provides a more comprehensive and safer picture than targeted testing alone. It is a practical tool that combines prevention, responsible breeding and targeted veterinary care. For breeds with a higher number of mutations, screening provides a comprehensive overview at a more affordable price, and for crossbreeds it is even the only way to get a real overview of health risks.

Whole genome sequencing

Whole genome sequencing represents the most advanced level of genetic testing. It is a method in which the entire genetic code of an individual, i.e. the whole DNA – the so-called genome – is read. This provides the most detailed and comprehensive overview of what is written in your pet's DNA – not only in terms of appearance and character, but above all in terms of health.

The main value of the test lies in its comprehensiveness and the long-term usability of the data. The test can detect not only known mutations associated with diseases or predispositions to them, but also variants that have not been studied in detail yet. The stored data can then serve as a database of information and can be reanalysed according to the latest scientific findings.

The immediate benefit of whole-genome sequencing for owners is the detection of abnormalities that would remain hidden by conventional genetic testing. While genetic testing focuses on one specific mutation and genetic screening on dozens to hundreds of the most common mutations in different breeds, whole genome sequencing reads all genes of an individual (roughly 20-25 thousand in dogs). This makes it possible to detect breed-nonspecific mutations, completely new genetic variants, and rare diseases.

Knowledge of the complete genome allows veterinarians to tailor care to specific individuals: set up appropriate prevention, recommend a specific diet or lifestyle adjustment, regularly monitor health, and prevent complications.

Whole genome sequencing now makes a fundamental contribution to scientific research. It enables the creation of extensive genetic databases that serve to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying both hereditary and acquired diseases. By comparing the genomes of large numbers of individuals, scientists can uncover new links between genetic variants and health manifestations and discover previously unknown mutations and risk factors. The results of these studies thus contribute not only to improving the care of our pets, but also to advancing veterinary and human medicine.

Whole genome sequencing is the future of diagnostics and breeding strategies. It is currently used primarily for the individual diagnosis of rare diseases. In the future, we can expect a significant expansion of this approach for routine diagnostics, determining the breeding value of individuals, predicting performance and quality.