Human DNA tests provide plenty of insight on your ancestry. It can tell you where your ancestors came from and how much of your DNA belongs to a certain group. You can also find out if you are at risk for genetic diseases.
Dog and cat genetics work the same way for your pets:
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Dog DNA tests look for genetic markers that identify which dog breeds they had as ancestors. Dog DNA testing can also show you if they have “wild dog” genes.
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Cat DNA tests can identify your cat’s breed. If your pet has wild cats for ancestors, genetic testing will show it in their report.
A pet DNA test also uncovers health risks that your cat or dog may have due to their genetic makeup. Certain dog and cat breeds are more prone to disease. If you know these risks, you can keep them healthy by making necessary changes in their diet and lifestyle.
Besides, DNA testing is a fun way to know more about your pet. In this article, we round up the best cat and dog DNA tests for this year’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale.
Everything We Recommend
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Best Overall DNA Test for Dogs — Embark
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Best Overall DNA Test for Cats — BasePaws
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Best Cat & Dog DNA Tests for Identifying Breed — Wisdom Panel
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Best Pet Intolerance Tests — 5Strands
Embark — Best Overall Dog DNA Test
Embark - The Leader of Dog DNA Testing
Embark gets our recommendation for dog DNA testing because they're an established company, they are the market leader, and provide terrific info for you and your dog.
Embark Veterinary (also known as Embark Vet or Embark) is a canine genetics company based in Boston, Massachusetts. The brand offers different DNA tests for dogs, which can be used by pet parents and breeders.
If you are a pet parent, you can discover your pet’s breed, relatives, ancestry, and health problems. You can also use these tests to understand your dog’s traits.
Dog breeders can use Embark to breed healthy dogs with their preferred physical traits. There are tests that can check for health risks, coat and body traits, inbreeding, and the genetic quality of puppies and adult dogs.
What we like
- Offers different tests for pet parents and dog breeders.
- Testing method can identify more than 200,000 genetic markers.
- Identifies more than 350 dog breeds.
- Checks for over 210 health conditions.
- Provides insight on more than 35 physical traits.
- Gives you the option to connect with guardians of your dog’s relatives.
- Can check for coyote, wolf, and inbred genes.
- Flexible monthly payment is available for dog breeder kits.
What we don’t like
- Dog breeder tests are expensive.
- Comprehensive reports may be too complicated for some.
- Does not accept flexible payment for standard dog breed and health kits.
BasePaws — Best Overall Cat DNA Test
BasePaws
The 23andMe of Cat DNA Testing
Basepaws gets our recommendation for cat DNA testing because they're an established company, they are the market leader, and provide terrific info for you and your cat.
If you want the leading brand in cat DNA testing, look no further. Basepaws offers tests to cat owners who want to learn more about their cats.
Basepaws’ Cat DNA Test can do anything — from breed testing to identifying potential health problems. They also offer unique tests. These include a cat dental health test and whole genome sequencing (WGS).
What we like
- Compares your cat’s DNA with 21 cat breed types and 4 breed regions.
- DNA report highlights top cat breeds that match with your cat.
- The dental health DNA test checks for bacteria that may cause dental problems in cats.
- WGS test provides a detailed report on cat DNA.
- Tests for over 40 health conditions.
- Provides information on over 25 genetic traits.
- Easily share the report with your veterinarian.
- Helps determine if your pet has wild cats for ancestors.
- Offers free lifetime updates on cat breed information.
What we don’t like
- Cannot identify the specific breed of your cat.
- Does not offer a separate test for cat breed and health.
- WGS test is expensive.
- There are no available tests for cat breeders.
Wisdom Panel — Best Dog and Cat Breed DNA Tests
Wisdom Panel - The Best For Breed Information
As the world leader in doggy DNA testing, you can trust that Wisdom Panel will give you useful and accurate results. The DNA testing company’s massive database ensures that they can accurately identify any one of over 350 breeds.
Wisdom Panel is a pet DNA testing service based in Vancounver, Washington. They have various tests for pet owners and breeders. Among these are breed analysis tests.
The company has a large database of dog and cat breeds. It constantly gets updated with new information on local and foreign breeds. Because of this, Wisdom Panel gives you the best chance of learning more about your pet’s breed.
What we like
- Dog DNA test screens for over 350 dog breeds, 35 traits, and 25 health issues.
- Cat DNA test screens for over 70 cat breeds, 25 traits, and 45 health issues.
- Provides a percentage breakdown of pet breed.
- Offers tests that trace the ancestry of your pet for up to several generations.
- Learn more about your pet’s physical traits.
- Breeding kits test purebred cats and dogs, as well as mixed breed cats. These tests are more comprehensive than standard tests. They can check for more than 200 genetic conditions in dogs, and over 40 health problems in cats.
What we don’t like
- Ability to find genetic relatives is still in beta.
- Uploading genetic data can be challenging.
5Strands — Best Pet Intolerance Test
5 strands Pet Intolerance test
Five Strands kit tests for an impressive 300 potential allergens (100 environmental items and 200 food ingredients). The company uses bio-resonance technology to scan pet samples and provides comprehensive, easy-to-understand reports. The results are color-coded; red indicates foods and other substances to avoid, while yellow indicates those you can use with caution.
The company’s name is as unique as its services. 5Strands offers tests that check for intolerances. These include:
- Pet food intolerance
- Raw food intolerance
- Pet environmental intolerance
- Pet treat intolerance test
5Strands also has tests that can assess your pet’s nutritional balance and exposure to toxic metals and minerals.
What we like
- Checks your pet for intolerance to hundreds of items. These include over 275 commercial pet food ingredients, more than 300 animal-sourced raw foods, and up to 150 environmental factors.
- You can buy each test separately or together in bundles.
What we don’t like
- Bioresonance testing method is not scientifically proven.
- Does not check your pet for allergies.
