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Mars Veterinary, which specializes in pet care and canine genetic breed identification, has developed a 3-in-1 do-it-yourself dog DNA test that allows owners to identify the breeds that make up their mixed-breed dog.
The Wisdom Panel 2.0 from Mars Veterinary tests for more than 200 dog breeds and varieties, including all American Kennel Club registered breeds. Pet owners can use a cheek swab to collect DNA and mail back the sample in a pre-paid package. The test results help answer questions about their dog's appearance, behaviors, wellness needs and more.
Gastrointestinal problems are one of the top 10 reasons pet owners take their
dogs to a veterinarian, according to a recent report.
With so many petfood options
in the retail setting, it's often difficult for owners to discern which petfood
to purchase, especially when advice may be coming from those without a
veterinary background, said Davinne Glenn, DVM, co-owner of Veterinary Center of
Liberty in Missouri, USA. It's important for owners to know about the role of pet food in Gastrointestinal health and for
veterinarians to educate owners.
Some Gastrointestinal conditions include:
- Pancreatitis -- can be acute or chronic and is often the result of a
high-fat intake
- Hyperlipidemia -- can be an issue in certain dog breeds and can also be
secondary to diseases such as pancreatitis
- Malabsorption syndromes -- influenced by food intake
- Protein-losing enteropathy -- rare and can be triggered by other
issues
Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (UK) chief executive, Michael Bellingham, recently recommended that dogs should be provided with the correct food formulated specifically for their breed. Certain breeds of dogs are prone to specific health problems, making it important they receive the proper diet, Bellingham said. Additionally, he said, size, energy requirements and health issues should all be considered in selecting a pet's food. According to PFMA, all dogs must have 37 "essential" nutrients in their food.
"We see variation in the nutritional needs of dogs depending on their characteristics," said Bellingham.
Petfood manufacturers offer a range of breed-specific dog foods, including Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier dog food and Eukanuba German Shepherd dog food.
A study recently released by the University of Georgia provides a comprehensive look at the causes of death in more than 80 dog breeds, which can be used as a basis for creating breed-specific petfood diets to manage health.
The study, published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, examined data from the Veterinary Medical Database to determine the cause of death for nearly 75,000 dogs from 82 breeds over a 20-year period, from 1984 through 2004. The deaths were classified by organ system and disease process, then data was further analyzed by breed, age and average body mass.
The study found that toy breeds, such as Chihuahuas and Maltese, which are known to have high rates of cardiovascular disease, had 19% and 21% of deaths within the breeds, respectively. Researchers found that Fox Terriers also have high rates of cardiovascular disease, with 16% of deaths. Two dog breeds that are known for high rates of death from cancer are Golden Retrievers, found to have a 50% death rate, and Boxers, found to have a 44% death rate. However, researchers found that the Bouvier des Flandres actually had a higher death rate from cancer (47%) than the Boxer. One of the study's co-authors, Dr. Kate Creevy, noted that the previously unknown high risk of cancer in the Bouvier, a relatively rare breed, highlights the power of the study's comprehensive approach.
The researchers found that larger breeds are more likely to die of musculoskeletal disease, gastrointestinal disease and, most notably, cancer. Smaller breeds had higher death rates from metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and Cushing’s disease. The findings may be useful in determining breed-specific diets that could reduce the dog's risk of developing disease or certain problems to which the breed is prone.
“If we can anticipate better how things can go wrong for dogs, we can manage their wellness to keep them as healthy as possible,” said Dr. Creevy.
