How do Dog DNA Tests Estimate Age?
The answer is by looking at the length of your dog’s telomeres. Telomeres are a protective “cap” at the end of your chromosomes that protect them from damage.
As you age and your body experiences more stress, your telomeres shorten down to a point where they can no longer protect your chromosomes. This is when you start to experience health issues such as heart disease, cancer, and dementia.
Telomere length is also how labs estimate dog age through DNA testing. By looking at the length of your dog’s telomeres, they can tell how old they are relative to other dogs at the same genetic level in the database. This is called the “Dog Aging Score.”
What is a Canine Genetic Age Test?
A canine dog DNA and age test is a non-invasive DNA test that uses your pet’s DNA to determine their “genetic age.” The dog DNA and age test analyzes hundreds of markers in your pet’s genome and compares them to thousands of other dogs of the same breed.
A dog DNA and age test shows how old your dog is on a biological level. A blood sample can tell you if your dog is aging faster or slower than expected for their breed and size. This information can influence decisions about their diet, exercise regimen, and health care needs.
But how does the Test work?
Genetic Age testing for dogs measures the length of a dog’s telomeres, the protective caps at the end of each chromosome that are known to shorten with age. The telomere length is processed through the Canine Genetic Age database and matched with thousands of similar dogs in order to identify the dog’s age at a genetic level. The test does not stop there, it also analyses the dog’s genetic makeup and uses its extensive genetic database of certified dog breeds to discover all the breeds found in the dog’s DNA. Why don’t you take a look at the list of breeds tested?
Human Tries Dog DNA Test
Did you adopt your best furry friend from a shelter? While that’s obviously amazing, it can be hard to give them their best life when you don’t know how old they are or anything about their genetic background.
The DNA My Dog NextGen: Canine Breed Identification PLUS Genetic Age Test can answer all of those questions for you, and it’s currently $69.99 down from $99, which is a 30-percent discount. The test, designed for dogs at least a year old, requires a simple at-home cheek swab, which takes less than two minutes to pull off. From there, you can send it in and expect your results back within just two weeks with a 99.97-percent accuracy.
The best part about this test is that it will tell you how old your pup is biologically, which can help you determine lots of things about how to care for them — including what food and activities would be best. Finding out your furry BFF’s biological age will also help you learn about your dog’s predicted longevity, which is especially great if you adopted a pet that was bit older.
The test also shows all of the breeds in your dog’s background. This is insightful because you can learn more about why they’ve developed certain habits. It can also help you better understand what health concerns may arise as they continue to age. This specific part of the test will also show you what personality traits are common to the breeds found in your dog, and this will aid you in choosing learning and playing styles that will benefit them the most.
The kit comes with a pack of sterile swabs, a specimen envelope for your sample, a return envelope and a set of instructions that will tell you exactly how you should go about collecting the sample and returning it to the lab. You’ll also get a custom photo certificate of the dog breeds found in your pup’s genetic breakdown.
Normally $99, DNA My Dog NextGen: Canine Breed Identification PLUS Genetic Age Test is currently on sale for $69.99.