Bear with me because you’re about to hear a roundabout story…
Back in March, my sister flew out from Hawaii to celebrate our birthdays/my bachelorette weekend. We’re both at that age where gifts are unnecessary, but she surprised me with the best-ever present: a doggy DNA testing kit for Tally!
The product is called Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel and I was psyched. She and her husband purchased one for their pound puppy and she had emailed me the results a few weeks prior. Their little guys — Hercules and Leo — are small mixed-breeds that came from a Hawaiian shelter, and it was so cool to see what breeds they actually were! {Her 20 lb dog has Pitbull in him!}
I was still reveling in the excitement of my gift when Mars Veterinary reached out to me, asking if I wanted to do a sponsored post on their product. I had to laugh at the irony; I was going to write about Tally’s results anyway. Tals is a staple on this site! That said, I want to make sure I’m honest with y’all so you know that I also got paid.
Moving on…
The test sat on my dresser for a month before I rallied. I hate reading instructions and I’m ashamed to admit that it takes me a tad longer to do things when I know I need to read directions first {Yes, I realize that sounds lazy!} When I finally opened the box to the Wisdom Panel, I was even more embarrassed: it was so damn easy!
Each kit comes with a small resealable cardboard box. There are two Q-tip swab-things inside, sealed up in plastic. I took each swab out, rolled it around on the inside of Tally’s cheek {she really loved that, let me tell you!}, let it dry for five minutes, and then resealed them both in the plastic. I stuck the plastic bag back inside the cardboard box with the corresponding labeling information and mailed it to the lab. It took all of five minutes and I felt stupid for putting it off for so long.
The swabs take 2-3 weeks to process in the lab but I finally got my results back last week via email. I once found an image on this site that looked identical to Tally, so I’ve always told people she is a mix between Australian Cattle Dog and Rottweiler. In fact, I was sure of it. But you know what? Not even close!
Turns out Tally is a mix of Labrador Retriever, Siberian Husky and Italian Greyhound!
I never would’ve guessed that combination but now that I know, I’m not surprised. She has always been a runner so the Greyhound is pretty clear. And now that I look at her profile {and her insane love for the snow….and the ridiculous amount of shedding…}, I’m starting to understand the Husky too. The funny part is that Tals hates Huskies– she always picks fights with them!
All that said, there are some serious benefits to knowing Tally’s genetic makeup aside from appeasing my maternal instincts. The new Wisdom 3.0 panel was just released and Mars Veterinary has added a new feature: screening for the Multi-Drug Resistance 1 {MDR1} genetic mutation.
Apparently MDR1 is a genetic mutation found in some herding and sighthound breeds, along with mixed dogs. The MDR1 gene is responsible for producing a protein called P-glycoprotein. The P-glycoprotein can help limit drug absorption and distribution. What does that mean? If your dog tests positive for MDR1, there is a good chance s/he may have adverse reactions to commonly used drugs. Definitely not good, and it would be nice to know in case your pup ever needs medical attention. {Kinda like how I just found out that Will is allergic to penicillin?!}
They also have a section about the influence of breeds on appearance that is specific to your dog. With Tals, they suggested that she fall into the weight range of 31-50 lbs. Obviously, she has more Husky and Lab than Italian Greyhound, but girlfriend weighs 62 lbs…..maybe it’s time to put her back on a diet!
Here’s the other good part:
Wisdom Panel is currently traveling the country to share more info about their new 3.0 product. If you can make it to any of these events and are interested in swabbing your dog, you should totally go. The kit regularly costs $84.99 {thanks sis!} but it will be discounted at these events to $49.99. Or, if you want to do an on-site swabbing rather than doing it at home, it costs even less: $39.99.
Event Locations:
- June 4-7: GoPro Mountain Games in Vail, CO
- August 1: Amazing Pet Expo in Austin, TX
- TBD October: Mars Pet Adoption Fair in Franklin, TN
- Date TBD: Amazing Pet Expo Holiday in Los Angeles, CA
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If you’re interested in learning more about the Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0, follow them on any of their social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. And, in case it wasn’t obvious before —>
This post was sponsored by Mars Veterinary Wisdom Panel 3.0