For many years geneticists and breeders have been aware of several "loci" that are responsible for the color patterns we see in dogs and other mammals. Each of these loci are known to be responsible for one or more traits either independently, or in conjunction with another locus.
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While it is not a color trait, the length of a dog's coat is of interest to many. It has recently been demonstrated that in many breeds, the gene FGF5 is responsible for whether a dog has a long coat (rough or fluffy), or a short (smooth) coat. The test Vetgen offers detects the presence or absence of the recessive allele that results in long coats when present in two copies, and as such allows dogs with short coats that carry a hidden "long coat" allele to be detected.
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Cone-Rod Dystrophy 1 - Progressive Renal Atrophy (cord1 - PRA) is an inherited disease of the eye that affects the cone and rod cells that make up the dog's retina and often leading to blindness. more

Centronuclear myopathy in Labrador Retrievers is a recessively inherited muscular disease. This disease was previously known as Labrador muscular myopathy. The disease is characterized by early onset muscular problems such as awkward gait, fatigue, and difficulty eating. Affected puppies generally begin displaying these problems within a few months after birth. Researchers in France, Drs. Tiret and Blot at The Alfort School of Veterinary Medicine discovered the mutation that is responsible for the disease. The test offered here is based on this discovery. As with other recessive diseases, animals with two copies of the mutation will be affected and display symptoms, whereas animals with one copy (carriers) and no copies (clear) will be symptom free. more

Canine copper toxicosis ("CT") is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper accumulation which results in severe liver disease in several dog breeds. Unless specific anti-copper treatment is instituted, most affected dogs die at three to seven years of age. CT is, in particular, a severe problem in Bedlington Terriers.
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Canine Cyclic Neutropenia Canine cyclic neutropenia, also known as ‘gray collie syndrome’ (GCS), is an autosomal recessive disease. Both parents must carry the abnormal gene for the offspring to be affected.
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Cystinuria in the Newfoundland dog is indicated by the presence of cystine stones in the kidney, bladder or ureter. Failure by the kidneys to reabsorb amino acids results in the formation of these stones.
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Factor VII deficiency is a generally mild bleeding disorder.
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Hemophilia B is often a severe bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of coagulation factor IX resulting in a severely affected blood clotting process. In response to an injury that causes bleeding, affected dogs fail to activate the coagulation process and experience uncontrollable breeding problems. The disease occurs in many different breeds and in mixed breed dogs as well.
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There are several types of inherited cataract in the dog which vary in both their appearance and age of onset. The majority of these are inherited as autosomal recessive traits, but some are inherited as dominant or perhaps polygenic trait.
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A young-adult onset NCL occurs in American Bulldogs and a mutation in the cathepsin D gene (CSTD) responsible for NCL in this breed has been identified(Awano et al 2006)
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Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphatase 1 deficiency
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Canine Phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency is an autosomal recessive genetic disease which prevents the metabolism of glucose into available energy resulting in exercise intolerance and muscle disease in Cocker Spaniels. PFK deficiency also destroys red blood cells in affected dogs, leading to anemia. The PFK deficiency gene frequency in Cockers is estimated to be 10% of the population.
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Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency in Basenji dogs is an inherited lack of an enzyme (pyruvate kinase) in the red blood cells of an affected animal. This enzyme is required for red blood cells to survive for a normal length of time in the blood of the animal, and when it is missing, the red blood cells break down and are destroyed prematurely.
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Irish setter progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is an inherited disease that leads to blindness in affected dogs. It is inherited in a simple autosomal recessive fashion.
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Renal Cystadenocarcinoma Nodular Dermatofibrosis (RCND) is a naturally occurring canine kidney cancer syndrome that was originally described in German Shepherd dogs.
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von Willebrand’s disease has been identified in a wide range of canine breeds, and is the most common of the inherited bleeding disorders.  As with humans, there are three classifications of this disease, Types I, II, and III.  These are based on the concentration and nature of plasma vWF.
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VetGen scientists, in collaboration with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, proudly announce the discovery of the mutation that causes Type I von Willebrand's Disease (vWD) and the offering of a DNA test to detect vWD in the above breeds.
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Type II vWD is characterized by abnormal vWF, as opposed to low levels of normal vWF. This type is not as common as Type I, but a mutation causing it has been identified in some pointing breeds such as Deutch Drahthaar.
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Canine von Willebrand's disease (vWD) in Scotties is an autosomal recessive genetic disease with a gene frequency estimated to be 15% of the Scottie population. vWD also affects numerous other breeds of dogs.
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In addition to offering genetic testing services for the detection of color genes and of targeted canine diseases, VetGen offers other valuable services. These services, DNA Profiling, DNA Parentage and DNA Storage, can be ordered at the time a genetic test is requested, or at any other time, independent of other tests.
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OFA Registry The OFA, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, has created a voluntary registry for the results of all VetGen Direct and Linked Marker DNA disease tests. We encourage you to register your dog’s test findings with the OFA.
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