Embark Breed & Health Dog DNA Test Kit

Embark Breed & Health Dog DNA Test Kit invites pet parents to “get to know their best friend on a deeper level” by exploring where they came from. One of the main reasons our vets have identified this test as the best in show is its depth.

Developed with veterinarians and in partnership with Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, this test can identify more than 350 dog breeds and canine types, including dingoes, coyotes, wolves, and village dogs.

It also screens for more than 270 genetic health risks by scouring a database of more than 230,000 genetic markers. Some of the common canine health conditions it tests for include:

• MDR1: A gene mutation that changes the way dogs process certain medications and can lead to serious side effects.
• DCM: Dilated cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease.
• DM: Degenerative myelopathy is a disease that affects the function of the nerves, typically in middle age or older dogs.
• PRA: Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disease that is inherited and almost always leads to blindness.
• EIC: Exercise-induced collapse is an inherited neuromuscular disorder seen in some dog breeds.
• IVDD: Intervertebral disc disease is when spinal discs bulge or burst into the space containing the spinal cord, sometimes causing nerve damage, paralysis, and pain.

“Embark is supported by research, proven accurate, and examines 100 times more genetic markers than other dog DNA tests,” says Chewy veterinarian Molly Price, DVM.

It’s also easy to use:  Activate the kit online, swab the inside of your dog’s cheek and under the tongue using the provided swab, and then send the sample to Embark’s lab in the prepaid envelope.

Turnaround time is quick, with results available in two to four weeks. Breed ancestry results are 99% accurate, according to Embark.

“This test is considered the most reliable of the veterinary tests available to the public,” says Chewy veterinarian Tara Hansen, DVM.

Results also include a report on your dog’s traits, such as expected coat color, amount of shedding, and size—55 traits total.

As a bonus, Embark matches your pup with nearby relatives when possible. Which seems likely, considering 94% of dogs tested have at least one dog in the database who they’re genetically related to as closely as human first cousins, according to the company.

So you can finally find out if Fido’s look-alike Labrador from the dog park shares the same lineage.