Providing Canine Genetic Health Screening with Embark
We are major proponents of preventative care for pets here at Westway Animal Clinic. With Embark genetic health screening, we can be even more proactive and create further customized treatment plans for our patients, especially if they are of a specific age and breed. The goal of genetic health screening is to evaluate our canine patients for potential health risks and take the necessary steps to reduce or prevent those risks so they can live the healthiest, longest lives possible.
Have any questions about genetic health screening? Want to test your pet? Contact us today.
How It Works
To perform genetic screening, all we need to do is collect a saliva sample from your pet with a simple cheek swab. Next, we send the sample to the Embark lab to determine whether your pet is at no detectable risk, notable risk, or increased risk for certain genetic diseases. Testing can also find whether your pet might have drug sensitivities. Currently, Embark is over 99% accurate with its genotyping.
Once the test results are complete, they will be sent back to us for review, and we will consult with you on what to do next. Your pet may be at minimal risk for any diseases, or we might need to customize their care to accommodate an increased risk for a specific condition. Follow-up testing may also be recommended.
What Disease Risks Can Be Found with Genetic Health Screening?
With Embark, we can screen for a wide range of genetic conditions, including:
- Deafness and vestibular syndrome, early onset adult deafness (EOAD)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM1 & DCM2
- Cardiomyopathy and juvenile mortality
- Hypothyroidism
- Gastroenteropathy
- Hemophilia
- Red and white blood cell abnormalities
- Immunologic disorders
- Metabolic disorders
- Movement disorders
- Muscular dystrophy
- Myopathy
- Neurologic disorders
- Myelopathy
- Narcolepsy
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- Ophthalmologic disorders (glaucoma, retinopathy, etc.)
- Developmental disorders of the oral cavity (cleft lip/cleft palate)
- Urogenital disorders
- …and more
