Posted on August 31, 2011 by Makesh
Rockville, MD (August 31, 2011) – It may look like a purebred Labrador but is it really? Is your “Puggle” really bred from a first generation Beagle – or something that just resembles a Beagle? For curious owners who don’t have pedigree documents for their beloved dogs, two new DNA tests announced today can finally answer those nagging...
Posted on August 15, 2011 by Makesh
Rockville, MD (August 15, 2011) – Mars, Inc., Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Argus Genetics, LLC have entered into confidential settlement agreements with BioPet Vet Lab, Inc. and Radio Systems Corporation (“PetSafe”), regarding U.S. Patent No. 7,729,863. The ‘863 Patent outlines a process for canine breed identification testing...
Posted on June 23, 2011 by Makesh
Rockville, MD (June 23, 2011) – Mars Veterinary, makers of the Wisdom Panel® dog DNA tests has filed a patent infringement suit against BioPet Vet Lab and PetSafe and obtained a preliminary injunction prohibiting BioPet and PetSafe from selling their dog DNA breed identification kits.
Mars has been a leader in the development of dog breed...
Posted on April 05, 2011 by Makesh
Rockville, MD (April 5, 2011) – While the results of the U.S. Census continue to roll out, the findings of a more pet-friendly version – the National Mutt Census – are released today. Launched in March 2010, the Mutt Census – conducted by Mars Veterinary, the leading authority in dog DNA analysis – took a paw print of America’s mixed breed...
Posted on March 10, 2011 by Lizz
Researchers at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and elsewhere determined that a relatively small number of DNA regions control a large portion of the physical differences between various breeds of dogs. The scientists hope that further study of these regions in dogs will bring parallels between canine and human biology to light that...
Posted on December 20, 2010 by Lizz
EU-funded scientists studying dogs have discovered a novel gene that triggers primary ciliary dyskinesis (PCD), a rare genetic respiratory disease found in both humans and canines. Presented in the journal Nature Genetics, the research was funded in part under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The researchers say the findings open up...
Posted on December 10, 2010 by Lizz
A dog is mankind's best friend: the old saying has once again been borne out through a medical discovery concerning the genetic origins of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). In using dogs as a research model in the framework of the European LUPA project, a team from the University of Liege's GIGA-Research Unit has been able to bring to light new...
Posted on December 03, 2010 by Lizz
Some dogs in the Valley are part of a study doctors hope will find what causes certain cancers in humans.
Researchers are taking the DNA from dogs, using voluntarily donated saliva, blood and tumor samples, hoping to find a better and faster way to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancers in humans and dogs.
Phoenix-based...
Posted on November 29, 2010 by Lizz
With roots in Britain, PetScreen Inc. provides American veterinarians with screenings they can use to help diagnose and treat pets with cancer.
When British native Tariq Shah first stepped off the plane in St. Louis a year ago in December, he had his wife and daughter with him and not much else.
Tariq Shah is the leader of PetScreen Inc., a...
Posted on November 05, 2010 by Lizz
A multimillion-dollar gift to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine will establish a canine genomics program.
The Ithaca, N.Y.-based college announced the anonymous gift—one of the largest private gifts in the college's history—in September.
The $10 million will support endowed professorships, DNA sequencing, and the DNA Bank,...
Posted on October 18, 2010 by Lizz
While geneticists have learned a great deal in recent years about the evolution of breed dogs, they still don’t know very much about the origins of “village” dogs—those semi-feral dogs we often call “mutts,’’ or strays.
Scientists believe that studying village dogs can provide vital new information about dog domestication and evolutionary...
Posted on October 06, 2010 by Lizz
Bloat or Gastric Torsion is more common in large or deep chested breeds than in small dogs. The genetics in bloat are still undetermined but there is growing evidence of direct inheritance from parents. There is also some speculation that Bloat or Gastric Torsion is due to eating large amounts of dry kibble at one time followed by drinking...
Posted on September 20, 2010 by Lizz
SCIENTISTS in Suffolk have made a breakthrough in the bid to beat canine blindness after they discovered a genetic mutation which causes sight loss in golden retrievers.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a disease which leads to blindness and cannot be treated. Canine health experts say the best way to combat the inherited condition is to...
Posted on September 09, 2010 by Lizz
DNA from a bait bag and a fuzzy photograph positively identify the Sierra Nevada red fox, last seen in the Sonora Pass area in the 1920s, the U.S. Forest Service announces.
Keith Slausen, APThe genetic signature of canine slobber on a bait bag of chicken scraps and a fuzzy photograph from a motion-sensitive camera north of Yosemite National Park...
Posted on August 11, 2010 by Lizz
The difference between a pug's smashed schnoz and the narrow muzzle of a dachshund depends on just one small segment of genes, according to a new study. The findings, published Tuesday in the journal PLoS Biology, are the most comprehensive genetic analysis of domestic dogs to date and could have an impact on human genetics, the researchers...
Posted on July 26, 2010 by Lizz
Breeders of purebred dogs select them largely for their looks. Golden retrievers are yellow and shaggy; basset hounds are short with long ears. But Alaskan sled dogs are selected to be fast, tough, and hard working. That's been enough to make them a distinct breed, according to a new genetic study.
When Heather Huson was growing up in...
Posted on July 08, 2010 by Lizz
Poodles are exceptionally popular pets in some countries. In France, people are as likely to be carrying a poodle under their arm as a stick of French bread. Poodles can be seen eating in restaurants, visiting hairdressers and going virtually anywhere that their owner goes. Poodles are less popular in the UK, not even making it into the top...
Posted on June 17, 2010 by Lizz
The Nutro Company, a leading manufacturer of natural pet food* products, is initiating a movement to enhance dog parks across the country called the Room to Run(TM) Dog Park Appreciation Project. The Nutro Company is kicking off the initiative this Saturday with the first event in Nashville, where company volunteers, along with local community...
Posted on June 07, 2010 by Lizz
Ever wondered what breed your dog is? Apparently a lot of people do. That was the inspiration for a doggie DNA contest that was held recently by a local veterinary clinic.
The Vets Animal Hospital, 1295 Main Street Unit No. 7, put together the event.
"A number of clients had no idea what breed their dog was," said Tiffany Fast, an office manager...
Posted on June 07, 2010 by Lizz
Would you pay $79.99 to find out whether Bowser was part-Schnauzer? Or any other kind of breed? A company at the recent NYC Pet Show was hawking its doggie DNA test. You take a cheek swab of your mutt and mail the sample back to the lab. Three weeks later you have three generations of your hound's hereditary history. The results might explain...
Posted on May 17, 2010 by Lizz
Animal DNA testing is an important, new boundary that genetic testing has overcome. Such tests, such as canine DNA tests or feline DNA tests, can saves breeders and pet lovers vast amounts of money and spare beloved pets and cattle from developing autoimmune diseases or passing on such diseases to their offspring.
Animal DNA testing versus...
Posted on May 03, 2010 by Lizz
King Sigfred, a Los Angeles Great Dane, starts his day with the first of his three small, high-protein, high-fiber and low-carbohydrate meals. His water bowl contains just enough water during mealtimes -- about a cup, in his case -- and he doesn’t exercise for two hours after a meal, to promote proper digestion.
His housemate, miniature...
Posted on May 01, 2010 by Lizz
Keeping your dog healthy and happy is important when working to maintain a lasting, positive relationship. While regular vet checkups are critical, being aware of certain signs and symptoms of illness can help prevent serious problems from developing. Learn about the signs of a healthy dog.
Posted on April 26, 2010 by Lizz
University of Pennsylvania scientists say they have used gene therapy to restore retinal cone function and day vision in two canine models of color blindness.
The veterinary ophthalmology researchers said the disorder -- called congenital achromatopsia or rod monochromacy -- is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder with an estimated...
Posted on April 23, 2010 by Lizz
This won’t hurt a bit: Roe Froman, a veterinarian with Van Andel Institute’s Center for Canine Health and Performance, takes a DNA saliva sample from Skye, an Australian shepherd, at Must Love Dogs animal boutique in Grand Haven. The samples are used in human and canine cancer research.
GRAND RAPIDS — Picture a border collie herding sheep,...
Posted on April 13, 2010 by Lizz
If you have always wanted to know how many varieties are in your ‘Heinz 57’ or wondered why your mutt insists on barking the night away, a new doggy DNA test can sniff out the facts.
The DIY cheek-swab kit is said to uncover the ancestry of mixed-breed dogs.
Owners take some of their pet’s drool, put it in an envelope and send it to company...
Posted on April 01, 2010 by Lizz
USA TODAY - March 29, 2010
Mars Veterinary has launched the 2010 National Mutt Census to systematically collect the data dog lovers have been uncovering. Part of it is comes across as an ad campaign by Mars to sell their tests, but it's not all about sales. Mars says the goal is to provide insights into the background of the nation's estimated...
Posted on March 22, 2010 by Lizz
Mount Olive, N.J. -- While Americans fill out their own U.S. Census forms this year, Mars Inc. is asking pet owners to fill out a National Mutt Census for their mixed-breed dogs.
A new Web site muttcensus.com launched today is promoting Mars' canine DNA test and dog products and asks pet owners to fill out a short survey about their dogs. Mars...
Posted on March 22, 2010 by Lizz
1st Census For Dogs Takes 10 Minutes To Fill Out
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Many should have already received their census forms in the mail by now, which ask citizens to account for everyone living in their household. But for many people, the census excludes one very important member of the family -- their dog.
One local dog, named Maya, spends...
Posted on March 22, 2010 by Lizz
When you’re with your half-pint pooch do you ever hear the ring of a tamborine? Smell nutmeg and caradamom? Envision sand dunes, date palms?
Given recent doggie DNA tracking by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), those images might not be far off base.
A genetic study conducted by UCLA researchers Melissa Gray and Robert Wayne and...
