Dog Health Issues: Do Mixed Breed Dogs Have an Advantage Over Purebred Dogs?
Avoiding Health Issues With Purebred Dogs You can avoid purchasing a purebred or hybrid puppy with genetic diseases by only buying from reputable breeders who test for genetic diseases that are common in the puppies they are breeding. You will pay more for puppies that have been certified to be disease-free, but the old adage holds true here: You get what you pay for. If you have a mixed breed dog and you want to know the genetic ancestry and any potential genetic diseases that he or she may be predisposed toward, the good news is that science is on your side. There are testing kits that allow you to easily swab your dog’s cheek at home, and you send in the sample to get all the genetic information you need on your dog. Embark breed identification and health detection dog DNA test kit, Wisdom Panel 3.0 breed identification dog DNA test kit and DNA My Dog breed identification test kit are some of the genetic testing kits available for you to test your dog at home. Knowledge is power, and knowing your dog’s genetic ancestry and markers for disease allows you to make lifestyle changes early so you can hopefully prevent disease. By: Dr. Sarah Wooten Featured Image: iStock.com/PK Photos,WRITTEN BYSarah Wooten, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Wooten graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. A member of the American Society of Veterinary Journalists,…,Have you heard the claim that purebred dogs have more health problems than mixed breed dogs? Is it true, or is it just a myth? What Qualifies a Dog as a Purebred Dog? A dog is defined as purebred if he or she has been registered with the American Kennel Club and has papers to prove that the mother and father are both of the same breed. If the papers show that a dog’s ancestors all come from the same breed, then that dog is considered to be a pedigreed purebred dog. Purebred dogs are a product of selective breeding by humans. Dogs from the same breed are chosen for their genetic traits, such as size, temperament, coat type and color, and then bred together.









