Discover how the Telford Veterinary Hospital used canine DNA testing to make a care plan for their patient that will benefit the dog and their owner for years to come. Visit [ Ссылка ] or email us at vetsupport@embarkvet.com to learn more.

Smokey came to the vet for a routine wellness and preventive care visit. While Smokey’s owners had no health concerns, Smokey’s owner elected to participate in the Embark/Telford partnered pilot program. A standard saliva swab was submitted for Embark’s Breed + Health DNA testing.

When the report came back, Smokey tested as having two copies of a recessive genetic health risk (HUU) and one clinical tool (ALT activity). Hyperuricosuria and Hyperuricemia or Urolithiasis (HUU) is caused by an autosomal recessive variant in the SLC2A9 gene. As Smokey inherited two copies of this variant, she was genetically at risk for developing urate kidney and bladder stones.

In most dogs, uric acid is converted to allantoin, an inert substance that is then excreted in the urine. Dogs with HUU have defects in the pathway that converts uric acid to allantoin. As a result, uric acid builds up, crystallizes, and forms urate stones in the kidneys and bladder.

If caught early, HUU is responsive to dietary management. If not caught early, kidney stones usually require surgery. Smokey’s owner is more at ease knowing the genetic health risk and clinical signs of concern. And early dietary intervention will hopefully keep Smokey from facing painful bladder stones, a related UTI, or a surgical emergency.

Want to learn more about how genetic screenings can benefit veterinarians? Visit [ Ссылка ] or contact us at vetsupport@embarkvet.com

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