Eye scanning and DNA testing
Blood sample for DNA testing
It is possible to take blood samples for testing eye disorders in certain breeds. The blood tests reveal whether the dog is a carrier of a hereditary eye disorder that can be passed on to the offspring. A gene test maps the animal's genetic material for hereditary diseases if the location of the gene on the animal's chromosomes is known.
Genetic tests are therefore a good supplement to annual eye examinations in several dog breeds.
Hereditary diseases in dogs
We divide the hereditary diseases into dominant and recessive inheritance. By dominant inheritance we mean diseases that are always expressed if the dog has the gene, while with recessive inheritance the dog is a carrier of the diseased gene, without developing the disease itself.
Both parents pass on a gene to their offspring. With dominant inheritance, the dog will always develop the disease itself regardless of whether it has received the diseased gene from only one - or both parents. With recessive inheritance, the dog must receive the diseased gene from both parents to develop the disease itself.
Remember that a genetic test alone cannot replace an eye scan for dogs. We can take the sample for a DNA test at our clinic, a form can be ordered on NKK's website.
Information about genetic testing from laboratories
Common European rules for eye lighting
