Before a breeder begins to breed their golden retriever, they should have a DNA test performed to rule out DNA testable diseases. This is not to be confused with AKC breed identification DNA tests to confirm your golden is actually a golden. The standard 5 diseases that should be performed are GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, PRCD, ICT, and DM. I’ll go into these diseases further, as well as other optional panels that can be completed. Not all diseases can be tested for. Most diseases are polygenetic. However, luckily a few are easily tested for. A short explanation of many of diseases are listed below as well as locations you can order DNA panels.
Common Golden Retriever DNA Tests
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy disease has multiple types GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, and PRCD. Progressive retinal Atrophy, and progressive Rod-cone degeneration will begin later in life around 5 to 6 years in age. It will begin with night blindness, peripheral vision loss, and eventually blindness. The disease may be seen in a vision test around a year and a half prior to them experiencing symptoms.
Ichthyosis (Golden Retriever Type)
Ichthyosis is an inherited disease that affects the skin. The skin may develop a gray color appearance that becomes scaly. Often symptoms develop on the tummy, but can be anywhere on the body. Skin often will flake like dandruff in humans. Usually the age of onset is before one year of age. Often it will go away. While this is often a debated illness, many breeders don’t test for this disease as the symptoms are not always a big issue. Jaks and Glacier we both made sure were clear of the disease.
Degenerative Myelopathy
This disease is an inherited neurologic disorder in dogs. With Goldens the age of onset is around 9 years. An affected dogs muscles will begin to deteriorate and eventually the dog will not be able to walk. The disease is painful and often dogs are euthanized.
How to Understand DNA Tests
For some, understanding DNA tests can be confusing. So I’ll offer a simple unscientific explanation. DNA test results will be given as Clear, Carrier (1 Variant),or Affected (2 Variants). A clear (unaffected) dog does not have the disease. A carrier does not have the disease, or symptoms, but carries a recessive genetic sequence of the disease. The carrier dog can pass the disease if mated with another carrier or affected. An affected dog has the disease, and generally will exhibit symptoms.
It is possible to breed carrier and affected dogs, but should only be bred to a clear so that the disease is not past on.
Golden Retriever DNA Testing Labs
Tests Performed: GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, PRCD, ICT, and DM
Price: $288 for entire Golden Retriever Panel
Tip: Wait to order your panel till they offer a 50% off coupon. The panel then costs only $144. They also have an additional panel for other diseases. This company use to be the main one I went to because I use to pay $120. However, now they are not the most affordable option anymore.
Additional Supplemental Panels: Dystrophic Epidermolysis, Muscular Dystrophy, Osteogenesis Imperfects, Sensory Ataxic Neuropathy (extra $260). Many of these diseases are super rare. Most of these diseases would be evident at birth, and would have been seen in previous generations.
Tests Performed: DM, GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, Ich, MD, NCL-GR, PRA-prcd
Price: $150 for entire Golden Retriever Panel ($45 for each individual test)
Tip: If you don’t want the additional supplemental panels from Paw Print Genetics, then Animal Genetics might be a better option if you don’t want to wait for the 50% off coupon at Paw Print Genetics. Plus you get one extra test MD for only $5 more.
Tests Performed: DM, GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, Ich, MD, PRA-prcd, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, NCL, Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Price: $199 for entire Golden Retriever Panel, $169 if you have a Breeder Account
Note: I know people who have used this company. Price isn’t too bad, but it does include a few extras that the others don’t. With breeder discount price is a little more reasonable. Additionally they often have discount codes to get another $30 off.
Tests Performed: DM, Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (Golden Retriever Type), GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, Ich, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Golden Retriever Type) PRCD, Skeletal Dysplasia 2 (Mild Disproportionate Dwarfism)
Price: $145 for entire Golden Retriever Panel
Note: I’ve never used this company before. I might actually try them the next time I have a test. Price is reasonable. I only discovered them recently.
Tests Performed: NCL5, DMD-Dystrophin Muscular Dystprophy, DEB-Epidermolysis Bullosa, Dystrophic, DM SOD1-A, PRA prcd, OI-BBD Osteogenesis imperfecta-Brittle Bone, PRA (GR-PRA1), PRA (GR-PRA2), SAN-Sensory Ataxic Neuropathy, Icthyosis, CMS Congenital Myasthenic Synd.
Price: $55 per test.
Note: I’ve never personally ordered from them and there doesn’t seem to be an option to choose all tests for a cheaper price. The site does say to contact them for further discounts.
Tests Performed: DM, PRCD
Price: $58 per test
Note: In my opinion I would go with the others listed, since this company doesn’t offer many tests.
Other Testing Labs
There are other testing labs around the world such Seqomics and Optigen. However it can take a while to get your results. I used them before the DNA labs in the United States had patents to perform all tests. If I am missing companies, let me know. I use to know another company that was cheap, but they didn’t have very many tests, and I haven’t seen them in a while.
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