Veterinarians have long had patients with unknown ages. There are a number of reasons why a dog’s age is not known. This is particularly common with rescue or shelter dogs.
This often poses a challenge when it comes to recommending an appropriate diet, exercise regimen, or preventative health screenings. By unlocking a dog’s age, pet parents and veterinarians could work together to improve and extend the lives of their canine patients
Using cutting-edge DNA methylation technology, the most accurate canine age test on the market will help dog owners provide personalized care to dogs.
Embark Veterinary Inc, a global leader in dog health and genetics, announced the launch of its Age Test. A first-of-its-kind product in the dog DNA industry, the Age Test uses a unique algorithm to measure a dog’s age. The test relies on the cutting-edge field of epigenetics — the study of how external factors can change the way genes work — to estimate when a dog was born.
The Goal
The ultimate goal of the Age Test is to empower dog owners with the knowledge they need to provide personalized pet care. Knowing a dog’s age helps unlock the unique story behind a rescue dog with an unknown past. Further, identifying a dog’s life stage can be crucial to making the right decisions regarding exercise, nutrition, and veterinary care. Dog owners who conduct the Age Test on their dog receive a report with insights and guidance for the appropriate life stage of the dog. During the early access phase of the Age Test, 40% of customers reported taking some action and 31% of those customers reported scheduling a visit with their vet as a result of learning their dog’s age.
Technology
The Age Test estimates a dog’s age by utilizing a beadchip technology that focuses on DNA methylation patterns.
- Methylation is a natural process that alters DNA molecules without altering the underlying DNA sequence and plays an important role in gene regulation. Scientists know that these patterns are predictable and can measure methylation to estimate how much time has passed between a dog’s birth and when the test was taken. Ultimately, data generated by the Age Test will fuel future research on aging and epigenetics.
- After extensive testing with hundreds of dogs who ranged in age from 6 months to 18 years old, from over 100 breeds and breed mixes, and of various body sizes and weights, the Embark science team is confident it has developed the most accurate canine age test on the market. For all dogs tested, 70% had an age estimate within ± 5 months and 92% fell within ± 10 months.