What Do My Results Mean?
Health Testing Packages & Individual Disease Tests
Your dog's genetic test results will be reported as one of the following:
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| Clear | No copies of the disease-associated genetic variant were detected for the specific test performed. |
| Carrier | One copy of the disease-associated genetic variant was detected. For autosomal recessive conditions, carriers are usually healthy but can pass the variant to their offspring. |
| At Risk | Two copies of the disease-associated genetic variant were detected, or another result indicating increased genetic risk depending on the condition's inheritance pattern. |
A Clear result means we did not detect the specific disease-associated genetic variant included in the test. While no genetic test can rule out every possible genetic cause of disease, a clear result means your dog is clear for the specific variant tested.
Different genetic conditions have different modes of inheritance, which determine how many copies of a genetic variant are needed for a dog to be affected.
Autosomal Recessive Inheritance
Most of the conditions we test for are autosomal recessive, meaning a dog must inherit two copies of the disease-associated genetic variant (one from each parent) to have the genetic status associated with developing the condition.
- Clear dogs have no copies of the variant.
- Carrier dogs have one copy of the variant. They are usually healthy but can pass the variant to their offspring.
- At Risk dogs have two copies of the variant. For autosomal recessive conditions, this means they have the genetic status associated with developing the condition. Whether they develop clinical signs, and how severe those signs are, depends on the specific disease.
Other Modes of Inheritance
Not all genetic conditions are inherited in the same way. The interpretation of these results depends on the specific condition being tested.
Where a condition follows a different inheritance pattern, this will be explained on the relevant test page and in your results.
Coat Colour Inheritance
Coat colour genetics are often more complex than health genetics. While some colours are determined largely by a single gene, many coat colours and patterns are influenced by several genes working together.
Some genes can modify or mask the effects of others, meaning a dog may carry a particular colour variant without it being visible in their coat. Likewise, the effects of some genes are only become visible when specific combinations of other genes are present.
As a result, a dog's visible coat colour may not always reflect every colour variant identified through genetic testing. Coat colour genes should therefore be interpreted together rather than in isolation, as the interaction between multiple genes determines the final colour and pattern. When considered as a complete genetic profile, these interactions allow us to interpret a dog's coat colour genetics and predict the range and probability of coat colours that may be produced in future litters.
While the underlying genetics can appear complex, the way coat colour genes interact in dogs is well understood for the vast majority of recognised colour traits. However, research is ongoing, and some coat colours and patterns do not yet have a fully characterised genetic basis. As new discoveries are made, genetic testing continues to evolve and improve.
Need More Information?
If you have questions about your results, we're happy to explain what the genetic findings mean and how to interpret your report.
However, we cannot diagnose disease or provide veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell or you have concerns about their health, please contact your veterinary surgeon, who can advise you based on your dog's clinical signs, medical history, and genetic test results.