Owning a mixed breed dog always leaves you wondering what breed of dog makes up your mutt. Dog DNA tests are becoming very popular, but which one do you choose. We looked at the Orivet Dog DNA test and will give you all the pros and cons of this test, as well as our thoughts on using this DNA test on your dog.
All About Orivet
Orivet dog genetic test offers genetic testing for breeders and veterinarians. They also make a DNA test for pet parents. These tests screen for genetic diseases, coat color, different traits, and can confirm their parents.
They have a DNA test for dogs and health screening for cats. They currently do not have a breed determination for your cat.
Many veterinarians use Orivet to test for genetic markers for certain diseases that certain breeds are known to have.
Which Orivet DNA Test Is Right for me?
Orivet makes 3 different types of DNA testing. These are:
- Geno Pet 5.0: This test gives you everything you would want to know about your dog. This includes their breed makeup, screens for diseases, and you will receive the Orivet comprehensive life plan.
- Dog Identification Breed Test and Life Plan: This test will identify which breeds of dogs make up your dog and give you access to their life plan
- Dog DNA Health Screen and Life Plan: This test just screens for health issues and give you access to their life plan.
If you want to know everything possible about your dog, you will want to get the Geno Pet 5.0. If you want to spend less money, either of the other two plans can provide you with some good information about the health and makeup of your dog.
What is a Life Plan?
A Life Plan is a plan developed for your dog and the health conditions that they may have. This gives you a timeline of when you need to have a certain test checked by your vet. This can easily be shared with your dog’s vet so that they know what testing you are looking for and when you would like these tests done for your dog.
What other tests does Orivet offer?
Orivet offers many genetic tests to veterinarians and breeders. If your dog is a breed that is known for a disorder, there may be a genetic test that can detect the possibility of your dog developing these conditions.
This even helps breeders know if their breeding dogs are carriers for any of the diseases that their breed is known for.
Pros and Cons of Orivet DNA Test
These are some of the main pros and cons of the Orivet DNA test. When trying to figure out what test kit you want to use, consider these pros and cons.
Pros
- Has a life plan to help you figure out when your dog needs to start having certain test ran by your veterinarian
- It gives you alerts for routine maintenance
- Allow you to set up reminders
Cons
- Poor customer service
- User website is hard to navigate
- Results are not written so that it is easy to understand
How do I collect a sample for DNA testing?
You will receive a test kit that you will activate online. This test kit will come with two test swabs. Swab your dog’s cheek for about 15 seconds with the swab.
Allow this swab to dry for 3 to 5 minutes by placing them in the small hole in the tray. These swabs do not need to touch any other pet or surface while drying, or you can contaminate your test samples. After these swabs have dried, place the swabs back in the test kit. Mail the test kit back to Orivet.
Their turn around time after receiving your dog’s sample is about 2 to 3 weeks. This is a very quick turnaround compared to other tests.
Final Thoughts
While you may get the pet breed results that you are looking for, there may be some faults with the Orivet DNA tests that need to be improved. You will get a fast turnaround and access to their life plan, which is great at giving you a timeline of when you need to start monitoring your dog for developing medical issues.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long to wait after my dog eats or drinks?
It is best to wait 30 minutes to an hour after your dog has drunk or eating food. This gives you the best chance to get a good sample for your pet’s DNA test. Make sure that there is not any food or treat the material in their cheeks before taking a sample.
What if my pet will not tolerate a cheek swab?
You can try to offer a treat after using the swab as a reward. If they still do not let you swab their cheek, talk to your vet about helping you with getting a cheek swab, or talk to them about a blood test that you can send for testing.
Who do I contact if I need help interpreting my results?
If you are having trouble understanding your dog’s results, you can reach out to Orivet’s customer service department. They can help answer many of your questions. If they cannot, they can get you in contact with their geneticist or a veterinarian to help answer your questions.
Can this DNA test confirm the mother and father of my dog?
While this cannot confirm the parents of your dog, they do have another testing that can confirm the linage as long as you have access to the mother and father’s DNA>