Wisdom Panel 3.0 Dog DNA Test Kit Review

Pros

• Tests for the presence of 250 different breeds, all recognized by the American Kennel Club – When you send in Fido’s DNA sample (which is a cheek swab), you’ll get a detailed report that goes back three generations on the different breeds that are present in your mixed breed pup.
• Gives information on MDR1 drug sensitivity This is very important in figuring out your dog’s future health and treatment plans – The test looks for possible sensitivity to commonly prescribed canine medications.
• Once you purchase the kit, you incur no further cost – You’ll use the included swab to collect saliva from your dog; you then ship it off in a postage-paid box (also included). You won’t have to pay anything else for the test results or to get more detailed reports. Everything is included at the time of purchase.
• Provides a predicted adult weight for your dog – You love your mixed breed dog; however, not knowing her parentage can lead to some surprises as she grows older. The predicted adult weight helps you choose great nutrition for her as she grows.

Cons

• Includes a “Who Knows?” DNA designation – Some pet parents who have used the Wisdom Panel 3.0 disliked the “Who Knows?” and the “Breeds your dog might be” portion of the report. They felt as if the test should cover each breed within the mixed-breed dog rather than suggest what the dog’s lineage “might be.”
• May take longer than two weeks for results. Some pet parents lamented that the results took longer than the advertised two or three weeks – Keep in mind that this may not be the fault of the company as shipping has slowed significantly within the last eighteen months.

Detects over 250 breeds, which is up to 99 percent of breeds recognized by the AKC

The test looks for genetic markers in a large number of breeds. You’ll get a detailed report of the breeds present in your dog, but, you will need to designate on the kit as to whether you want purebred, mixed breed, or designer (hybrid) breed dogs. Pet parents should keep in mind that there are breeds that carry many of the same genetic markers. There may be a section that lists “breeds that your dog might be,” which would include the dog breeds with similar genetic markers.

Meant for rescues and adopted dogs

Of course, when you adopt at a shelter or you rescue a dog, you understand that your dog may more than likely be a mixed breed dog. This test will help you to better understand the most dominant breeds present in your dog’s make-up. This is a great test for pet parents who may want to understand the personality of their dog better.

Tests for MDR1 drug sensitivity

This is highly important to your dog’s health. Some breeds have a tendency—genetically present—to be sensitive to commonly prescribed canine medications. It’s always a good idea to get this type of information and present it to your veterinarian. However, this kit does not test for genetic markers that show your individual dog is more likely to develop a certain group of adult-set health issues.

Adult weight prediction

*Adult weight prediction If you adopted a puppy from a shelter, you have to wonder how big that sweet pup will be in adulthood. The Wisdom 3.0 panel will include in its final report what the genetics say your dog should weigh when she reaches adulthood. You can make nutritional choices for your pup based on this information.

Online report ready within three weeks

Once you send the test in, you can begin checking within two weeks to see if your pup’s profile has been posted. Keep in mind that some pet parents lamented it took longer than this time period to get a report back. However, shipping times are quite different, and you have to allow for shipping time before the genetic test can be posted.

Gives percentages of the breed

If you’re looking at your rescue pup and thinking it has to be a certain breed or you adopted from a shelter and were told the dog is a certain mix, you probably expect the DNA test to do the same. However, you’ll get percentages of what each breed that made up your sweet pup is. Occasionally, there is an instance where some dog breeds carry many of the same genetic markers, and the test results will give a percentage of “who knows.”