Paw Print Vs Embark

Posted on January 18, 2018March 29, 2019 by Timberidge

Paw Print Genetics

Founded in 2012, Paw Print Genetics rocked the world of canine genetics by offering OFA-accepted, breed-specific disease panels at reasonable prices. Paw Print developed it’s own processes for DNA testing and uses two molecular methods to check each mutation to ensure accuracy. A third method is used if the first two don’t agree and/or a new sample requested. All testing in done in Paw Print’s own lab, and both PhD geneticists and veterinarians oversee testing, review results, and sign reports. What’s more, Paw Print promises results just two weeks from the arrival of your dog’s sample. Since samples are stored at the lab after completion of testing, additional tests can be added on at anytime. Paw Print invested in several lawsuits, working tirelessly to fight patents and ensure dog-owners access to canine DNA testing at an affordable price from a lab of their choice. Founder & CEO Lisa Shaffer is a board certified geneticist in canine genetic testing. Shaffer previously co-founded Signature Genomics, a diagnostic laboratory for people.

Embark

With just over one year of selling DNA tests to the public, Embark is the newest canine genetics company on the block. Embark partners with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where one of two founding Boyko brothers is an assistant professor in biomedical science. With the former director of National Geographic’s Geographic Project also on the team, Embark promises big dreams as the company markets towards appealing to the average dog-owner. This Texas-based company partners with Illumina Lab in California where the same testing procedures used on human samples is conducted on doggie saliva. Results are double checked using a single method to ensure accuracy. While a veterinarian does not oversee testing or sign off on results, Dr. Kate Robinson, a veterinarian who completed a residency in genetics, is available to answer questions and review results if there is a concern. Embark offers an amazing number of tests at an incredibly low price.

Embark promo code: save $20 on your Embark DNA kit with the code winter20 (expires 4/30/19)

What’s the difference?

So what are the differences between Paw Print Genetics & Embark and which is the best choice for testing your breeding dogs? The chart below highlights some of the major differences (the following information was obtained through Paw Print Genetics and Embark’s websites as well as through communication with both companies’ team):

Now let’s compare the tests each company offers that are relevant to goldendoodles (notice that for $179 Embark includes disease, color, coat, and diversity tests all in one package):

* Note: Paw Print Genetics offers a panel of 150 diseases for $135 through Canine HealthCheck. Click here to learn more about the differences between Canine HealthCheck and the Paw Print Genetics breed-specific disease panel for breeders.

Which canine genetics company is best for breeding dogs?

Whether Paw Print Genetics or Embark is the right choice depends on the situation. Embark‘s significantly cheaper price tag certainly makes it an appealing option for breeders. If knowing whether your breeding dogs carry parti or merle is important, you may want to order those tests through Paw Print even if you use Embark for the majority of your testing. If you are relying on genetic testing results to choose a puppy from a litter (i.e. matching an F/F puppy with a family with pet allergies), Paw Print’s 2 week turnaround time will definitely be appreciated over Embark’s lengthy 4-6 week process, but Embark’s time frame is still manageable. For those selling breeding puppies, Paw Print’s $20 “cleared by parentage” designation may appeal to other breeders, as they can have their new pup’s disease carriage verified at a fraction of the cost of ordering a disease panel. On the other hand, if you are considering multiple traits, Paw Print’s $56+ per individual test can add up quickly for a litter of puppies and may quickly surpass Embark’s $179, making Embark the more economical choice. If you are new to breeding and anticipate having questions about genetic testing or test results, Paw Print may be the best choice. Paw Print repeatedly receives excellent reviews for customer service.

Best customer service

Paw Print Genetics continually receives raving reviews about their excellent customer service. Paw Print has received 4.9/5 stars on Facebook, and a quick scroll through reviews shows repeated compliments to their staff support, availability to answer questions, and customer service. Similarly Embark boasts a 4.7/5 star rating on Facebook. Reviews frequently reference satisfaction with discovering a dog’s heritage.

When researching for this post, I contacted both Paw Print and Embark via email. Paw Print promptly responded, answering all of my questions in great detail through email. While Embark responded quickly, the representative refused to answer a number of my questions over email. Instead she instructed me to schedule a 30 minute time slot for her to discuss my questions over the phone. Anyone busy raising puppies knows that scheduling a 30 minute appointment for asking questions is less than ideal. If you are new to canine genetic testing and anticipate having questions, consider choosing Paw Print.

Where do I buy canine genetic testing kits?

Paw Print Genetic’s testing kits can be purchased through their website. Be sure to check “current discounts” under the “pricing tab,” as Paw Print is nearly always offering a sale (anywhere from 30%-50% off). For Paw Print Genetics Canine HealthCheck, kits can be purchased on Amazon as well as on Canine HealthCheck’s own website. Check both to determine which has the best deal of the day.

Embark’s testing kits can be purchased either through their own website or on Amazon. Signing up as a breeder may afford you additional discounts.

Are there other canine genetics companies?

Yes! There actually are a lot of companies that test doggie DNA. Here are a few other popular ones:

Animal Genetics

3-5 day turn around
Goldendoodle disease panel: DM, GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, Ich, NEwS, PRA-prcd, vWD1 ($200)
Offers curl & furnishing
Clear by parentage if both parents checked through Animal genetics
$45-$55 for individual tests
$40-$50 for coat traits; $130 for color profile

DDC Lab

5 day turnaround
Goldendoodle diseases: DM, vWDI
Offers curl & furnishings
$58 for the first test, $20 for additional

University of Missouri partnering with OFA

Goldendoodle diseases: DM, NEwS
$65 per test (price includes automatic registration of the results in the OFA database)
Tests can also be ordered directly through OFA

While the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) partners with the University of Missouri’s , OFA maintains a list of laboratories throughout the country that run canine genetic testing. View OFA’s list to see other options for where you can have your dog’s health testing completed.

References:

Embarkvet.com

pawprintgenetics.com/

www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/dec/30/genetic-pawprints/

Note: much of the information contained in this post was obtained through email and phone conversations with persons representing both Paw Print Genetics & Embark

Timberidge Goldendoodles is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees via affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!

Keeping Your Pup Safe From Creepy Crawlies

Posted on April 26, 2017April 29, 2018 by Timberidge

It’s that time of year again. The time when you begin to find ticks on your dog and start worrying about fleas. I’ve received numerous questions about preventing fleas, ticks & worms, so I decided to address them in a post!

I’ll start by saying that no matter the brand of heartworm preventative you choose for your furry friend, you will undoubtedly find it cheaper to purchase through 1-800-PetMeds than purchasing it at your vet’s office.In this article, I’ll walk you through how to order from 1-800-PetMeds, compare and contrast the different heartworm preventatives on the market, and touch on tick prevention.

Where To Purchase

All heartworm medications require a veterinarian prescription but that doesn’t mean you have to buy them from your vet. I have found that 1-800-PetMeds has the best prices. They’re usually running a sale, which lowers their already lower price. And, to sweeten the deal, they offer free shipping on orders of $49 or more. I purchase both heartworm preventative and the Seresto flea & tick collar for my dogs from 1-800-PetMeds. For one dog, I save approximately $30 in 6 months by buying heartworm preventative from 1-800-PetMeds.

If heartworm preventative requires a veterinarian prescription, how do I order it from 1-800-PetMeds?

It’s actually really easy. Create an account with 1-800-PetMeds. Make a profile for your dog and type in the name of your dog’s vet. Select the heartworm preventative of your choice and check out. 1-800-PetMeds will take care of the rest! 1-800-PetMeds will obtain a prescription and mail your ordered medications to your door. They’ll even email you with updates if your vet is being slow to respond to their request or if it’s time to order your pet’s medications again. I have ordered medications from 1-800-PetMeds on a number of occasions and have been very pleased with how easy it is to do. Plus I have saved a significant amount of money ordering heartworm preventative through them rather than from my vet.

Heartworm Preventatives

We’ll start with worms. Heartworms are a dangerous parasite that attempt to infest your dog’s heart. If left unchecked, heartworms can eventually kill your dog. Since Heartworms are carried by mosquitoes, your dog is at danger even if she never leaves your yard. Mosquitoes don’t know property lines. Dogs are also susceptible to a variety of intestinal worms including: whipworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and round worms (hookworms & roundworms can also infect people). Because of this, your dog should use a monthly parasite preventative that covers a range of worms. All heartworm medications require a prescription from a veterinarian, and all of them kill heartworm larvae, not adult heartworms (if your dog has an infestation of adult heartworms, consult your veterinarian for treatment options). Heartworm medications should be administered with a meal, as they can be hard on your dog’s stomach. If you notice that your young puppy vomits shortly after receiving the medication, ask your vet about using a topical preventative (such as Revolution or Advantage Multi). Occasionally a puppy may need to use a topical heartworm preventative for a few months. Once older, she likely will tolerate the ingested medication.

There are a number of products on the market. Let’s compare the different heartworm preventatives:

	Trifexis	Sentinel	Interceptor Plus	Iverhart Max	Heartgard Plus	Sentinel Spectrum
Active Ingredients	Spinosad & Milbemycin Oxime	Lufenuron & Milbemycin Oxime	Praziquantel & Milbemycin Oxime	Praziquantel, Pyrantel Pamoate & Ivermectin	Pyrantel Pamoate & Ivermectin	Lufenuron, Praziquantel & Milbemycin Oxime
Cost For 6 Months*	$108	$54	$50	$41	$45	$66
Parasites Covered	Heartworm, Hookworm Roundworm, Whipworm, Flea (Adults & Eggs)	Heartworm, Hookworm, Roundworm, Whipworm, Flea Eggs	Heartworm, Hookworm, Roundworm, Whipworm, Tapeworm	Heartworm, Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm	Heartworm, Hookworm, Roundworm	Heartworm, Hookworm, Roundworm, Whipworm, Tapeworm, Flea Eggs
Administration Route	Oral	Oral	Oral	Oral	Oral	Oral
Flavor	Beef	Beef	Chicken	Beef	Beef	Beef
Caution Advised With	Dogs With Epilepsy; Dogs Taking Other Medications	Dogs Taking Other Medications	Dogs Taking Other Medications	Herding Breeds; Dogs Taking Other Medications	Herding Breeds; Dogs Taking Other Medications	Dogs Taking Other Medications
Manufacturer	Elanco	Virbac	Elanco	Virbac	Merial	Virbac

*price based on 1-800-PetMeds‘ non-sale price for a 25lb dog

All dogs are at risk for heartworms, and every dog should be on a monthly preventative to avoid being infested by these nasty guys. There is no right or wrong heartworm preventative, and the best choice varies from dog to dog. If you have a collie or shepherd breed, you may benefit from avoiding Heartgard Plus or Iverhart, both of which contain Ivermectin. If remembering to give your dog one pill each month is plenty and you don’t want to worry about a different medication for flea prevention, Trifexis might be a good option. If you want to cover as many parasites as possible, you might choose Sentinel Spectrum. Or if your dog detests artificial beef flavor, maybe she’ll find the chicken flavor of Interceptor delightful to her pallet. Use the above table to help educate yourself and discuss your options with your vet so you can choose the preventative that is best for your dog. 1-800-PetMeds has more in depth details about each product on their website such as the drug class, how to store, and how it works. I used information from 1-800-PetMeds‘ product descriptions to compile the above table.

Flea & Tick Prevention

As you can see, different heartworm preventatives contain different medications and consequently differ in the additional intestinal worms they prevent. You’ll also notice that Triflexis & Sentinel are the only two options that simultaneously fight fleas and that Triflexis is the sole product that kills adult fleas (while Sentinel inhibits the development of any flea eggs, it does not kill the adult fleas). None of the options protect against ticks. Many wild animals such as mice, rabbits, raccoons, and deer can carry fleas or ticks into your yard, so your dog may need a flea & tick preventative in addition to her monthly parasite prevention. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lymes Disease are just two nasty illnesses carried by deer ticks. Needless to say, you don’t want ticks on your dog! There are topical, oral, and slow release collar options for flea and tick prevention.

We prefer the convenience of the Seresto Collar by Bayer for evading fleas and ticks. The collar slowly releases Flumethrin & Imidacloprid (both insecticides affecting nervous system of insects) providing a reported 8 months of protection against flea, ticks, mange & lice. Research indicates that the time release of these medications very effective. The Seresto collar has no greasy residue or odor. It’s more economical than many monthly options, and there’s no need to remember to give it to your dog monthly, which is a huge plus in my opinion. See our review of the Seresto collar

References:

Stanneck et al. (2012). Efficacy of an imidacloprid/flumethrin collar against fleas, ticks, mites and lice on dogs. Parasites & Vectors, (5)102. Retrieved from: https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-3305-5-102

Timberidge Goldendoodles is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees via affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!

Seresto Collar Product Review

Posted on October 1, 2016April 29, 2018 by Timberidge

When I removed a second tick from one of our dogs during a cold week in March, I knew something had to be done. With the exponentially increasing deer population in our area comes an increasing population of the vile deer tick. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lymes Disease are just two nasty illnesses carried by these blood-sucking bugs. Needless to say, I don’t want ticks on my dogs!

My dogs regularly receive Sentinel, which covers heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms. Sentinel also breaks the flea’s life cycle by inhibiting egg development. Unfortunately, Sentinel does not cover ticks. After a discussion with my vet, I decided to give the Seresto collar by Beyer a try for preventing ticks.

Pros:

Convenient: no monthly application to remember
Durable
Cheaper than many monthly topical tick preventatives
Odor free
Easy to use
No grease

Cons:

- Effectiveness can be decreased by shampooing more than once per month
- Needs to be tight enough to stay in contact with your pet’s skin

Quality: Durable – Our dogs wore their collars for the full eight months, and they held up great. Our dogs swam, hiked, and rough housed with other dogs in them.

Functionality: Easy to use, adjustable, removable

Effectiveness: Research indicates that slow release flumethrin/imidacloprid collars are very effective

Best for: Flea & tick prevention for dogs that are not already infested with fleas or ticks. For use with dogs >7 weeks old.

Where to Buy: Seresto collars are available at most vets & pet supply stores. I personally found them the cheapest at 1-800-PetMeds but have noticed that the best prices varies between there & Amazon depending on the current promotions.

The Seresto collar comes in two sizes: a small dog collar for dogs <18lbs and a large dog collar for dogs >18lbs. I ordered the large size for all three of our dogs. The Seresto collar is very easy to use. It comes wound up in a tin case. Simply fit it to your dog’s neck and cut off the excess. I’ve never had a problem with the collar accidentally coming off, yet it is easily removed when needed. I chose to remove the collar for baths and grooming since the effectiveness can be decreased by frequent bathing but left it on for romps in the river. My dogs didn’t even notice they were wearing the Seresto. When walking two dogs side by side through the woods, we found a tick on the one without the Seresto collar on several occasions and none on the dog wearing the collar. My dogs did not acquire fleas, mange or lice while wearing the Seresto (although they’ve never had any of those parasites while not wearing the collar either). The collar comes with optional attachable reflectors, which we chose not to use.

Please note: my dogs were not infested with fleas or ticks prior to the collar application, and they also receive oral Sentinel, which is a flea preventative.

The Bottom Line: We’ll try the Seresto collar again next year.

Timberidge Goldendoodles is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees via affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!

DNA Health Testing

Posted on March 6, 2016January 3, 2022 by Timberidge

If you can remember back to high school biology class, you may recall learning about a monk who studied pea plants – Gregor Mendel, often considered the father of modern genetics. Mendel discovered through selective breeding of pea plants that two pea plants could pass on traits to their offspring that they themselves didn’t express. He found that some genes are dominant over other recessive genes. In his experiments some yellow podded pea plants produced green podded pea plant offspring. This sounds simple, yet it is actually quite profound. When a plant, or animal, mates each parent gives a “package of genes” to the offspring, some of these genes are dominant and some are recessive. Recessive genes can cause hidden traits. When each parent gives the same recessive gene to the offspring, the hidden trait appears. If, on the other hand, one parent plant gives a dominate gene and the other gives a recessive, only the dominate trait will appear, but the recessive can still be passed onto future generations. These same principles apply to dogs.

A Punnett Square Demonstration PRA Inheritance

Here’s a basic Punnett square showing two parent dogs: both are carriers (have a dominate normal retina gene and a silent recessive PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) gene). Because both parents have a dominate gene for normal retinas, they themselves will have normal retinas. When these dogs are bred statistically 3⁄4 of the puppies will have normal eyes since they will each receive at least one dominate gene for normal retinas, however, the other 1⁄4 of their puppies will receive two copies of the recessive gene for PRA and will likely become blind sometime during their adult lives. Basically, if at least one parent tests clear (has two copies of the dominate good gene), all of the puppies will have normal vision. By DNA testing our parent dogs, we ensure that no goldendoodle puppy will receive two copies of a recessive gene that could result in an unwanted health problem.

DNA testing doesn’t hurt our goldendoodles. We collect DNA via a buccal swab (cheek swab) and then send the swab to Spokane, Washington. Paw Print Genetics conducts tests on the DNA samples and notifies us of the results. You can visit our page on Paw Print Genetics’ website to view our dogs’ results for yourself. They also have lots of information about genetic testing if you want to learn more about it.

Eye Health: The CERF Exam & prcd-PRA DNA Testing

Posted on February 19, 2016January 3, 2022 by Timberidge

Today we drove to Norwood, Ohio to visit Dr. Haeussler at the Animal Eye Institute. After receiving drops to dilate their eyes, Moses & Abria hopped up on Dr. Haeussler’s examination table, and he checked their eye health. The CERF (Canine Eye Research Foundation) exam looks at the lens, cornea, optic nerves, and other parts of the eye to ensure that everything looks normal and healthy and that no hereditary eye conditions are present. Happily, Moses & Abria received passing CERF scores!

In addition to receiving passing CERF scores to ensure current eye health, we also DNA test our parent dogs for prcd-PRA to make sure they won’t develop this disease later in future years. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), an inherited disease, is a condition where the retina slowly dies eventually causing blindness. prcd-PRA (which stands for progressive rod-cone degeneration PRA) is the type of PRA sometimes carried by poodles. Consequently, Moses was tested to ensure that he is “clear.” This means he won’t develop prcd-PRA as he ages and it eliminates any possibility that he could be a silent carrier, passing the disease onto his puppies. Since Abria is a goldendoodle (making her half poodle), she also runs the risk of carrying prcd-PRA. Fortunately her dad was DNA tested for it and was clear, so we know she is too (this is known as clear by parentage). We are pleased to have parent dogs with healthy eyes so you can be confident that your goldendoodle puppy has healthy eyes as well.

Check out our blog post about DNA health testing for more information about the importance of testing parent dogs for prcd-PRA.

OFA Hips Testing

Posted on February 1, 2016January 3, 2022 by Timberidge

We’re not surprised by the results but it’s certainly a relief to have the official reading: Moses & Abria both have normal hips per OFA! Genetic and environmental factors play a role in your goldendoodle’s risk for developing hip dysplasia. Because we want to set your goldendoodle puppy up for success, we test the parent dogs before breeding them to decrease the possibility of a genetic predisposition. To test for hip dysplasia, an experienced veterinarian takes x-rays of the dog’s hips and those x-rays are then sent to OFA where three specialized veterinarians examine them to determine the official reading.

We’re happy to report that your puppy comes from health-tested parents so fortunately the hereditary aspect is minimized. Even so, because puppy bones and joint are immature, many environmental factors influence hip health, especially during the first 6 months of your puppy’s life. There are a few things you can do during to help ensure that your puppy doesn’t develop hip dysplasia. First, don’t over exercise your puppy or encourage her to exercise when she’s tired. General puppy gallivanting around your backyard is important for muscle development, but do not take your puppy on walks longer than a mile and never take your young puppy on a run. If your puppy lies down on a walk, it’s her way of saying she’s had enough. Allow her to rest and don’t push her to go any further. Second, stairs and any jumping should be avoided until at least 6 months of age. At 6 months old, a goldendoodle puppy can jump over something about 4″ in height. Also be careful not to let your goldendoodle puppy jump off of an elevated surface like a couch or out of a car, as injuries can easily happen. Lastly, weight is important throughout your goldendoodle’s life because obese dogs of any age are more likely to develop hip dysplasia. By being careful not to over exercise your goldendoodle puppy, not allowing her to jump or use stairs, and helping her maintain a healthy weight throughout her life you are playing your part in helping prevent her from developing hip dysplasia. If you are interested in learning more about hip dysplasia, check out this article from the United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA).