Genetic testing provides a link to the past and a guide for the future. By learning a pet’s full story, pet parents can make informed choices and give their pets the life they deserve.
Sometimes the results reveal an unexpected breed mix or behavior trait that helps their humans tailor their training or exercise. Other times they highlight a health risk that impacts decisions around nutrition or medication use. No matter what the results show, they bring pets and their people closer together—and that’s one of the best parts of our 20+ year journey at Wisdom Panel.
In celebration of testing 5 million pets, we’re sharing a few of the stories we’ve collected from our Wisdom Panel pack. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
Zoey’s story: From foster fail to family reunion
When Zoey was rescued from a shelter and taken into foster care, the goal was to give her a temporary place where she could feel safe and regain her confidence. What she got was so much more.
Zoey’s foster family slowly brought her out of her shell and introduced her to their resident dog, Jazz. It didn’t take long for the two pups to become fast friends. But it wasn’t until the family officially adopted Zoey and did a Wisdom Panel DNA test that they learned Zoey and Jazz weren’t just pals, they were sisters, too. After being adopted from two different shelters, 2.5 years apart, these girls are where they’re meant to be—together.
Duke’s story: A crisis averted
A trip to the emergency vet is always harrowing, but for Duke and his pet parents it could have been catastrophic. After suffering an injury, Duke was rushed to the vet for treatment. The veterinary team was ready to administer pain medication when Duke’s family chimed in with important information. Wisdom Panel’s DNA test revealed that Duke carries the MDRI gene mutation. This mutation prevents him from processing certain drugs, including the one he was about to be given. By sharing this medication sensitivity with the ER team, Duke avoided what might have been a fatal complication to a common medication.
Oslo’s story: Head-turning looks, explained
Oslo’s pet mom rescued her as a kitten when she was just four weeks old. As she watched her grow and develop, she became convinced that Oslo had Siamese in her breed mix. To confirm her suspicions, she did a Wisdom Panel DNA test. It turns out, Oslo’s DNA revealed several breeds, but not Siamese!
Reading up on the breeds in her report, Oslo’s mom can now see that Oslo gets her coloring from her Siberian ancestry and her adorable round face from the British Shorthair in her mix. And those are just a couple of the traits that demonstrate how Oslo’s DNA influences her stunning appearance.
Boone’s story: Finding mutual understanding
Let’s face it, sometimes relationships are hard. That’s how Boone’s pet parent felt when Boone was a pup. But after getting a DNA test from Wisdom Panel, she learned that their rocky start was in part based on not understanding Boone’s unique needs. Once she saw his breed mix and better understood his personality and behavioral tendencies, she was able to adjust her approach. The result? A loyal pup that’s well-mannered, in-tune with her emotions, and even able to perform service dog tasks—proving that when it comes to pets, a little understanding goes a long, long way.
Sophie’s story: A true rescue tale
Sophie was found on the interstate abandoned, scared, and injured. When no one came to claim her at the shelter, her rescuers knew they had to adopt her. Since they had no background information on Sophie, a Wisdom Panel DNA test filled in a lot of blanks. It turns out that Sophie is 65% American Pit Bull Terrier, with other breeds from the Guard dog breed group mixed in. So it’s no wonder she’s a loyal, devoted member of her new family.
Jack’s story: Making sense of a mutt
Jack’s pet parents knew he was a mutt, but had no idea what breeds made up his mix. Turns out, it takes 17 different breeds to make a pup as perfect as Jack.
Seeing his breed report helped Jack’s family understand him a lot better. His vocal nature? He has the Beagle and Basset Hound in his mix to thank for that. And his high-energy behaviors have his Australian Cattle Dog DNA written all over them. For Jack’s pet parents, seeing his results has been like getting answers to all of the questions they would ask him, if only pets could talk.
