Question 1

Can a pet DNA test tell me if my pet is sick?

Accepted Answer

Most consumer DNA tests report breed/ancestry, traits, and carrier status or risk markers for some hereditary conditions. Results are information, not a confirmed diagnosis. See a veterinarian if your pet has symptoms or needs a diagnosis.

Question 2

Can I use the results as a diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

No. Consumer DNA tests are not intended for diagnosis. Health and treatment decisions are made by a veterinarian, who may use the results as one piece of information.

Question 3

Who writes this site?

Accepted Answer

A non-veterinarian editorial team that synthesizes peer-reviewed research, veterinary journals, and primary sources. We aggregate published evidence and do not diagnose or treat.

Question 4

How many sources does each article use?

Accepted Answer

Each article is built on primary literature — typically five or more tier-1/2 references such as PubMed-indexed studies, veterinary journals, and databases like OMIA (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals). Every article ends with a reference list you can check.

Question 5

Which conditions and breeds do you currently cover?

Accepted Answer

For dogs: MDR1/ABCB1 drug sensitivity and degenerative myelopathy (DM/SOD1). For cats: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM/MYBPC3) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD/PKD1). Each topic is written for the breeds in which the variant is most relevant.

Question 6

Is PetGene available in other languages?

Accepted Answer

Yes. PetGene publishes in English, Japanese (日本語), Simplified Chinese (简体中文) and German (Deutsch). Use the language links in the header. Each language has its own articles written for that market — not machine translations.

English

Persian Cats and Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD1): What the Research Actually Shows

Maine Coon and HCM (MYBPC3): What Research on Feline Heart Disease Actually Shows

Australian Shepherd Drug Hypersensitivity (MDR1/ABCB1): What the Research Actually Shows