Dalmatian uric acid stone genetic test

Your breeder is giving you solid advice here. Dalmatians have a well-known quirk in uric acid metabolism — most carry a variant in the SLC2A9 gene that makes them excrete far more uric acid in their urine than other breeds, which is why urate bladder stones are so common in the breed. What the genetic test can tell you is whether your dog carries one copy or two copies of the variant (homozygous dogs are at higher risk than heterozygous ones), which helps your vet decide how closely to monitor him and whether a low-purine diet makes sense as a precaution. Before I point you to a specific kit — is this purely about the uric acid stone risk, or are you also interested in the broader health panel and breed breakdown that the main DNA test providers offer?

That makes complete sense — you know what he is, so the breed side is irrelevant. In that case the Embark Breed + Health kit is the one I'd go with. It covers over 250 genetic health conditions including the SLC2A9 uric acid variant that your breeder is specifically flagging, plus a wide range of other disease risks and drug sensitivities that are genuinely useful to have on record. The breed report is there but you can just ignore it. The alternative is a standalone uric acid stone test from a specialist canine genetics lab, but those cost around £50–£70 and give you just that one result — Embark's kit is usually around £120–£130 on Amazon UK and covers the full panel, so the value is much better if you're open to the broader picture.

Good question to push on. Embark tests for hyperuricosuria (HUU), which is caused by a mutation in the SLC2A9 gene — this is the same variant responsible for the uric acid stone predisposition in Dalmatians, as well as in some other breeds like Black Russian Terriers. It will tell you whether your dog is clear, a carrier (one copy), or affected (two copies). Homozygous affected Dalmatians are the ones vets typically recommend managing with dietary changes and regular urinalysis. The result gives your vet something concrete to work with rather than just treating all Dalmatians as equally at risk.

Yes, entirely at home — cheek swab, you rub it inside the cheek for about 30 seconds, let it dry, register the kit online, and post it back. Results come through in four to six weeks on average. One practical tip: don't let your dog eat, drink, or chew anything for about an hour before you take the swab, it gives a cleaner sample. The Embark Breed + Health kit is what I'd recommend — here's the Amazon UK listing so you can check current pricing and delivery.

Great — it's a really sensible thing to do, especially while he's young and before any symptoms appear. Once you have the result, share it with your vet even if it comes back clear, just so it's on his record. If he does come back as homozygous affected, your vet may want to do a baseline bladder ultrasound and talk through diet. Either way, you'll be in a much better position than most Dalmatian owners who are just managing blind. Hope it goes smoothly.