DNA test for a 13-year-old Pomeranian

Dog DNA tests have come a long way and are genuinely worth doing — breed composition results are now quite accurate, and the better kits screen for over 200 health markers, which can flag genetic risk factors your vet can follow up on. That said, health screening quality varies a lot between providers, and a DNA result is never a substitute for proper clinical testing, especially for an older dog. To point you in the right direction: is your dog a cat or dog, are you primarily after breed ancestry information, health screening, or both, and do you have a mixed breed or a dog whose background you're unsure about?

There's absolutely still a point, and I'd actually argue the health marker side becomes more meaningful with a senior dog rather than less. At 13, knowing whether she carries genetic variants linked to heart conditions, bleeding disorders, or drug sensitivities can genuinely inform how her vet manages her care — some of those findings are actionable even now. The ancestry report as a keepsake is a lovely idea too; the better kits give you a proper certificate-style breakdown that's genuinely printable and presentable. Can I ask — is she currently under regular vet care for any age-related conditions, or is she doing well for her age?

Given the heart murmur specifically, the health marker screening becomes even more relevant — some kits flag genetic variants associated with cardiac conditions in small breeds, and that's worth having documented for her vet records. For what you're describing, I'd recommend Wisdom Panel Premium. It's the most comprehensive kit widely available in the UK: screens for over 200 health conditions, gives you breed composition down to 1%, includes trait information, and produces a detailed report that works well as a keepsake document. The swab process is straightforward — just two cheek swabs, results in about three weeks. It's more thorough on the health side than Embark's UK offering and considerably more detailed than the basic Wisdom Panel Essential. For a 13-year-old dog whose owner wants both a meaningful record and genuinely useful health information, it's the right choice.

Yes, absolutely share them — and Wisdom Panel actually makes that easy because the health report is formatted in a way vets can read and reference. Be clear with her vet that these are genetic predisposition markers, not diagnostic results; a genetic variant doesn't mean a condition is present or will develop, just that the risk may be elevated. But given she's already being monitored for a murmur, having that genetic context in her file is genuinely useful. It's the kind of thing that can quietly inform decisions about medication choices and screening frequency over the next year or two.

Great choice for her. The keepsake report is genuinely lovely — a lot of owners frame the breed certificate page. And for a dog doing as well as she is at 13, it's a nice way to document her properly. Hope the results bring you something useful and something you can keep.