This is a specific conversation about Pet DNA tests — what they can and can't tell you — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
DNA tests for dogs have come a long way, and if you tested three years ago the honest answer is: yes, the reference databases have expanded significantly, which can meaningfully change breed percentage results and unlock health markers that simply weren't available before. The health screening side still varies between providers — some are much more rigorous than others — and none of it replaces a vet workup, but for breed composition and genetic health traits the better tests are genuinely useful now. To point you in the right direction: is your dog a mix or a pedigree Brittany, and are you mainly hoping to update the breed picture, dig into health screening, or both?
He's a pedigree Brittany Spaniel, six years old. I used Embark about three years ago and got breed and some health results. I'm wondering if it's worth re-testing with a newer kit to see if anything has changed or if new health markers have been added.
inparticular.ai
That's a sensible question and the answer is a qualified yes — with one caveat. Because Monty is a pedigree Brittany, his breed result isn't going to surprise you, so the main value in re-testing is the expanded health panel. Embark has added a substantial number of genetic health markers since 2021; their current panel screens for over 250 health conditions compared to roughly 170-180 three years ago. For Brittanys specifically, that now includes better coverage of hip dysplasia genetic markers and some neurological conditions relevant to the breed. Can I ask: did the original test flag anything that you've been monitoring, or are you starting from a clean slate health-wise?
Clean slate, nothing was flagged. I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything new that's been added to the panel. He's healthy as far as we know.
inparticular.ai
Perfect — that actually makes the decision straightforward. Given you already have Embark results as a baseline, I'd recommend re-testing with the Wisdom Panel Premium rather than going back to Embark. Here's why: Wisdom Panel Premium now screens for over 200 health conditions and includes trait reporting, and crucially it will give you a second independent read on health markers rather than just a re-run of the same methodology. Two different labs catching the same clean result is more reassuring than one lab telling you the same thing twice. Wisdom Panel Premium is available on Amazon UK, arrives quickly, and the lab turnaround is around two to three weeks. For a healthy six-year-old where you're essentially doing a thorough check rather than investigating a problem, it gives you the best combination of coverage and independent verification without paying for features you don't need.
That makes sense. Is there anything Embark still does better, just so I know what I'd be giving up?
inparticular.ai
Honestly, yes — Embark's relative disease risk scoring and their ongoing research updates are still a step ahead. If Monty had a complex mixed background or you'd flagged a health concern, I'd lean Embark. But for a pedigree dog on a routine check, Wisdom Panel Premium covers everything that matters practically, and the independent second opinion angle tips it for your situation. If you ever do want to go back to Embark for a specific reason down the line, your old results are still in their system for comparison — that's actually a nice feature they've kept.
Great, that's really helpful. I'll go with Wisdom Panel Premium.
inparticular.ai
Good call. One small tip: register the kit on their website before you post the sample — it speeds up the results and makes sure everything is linked to Monty's profile correctly from the start. Hope it comes back as clean as the first time.
