Does coat color or white feet indicate MDR1 gene mutation in dogs?

Hello and thank you for your post again on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The MDR1 mutation is not commonly found in Beagles. Herding breeds or breeds her herding descent are the most effected. All other breeds, have a less than 5% chance of carrying the mutation. I hope this has helped! Best wishes to you.

MDR1 can be tested very easily by most veterinary laboratories, you will need to take Morty to the vet, they will take a blood sample then they will send it to the lab, within 3-4 days you should get an answer.

MDR1 genes (even with the asterisk) are the same. The test that is performed is determining if Tasha has the MDR1 gene from both mother and father (mutant/mutant), MDR1 gene from one parent (normal/mutant) or does not have the MDR1 gene at all (normal/normal). I do not know what the asterisk is indicating. This website has a lot of great information about MDR1 genes: http://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu

Hello. It is important to know with Border Collies, and other Collie mixes in particular, whether they are MDR1 normal or not to ensure you use the proper products on Tasha. You can just assume she has an abnormal gene and get products that are safe for an abnormal gene. However, if the clinic is still practicing where you took Tasha before, you should be able to get her records, as records should be kept for 5 years and Tasha is only 4 years old, so you can try to call the vet and get these records. You can also try discussing with your vet about which lab the test would have been sent to, as the lab that ran the test may have a record of it as well. You can, of course, get her tested again as well. These are all options. Good luck with Tasha.

This supplement has no concern with a dog that has a MDR1 gene mutation. There are no safety concerns with glucosamine, or the other ingredients in this product, so no worries about giving it with her condition. For more information about this condition I recommend you read the article at the following link: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/multidrug-resistance-mutation-mdr1 I hope that helps and all is well with Lovey.

I am not 100% sure what you are referring to but I am guessing DM (degenerative myelopathy). Is that correct? Yes, there is DNA testing available to see which dogs carry the gene for this disease. If two dogs bred together that both have this autosomal recessive gene then the chance of the offspring developing the disease is 1 in 4. Some dogs carry the gene but never develop symptoms. All animals should ideally be tested prior to purchase and breeding. The problem is that most breeders do not do the testing. If you buy another GSD you should only buy from a breeder that has done the testing. Hope this answers your question. Best wishes.

What a cute puppy! My suspicion is that the color changes are due to what is called a "merle" gene in this puppy, which can cause color dilution- or white patches on the fur and nose. In most cases it is not a concern but it has been associated with congenital deafness in some dogs. The deafness usually is apparent by a few weeks of age. You can ask the breeder for an examination by a vet to ensure that isn't an issue with this puppy before purchasing her.