1. Stay calm. A carrier of a recessive variant will usually remain healthy. If your pet has two copies, or a dominant variant, the risk depends on the disease: for some, almost all animals become ill; for others, many never do. Age, other genes and the environment also play a role.
2. Talk to your vet. Show them the result and technical report. They will assess whether check-ups or specific clinical investigations are appropriate.
3. Confirm the result before deciding. Before any clinical, medication, breeding, neutering or euthanasia decision, the result must be confirmed using a new sample and an independent method at a veterinary laboratory. Meanwhile, if the result indicates drug sensitivity (MDR1), your vet will take it into account as a precaution when selecting medicines and doses.
4. Consider your pet’s relatives. Parents, siblings and offspring may share the variant. If you know their owners or the breeder, sharing the result may help them.
If you need help reading the report, email info@kokogenetics.com and we will explain it free of charge. Our support is informational and does not replace your vet’s assessment.