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Max

Mixed Ancestry

  • Max, a Chihuahua and Poodle (Small) mix tested with EmbarkVet.com Max, a Chihuahua and Poodle (Small) mix tested with EmbarkVet.com
    Adoption Photo

“Adopted from Bastrop Animal Rescue after a volunteer sent a photo. He likes to carry his toys and leash with head held high in a proud manner. Max resides in Austin, Texas, and loves long walks and long naps. He prefers to be where ever his master is and loves to sleep in his lap. Max doesn’t know a stranger and is an obsessive kisser!”

Place of Birth

Cedar Creek, Texas, USA

Current Location

Austin, Texas, USA

This dog has been viewed and been given 4 wags

Genetic Breed Result

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Chihuahua

Chihuahuas have a huge personality that defies their tiny frame, known to be highly active and intelligent canines.

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Poodle (Small)

A highly intelligent and playful dog, Miniature and Toy Poodles make for great lap dogs and companions.

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Shih Tzu

This ancient breed is the perfect lapdog. Sweet and easygoing, they want nothing more than to be close to their humans.

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Dogs Like Max

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Discover dogs who share a similar breed mix to Max. A higher score means the two dogs have more of their breed mix in common. A score of 100% means they share the exact same breed mix!

Click or tap on a pic to learn more about each dog and see an in-depth comparison of their DNA, breeds, and more.

DNA Breed Origins

Breed colors:
Chihuahua
Poodle (Small)
Shih Tzu

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Here’s what Max’s family tree may have looked like.
While there may be other possible configurations of his family’s relationships, this is the most likely family tree to explain Max’s breed mix.
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Health Summary

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Max is at increased risk for one genetic health condition.

And inherited two variants that you should learn more about.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (Type I)

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Max inherited one copy of the variant we tested

How to interpret this result

Max has one copy of an FGF4 retrogene on chromosome 12. In some breeds such as Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, and Dachshunds (among others) this variant is found in nearly all dogs. While those breeds are known to have an elevated risk of IVDD, many dogs in those breeds never develop IVDD. For mixed breed dogs and purebreds of other breeds where this variant is not as common, risk for Type I IVDD is greater for individuals with this variant than for similar dogs.

What is Intervertebral Disc Disease (Type I)?

Type I Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is a back/spine issue that refers to a health condition affecting the discs that act as cushions between vertebrae. With Type I IVDD, affected dogs can have a disc event where it ruptures or herniates towards the spinal cord. This pressure on the spinal cord causes neurologic signs which can range from a wobbly gait to impairment of movement. Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) refers to the relative proportion between a dog’s legs and body, wherein the legs are shorter and the body longer. There are multiple different variants that can cause a markedly chondrodystrophic appearance as observed in Dachshunds and Corgis. However, this particular variant is the only one known to also increase the risk for IVDD.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, crd4/cord1

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Max inherited one copy of the variant we tested

What does this result mean?

This variant should not impact Max’s health. This variant is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that a dog needs two copies of the variant to show signs of this condition. Max is unlikely to develop this condition due to this variant because he only has one copy of the variant.

What is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, crd4/cord1?

PRA-CRD4/cord1 is a retinal disease that causes progressive, non-painful vision loss over a 1-2 year period. The retina contains cells, called photoreceptors, that collect information about light and send signals to the brain. There are two types of photoreceptors: rods, for night vision and movement, and cones, for day vision and color. This type of PRA leads to early loss of cone cells, causing day blindness before night blindness.

ALT Activity

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Max inherited one copy of the variant we tested

Why is this important to your vet?

Max has one copy of a variant associated with reduced ALT activity as measured on veterinary blood chemistry panels. Please inform your veterinarian that Max has this genotype, as ALT is often used as an indicator of liver health and Max is likely to have a lower than average resting ALT activity. As such, an increase in Max’s ALT activity could be evidence of liver damage, even if it is within normal limits by standard ALT reference ranges.

What is ALT Activity?

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a clinical tool that can be used by veterinarians to better monitor liver health. This result is not associated with liver disease. ALT is one of several values veterinarians measure on routine blood work to evaluate the liver. It is a naturally occurring enzyme located in liver cells that helps break down protein. When the liver is damaged or inflamed, ALT is released into the bloodstream.

Breed-Relevant Genetic Conditions

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Von Willebrand Disease Type I, Type I vWD

Identified in Small Poodles

Prekallikrein Deficiency

Identified in Shih Tzus

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd

Identified in Chihuahuas and Small Poodles

Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis 7, NCL 7

Identified in Chihuahuas

GM2 Gangliosidosis

Identified in Small Poodles

Spinocerebellar Ataxia with Myokymia and/or Seizures

Identified in Chihuahuas

Neonatal Encephalopathy with Seizures, NEWS

Identified in Small Poodles

Osteochondrodysplasia

Identified in Small Poodles

Additional Genetic Conditions

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Traits

Explore the genetics behind your dog’s appearance and size.

Base Coat Color

Base Coat Color

Coat Color Modifiers

Coat Color Modifiers

Other Coat Traits

Other Coat Traits

Other Body Features

Other Body Features

Body Size

Body Size

Performance

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Through Max’s mitochondrial DNA we can trace his mother’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends. This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A1b

Haplotype

A18

Map

A1b

Max’s Haplogroup

This female lineage was very likely one of the original lineages in the wolves that were first domesticated into dogs in Central Asia about 15,000 years ago. Since then, the lineage has been very successful and travelled the globe! Dogs from this group are found in ancient Bronze Age fossils in the Middle East and southern Europe. By the end of the Bronze Age, it became exceedingly common in Europe. These dogs later became many of the dogs that started some of today's most popular breeds, like German Shepherds, Pugs, Whippets, English Sheepdogs and Miniature Schnauzers. During the period of European colonization, the lineage became even more widespread as European dogs followed their owners to far-flung places like South America and Oceania. It's now found in many popular breeds as well as village dogs across the world!

A18

Max’s Haplotype

Part of the large A1b haplogroup, we see this haplotype in village dogs in Central and South America, as well as French Polynesia. Among the breeds we have detected it in, this haplotype occurs most frequently in Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Lhasa Apsos, and Pugs.

A1b is the most common haplogroup found in German Shepherds.

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Through Max’s Y-chromosome we can trace his father’s ancestry back to where dogs and people first became friends. This map helps you visualize the routes that his ancestors took to your home. Their story is described below the map.

Haplogroup

A1a

Haplotype

H1a.8

Map

A1a

Max’s Haplogroup

Some of the wolves that became the original dogs in Central Asia around 15,000 years ago came from this long and distinguished line of male dogs. After domestication, they followed their humans from Asia to Europe and then didn't stop there. They took root in Europe, eventually becoming the dogs that founded the Vizsla breed 1,000 years ago. The Vizsla is a Central European hunting dog, and all male Vizslas descend from this line. During the Age of Exploration, like their owners, these pooches went by the philosophy, "Have sail, will travel!" From the windy plains of Patagonia to the snug and homey towns of the American Midwest, the beaches of a Pacific paradise, and the broad expanse of the Australian outback, these dogs followed their masters to the outposts of empires. Whether through good fortune or superior genetics, dogs from the A1a lineage traveled the globe and took root across the world. Now you find village dogs from this line frolicking on Polynesian beaches, hanging out in villages across the Americas, and scavenging throughout Old World settlements. You can also find this "prince of patrilineages" in breeds as different as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Pugs, Border Collies, Scottish Terriers, and Irish Wolfhounds. No male wolf line has been as successful as the A1a line!

H1a.8

Max’s Haplotype

Part of the large A1a haplogroup, this very common haplotype occurs in village dogs throughout the world (including southeast Asia, which is uncommon for A1a’s). Among the 25 breeds we see this haplotype in, it occurs most frequently in Labrador Retriever, Vizsla, and English Springer Spaniel.

Dogs with A1a lineage travelled during European Colonial times.

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