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“Sky”
PTK Clear Blue Sky

Shih Tzu

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Current Location

Delta, Colorado, USA

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Genetic Breed Result

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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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Health Summary

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Sky is at increased risk for one genetic health condition.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (Type I)

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Sky inherited one copy of the variant we tested

How to interpret this result

Sky 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.

Breed-Relevant Genetic Conditions

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Prekallikrein Deficiency (KLKB1 Exon 8)

Identified in Shih Tzus

Additional Genetic Conditions

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Traits

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

Coat Color

Coat Color

Other Coat Traits

Other Coat Traits

Other Body Features

Other Body Features

Body Size

Body Size

Performance

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

Haplogroup

A4

Haplotype

A454

Map

A4

PTK Clear Blue Sky’s Haplogroup

The A4 maternal lineage is fairly rare. It is found in Cocker Spaniels, but A4 is also represented well among East Asian breeds including the Chinese Crested Dog, Shar-Pei and Shih Tzu. Moving away from Asia, it is also found among Chihuahuas (a very old breed!) and village dogs in Peru. This may be a lineage that moved into Western breeds because of their owners' tendencies to mix them up with Eastern breeds in the early modern period.

A454

PTK Clear Blue Sky’s Haplotype

Part of the A4 haplogroup, the A454 haplotype occurs most commonly in Shih Tzus and Chinese Shar-Peis.

The popular Chihuahua breed descends from the A4 maternal line.

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The Paternal Haplotype reveals a dog’s deep ancestral lineage, stretching back thousands of years to the original domestication of dogs.

Are you looking for information on the breeds that Sky inherited from her mom and dad? Check out her breed breakdown.

Paternal Haplotype is determined by looking at a dog’s Y-chromosome—but not all dogs have Y-chromosomes!

Why can’t we show Paternal Haplotype results for female dogs?

All dogs have two sex chromosomes. Female dogs have two X-chromosomes (XX) and male dogs have one X-chromosome and one Y-chromosome (XY). When having offspring, female (XX) dogs always pass an X-chromosome to their puppy. Male (XY) dogs can pass either an X or a Y-chromosome—if the puppy receives an X-chromosome from its father then it will be a female (XX) puppy and if it receives a Y-chromosome then it will be a male (XY) puppy. As you can see, Y-chromosomes are passed down from a male dog only to its male offspring.

Since Sky is a female (XX) dog, she has no Y-chromosome for us to analyze and determine a paternal haplotype.

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