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Rafa

Coton de Tulear

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Place of Birth

Ohio, USA

This dog has been viewed and been given 3 wags

Registration

American Kennel Club (AKC):

Genetic Breed Result

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Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tulear is a smaller breed with a cotton-like coat and lovable personality. They come from Madagascar, where they have been everything from pets of the royal family to free-ranging street dogs. They’re known as the “Royal Dog of Madagascar” and have been honored as such on a postage stamp.

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Here’s what Rafa’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 Rafa’s breed mix.

Breed Reveal Video

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Health Summary

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Rafa is at increased risk for one genetic health condition.

And inherited one variant that you should learn more about.

Intervertebral Disc Disease (Type I)

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Rafa inherited one copy of the variant we tested

How to interpret this result

Rafa 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.

ALT Activity

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Rafa inherited one copy of the variant we tested

Why is this important to your vet?

Rafa has one copy of a variant associated with reduced ALT activity as measured on veterinary blood chemistry panels. Please inform your veterinarian that Rafa has this genotype, as ALT is often used as an indicator of liver health and Rafa is likely to have a lower than average resting ALT activity. As such, an increase in Rafa’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 Coton de Tulears

Progressive Retinal Atrophy, prcd

Identified in Coton de Tulears

Canine Multifocal Retinopathy, cmr2

Identified in Coton de Tulears

Urate Kidney & Bladder Stones

Identified in Coton de Tulears

Primary Hyperoxaluria

Identified in Coton de Tulears

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

Performance

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Through Rafa’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

B1

Haplotype

B74

Map

B1

Rafa’s Haplogroup

B1 is the second most common maternal lineage in breeds of European or American origin. It is the female line of the majority of Golden Retrievers, Basset Hounds, and Shih Tzus, and about half of Beagles, Pekingese and Toy Poodles. This lineage is also somewhat common among village dogs that carry distinct ancestry from these breeds. We know this is a result of B1 dogs being common amongst the European dogs that their conquering owners brought around the world, because nowhere on earth is it a very common lineage in village dogs. It even enables us to trace the path of (human) colonization: Because most Bichons are B1 and Bichons are popular in Spanish culture, B1 is now fairly common among village dogs in Latin America.

B74

Rafa’s Haplotype

Part of the large B1 haplogroup, this haplotype occurs most frequently in mixed breed dogs.

The B1 haplogroup can be found in village dogs like the Peruvian Village Dog, pictured above.

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Through Rafa’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

A2b

Haplotype

Hc.9

Map

A2b

Rafa’s Haplogroup

A2b appears to have split a few times in succession, which means that some of the Central Asian male ancestors of this lineage went their separate ways before their respective Y chromosomes made their rounds. There is not much diversity in this lineage, meaning that it has only begun to take off recently. Two iconic breeds, the Dachshund and Bloodhound, represent this lineage well. Over half of Rottweilers are A2b, as are the majority of Labrador Retrievers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. While A2a is restricted mostly to East Asia, this paternal line is also found among European breeds.

Hc.9

Rafa’s Haplotype

Part of the A2b haplogroup, this haplotype is found in village dogs spanning South America, Africa, and the South Pacific. Among the breeds we have spotted it in, the most frequent occurrences are in Dachshund, Bloodhound, American Eskimo Dog, and Jack Russell Terrier.

A2b is found in the Daschund breed.

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