In the first part of this examination of risk assessment and genetic testing, I dissected the concept of risk. Although relative risk is incomplete without the perspective provided by absolute risk, logistical constraints within veterinary research often limit this perspective. There is still value to these tests. In this next entry, I want to look at specific genetic tests where the result is functionally a risk assessment. Hopefully, you will better understand how to use the information provided by these tests with the goal of producing better dogs with each generation.
Genetic testing for dermatomyositis (DMS) is a true risk assessment test. Results from this test place a dog in risk categories of low, medium, high, and unknown. This type of risk assessment is uncomplicated. For each possible genotype listed in the report, the percentage of affected dogs in that group has been determined. Based on the genotype, the likelihood of an individual dog developing DMS is classified as low (0% - 5%), moderate (33% – 50%), or high (90% – 100%). These percentages correlate with the absolute risk for these dogs. With this test result, decisions about breeding a dog can be made ...