Am I podgy? Or it is my breed make-up?
When Mum first met me she thought I was teeny but rotund. Everyone who met me since have called me “chicken nugget,” “porkie,” “dumpling,” “cocktail sausage,” “cuboid”, “brick,” “loaf,” “fluffy footstool” amusingly highlighting my adorable roundness. You would think I would have a complex by now – thankfully, I am still not well-versed in English to understand all the nuances of those names they call me.
Amidst the playful banter and affectionate nicknames, Mum couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to my plump figure, shorter legs and toy poodle heritage. She decided to delve deeper into my genetic makeup. Enter Wisdom Panel – a breed testing kit that could unveil the secrets of my stocky build.
And the results ….
May’s comment: And the results potentially reveals the captivating mix of breeds that comprise her overall appearance.
That 2% of Bichon Frise is showing up quite prominently which might explain that she is more stocky than a toy poodle with shorter legs and a shorter muzzle.
While she may still sport a few extra kgs, Wisdom Panel gave me a newfound appreciation for the additional mix of breeds detected through the testing revealed new dimensions to my appearance and personality.
Though she is overweight – weighing in at 4.75 kg when she arrived, she is now 4.3 kg. As cute as she is, getting her down to our goal of 4 kg is to help her with her joints as she gets older and also her heart. The first couple of weeks, she was panting when we were out walking but now she scampers around on her short little legs, especially when she knows it’s treat time. She is awfully cute when she does run! And there are signs of a waistline and her legs are looking a tad longer without being hidden by her roundness.
The next time you catch a glimpse of Lulu’s slightly less podgy figure, know that it’s a testament to the rich tapestry of breeds that make her what she is.
The Wisdom Panel also gives an assessment of health – they did 263 DNA tests. They detected 1 genetic condition which shows she is at an increased risk for being diagnosed with Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) and Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) Risk. Chondrodystrophy (CDDY) is a skeletal disorder characterized by shortened limbs and abnormal early degeneration of the spinal discs, or intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), which predisposes to disc herniation. This variant is a risk factor and some dogs with one, or even two, copies of this variant may not go on to show signs of disc disease. Having the knowledge of this reminds me not to encourage her to jump down sofas or beds – which she can’t do anyway. And I’ll leave it at that.
So while Lulu is predominantly toy/mini poodle, does her 2% make her a poochon?
I’ve used Wisdom in the past for George and I think their determination of what he is seems pretty accurate – Maltese, Yorkshire terrier and Shih-Tzu. Now what do we call this combo?!?!?
