FAQ

Still have questions? Check our FAQ!

How do I swab my dog?

We have a simple video and detailed instructions in the How to Swab section on our website.

You collect saliva from your dog’s mouth using the kit we send to you. There is a sponge on a short stick (like a big Q-tip) that you move around in your dog’s cheek for 30 seconds to collect enough saliva. The sponge with your dog’s DNA goes into the tube we provide and is sent back to our lab. The process is fast and easy for nearly all dogs.

How important is my swabbing technique in collecting the saliva?

What if I purchased test kits for multiple dogs?

When swabbing more than one dog, please be sure to handle each kit separately. This includes activating each kit on our website and mailing each swab separately with the pre-paid mailing envelope in the kit. Each kit includes one pre-paid return mailing envelope with its own Test Number that allows us to match the DNA for that specific dog. Some people find it helpful to write the name of the dog on the sample collection tube.

To ensure you get a good saliva sample with just the DNA from the dog being swabbed, it’s best that your dogs don’t roughhouse or share toys, water, or food bowls for at least an hour before swabbing.

Again, make sure you use a separate swab for each dog!

Will it hurt the test if I forget to mail it back right away or there is a delivery delay?