My dog has an above-average risk score, but it's still very low. What does that mean?

It’s important to keep in mind that whether or not a dog develops allergies depends on a combination of genetic and environmental factors. How you interpret your dog’s genetic allergy risk score might be influenced by your dog’s lifestyle, home environment, and other factors. In your dog’s results, we report both the percentage risk (also called the “absolute risk”) and your dog’s individual risk compared to the average dog (also called “relative risk”), so you can decide how to use this information in your dog’s care.

Keep in mind that our allergy risk scores are not a diagnosis. A below-average risk score doesn’t guarantee that a dog won’t develop allergies, and an above-average risk score doesn’t guarantee that they will. It’s still a good idea to familiarize yourself with the signs of allergies and common triggers so you’ll be prepared and know what to look for regardless of your dog’s score.