Cat and dog owners are confronted on a daily basis with the consequences of genetic diseases. With prevalences far higher than what is seen in humans, it is clear that popular sire effects, population bottlenecks, inbreeding and so on, have left their marks. Internationally, a common concern is whether animal welfare is sufficient. Managing genetic disorders correctly, counselling the people that are confronted with it: this is not easy. In (human) medicine, these issues are handled by clinical geneticists and genetic counselors. In veterinary medicine, this is not the case, even though the overall prevalence is far higher and the challenges are certainly there. With our research, we aim to lay the foundation for genetic counseling in veterinary medicine and give it the attention it deserves.