Health
The main health issues, which any Dalmatian owner/breeder should be aware of are urinary stones and deafness. Some dogs also exhibit allergy symptoms.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia may not be as common as it is in other breeds, but it does exist.
We hip and elbow score all dogs that we breed from and we only use dogs with bilateral hearing we also only breed for the low uric acid gene.
Hyperuricosuria (Bladder Stones)
All Dalmatians, except for those originating from the Dalmatian backcross project, have two copies of a recessive mutant gene, which means they are unable to process uric acid correctly. This results in abnormally high levels of uric acid in their urine and a predisposition to form urate stones in the bladder and sometimes the kidneys; this can cause urinary obstruction (a potentially fatal medical emergency).
Fortunately not all Dalmatians will form stones but the risk must be minimised by providing a diet relatively low in purines, making sure that they drink plenty of water and have frequent and regular opportunities to urinate.
The Dalmatian Backcross Project hopes to elimiate this condition (see below). LUA dalmatians have a copy of the normal dominant gene, enabling the body to process uric acid correctly. This eliminates their predisposition to bladder, resulting in a dog that can eat a wider variety of foods that would otherwise have led to the risk of these stones forming.
The Dalmatian Backcross Project - READ MORE HERE
The Dalmatian backcross project was initiated in 1973 by an American geneticist called Dr. Robert Schaible. He carried out a single outcross to a pointer in order to reintroduce the gene required for normal uric acid metabolism, since then all breeding has been to purebred registered Dalmatians.
We are now 14 or 15 generations into this breeding programme and it is hoped that one day we can eliminate the defective gene from the dalmatian population.
Four normal uric acid (NUA) Dalmatians were imported into the UK from America one of these is Archie's paternal grandmother) and their healthy gene is now gradually being incorporated into the gene pool of the Dalmatian population in Europe and the rest of the world.
Deafness
Dalmatians can suffer from deafness in one or both ears. Only recently has it been possible to test animals for deafness, the only way to be sure of a dogs hearing status is to perform the BAER test (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response). This can be carried out on puppies from the age of 5 weeks.
Dogs that can only hear in one ear (unilateral) lead perfectly normal lives and make fantastic pets but they should NOT be bred from.
Allergies
Dalmatians are prone to allergies that can manifest themselves as rashes, hives etc. You can reduce the risk of these reaction by feeding your dalmatian the most natural diet possible with least amount of additives, please see 'Feeding' below.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia may not be as common as it is in other breeds, but it does exist.
We hip and elbow score all dogs that we breed from and we only use dogs with bilateral hearing we also only breed for the low uric acid gene.
Hyperuricosuria (Bladder Stones)
All Dalmatians, except for those originating from the Dalmatian backcross project, have two copies of a recessive mutant gene, which means they are unable to process uric acid correctly. This results in abnormally high levels of uric acid in their urine and a predisposition to form urate stones in the bladder and sometimes the kidneys; this can cause urinary obstruction (a potentially fatal medical emergency).
Fortunately not all Dalmatians will form stones but the risk must be minimised by providing a diet relatively low in purines, making sure that they drink plenty of water and have frequent and regular opportunities to urinate.
The Dalmatian Backcross Project hopes to elimiate this condition (see below). LUA dalmatians have a copy of the normal dominant gene, enabling the body to process uric acid correctly. This eliminates their predisposition to bladder, resulting in a dog that can eat a wider variety of foods that would otherwise have led to the risk of these stones forming.
The Dalmatian Backcross Project - READ MORE HERE
The Dalmatian backcross project was initiated in 1973 by an American geneticist called Dr. Robert Schaible. He carried out a single outcross to a pointer in order to reintroduce the gene required for normal uric acid metabolism, since then all breeding has been to purebred registered Dalmatians.
We are now 14 or 15 generations into this breeding programme and it is hoped that one day we can eliminate the defective gene from the dalmatian population.
Four normal uric acid (NUA) Dalmatians were imported into the UK from America one of these is Archie's paternal grandmother) and their healthy gene is now gradually being incorporated into the gene pool of the Dalmatian population in Europe and the rest of the world.
Deafness
Dalmatians can suffer from deafness in one or both ears. Only recently has it been possible to test animals for deafness, the only way to be sure of a dogs hearing status is to perform the BAER test (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response). This can be carried out on puppies from the age of 5 weeks.
Dogs that can only hear in one ear (unilateral) lead perfectly normal lives and make fantastic pets but they should NOT be bred from.
Allergies
Dalmatians are prone to allergies that can manifest themselves as rashes, hives etc. You can reduce the risk of these reaction by feeding your dalmatian the most natural diet possible with least amount of additives, please see 'Feeding' below.
Feeding
Dalmatians that do not possess the LUA gene are prone to the formation of urinary stones (we call these HUA dalmatians), if left unchecked can cluster together to form stones which at a worse case scenario can cause blockages preventing the dog from urinating and can be fatal.
The crystals are formed because the Dalmatian cannot process purines like other breeds. Many food are high in purines and Dalmatian owners are advised to make themselves aware of these foods and avoid them. A diet that is low in PURINES is recommended for the prevention of this, please do not confuse PURINES with PROTEIN (see list to the right). LUA dalmatians can enjoy the diet of any other dog breed that posseses the normal gene and purines are not an issue. RAW Feeding We choose to feed our dogs in the most natural way possible by providing them with a completely raw diet with real meats, mince and bone. If you can get your hands on a chest freezer and you buy in bulk, this way of feeding doesn't work out any more expensive that good quality commercial dog food. We mostly feed chicken wings, chicken necks, white fish and a mixture of tripe, chicken and beef (only occasionally) minces. We also include puréed or pulped vegetables (twice weekly) along with eggs, cottage cheese, yoghurt and hemp oil and Keepers Mix. DO NOT feed HUA dalmatians organ meats because these are the highest in Purines (see list to the right). HUA Dalmatian should get plenty of water, which can help flush out any small sedimentary particles from their bladder. As well as their water bowl we also add water to the dogs meals to encourage water uptake. This will also mean the dogs wiill toilet more often, further reducing the risk of bladder stones. The goal for a HUA Dalmatian is to keep the urine neutral (pH 7.0) and dilute. Commercial Dog Food For most HUA Dalmatians that have not been diagnosed as stone forming there are cheaper alternatives and anecdotally we have had success with lower protein diets such as Chappie (wet or dry), James Wellbeloved (Chicken or Fish) or Arden Grange. Most importantly they do not contain additives and colorings which may make a dalmatian hyperactive. This applies to dog treats as well see below. If you do decide to feed your dog on a dry food/commercial diet we would recommend: Feed a recommended commercial food that has been proven to suit HUA dalmatians or in the case of an LUA a good quality commercial food (Arden Grange, James Wellbeloved, Chappie (wet or dry)) Serve your HUA dalmatian his/her dry food with water, kind of how you would serve milk with a cereal. this will encourage a dilute urine. Give you HUA dalmatian plenty of opportunity to wee Royal Canin make a food specifically for HUA Dalmatians it is based on egg protein and is very low in Purines. Other prepared foods available are on prescription only, made by Hills and Royal Canin and are generally only used once a stone forming Dalmatian has been diagnosed and treated by a Vet and in not . All of these foods have the disadvantage of being expensive compared to other dry foods. Treats Apple, Carrot, Hard Cheese (Cheddar) and hard boiled eggs make great low Purine treats and are great for titbits while training your Dalmatian. There are many recipes for making your own purine free dog treats available online. Many pre-made dog snacks and treats are made from offal and cheap cuts of meats that contain the highest amounts of Purines. We have seen behavioural problems and hyperactivity reduced by changing a dogs diet to a lower protein food free from bright colours. The more simple the food the better it seems to suit ALL Dalmatians. |
RAW Traffic light system
Green Light Purines These foods are virtually Purine free they can be fed as often as you like and to stone forming dogs:
Yellow Light Purines The following foods are considered to contain a moderate level of purines and are acceptable in diets for stone-forming dog breeds.:
Red light Purines The following foods contain the highest levels of purines and should be avoided:
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