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Medical Problems

DEAFNESS

Congenital deafness is a condition prevalent in Dalmatians. This is a polygenic problem, which means that it CANNOT currently be bred out of the breed. ALL Dalmatian bloodlines suffer from deafness. There are some individual dogs who produce few deaf puppies in their offspring. Approximately 8% of the breed are born completely deaf, and another 22% are born with unilateral hearing (in one ear only). Normal puppies will have hearing in both ears, known as bilateral normal hearing. All puppies are born with their ear canals closed; these should be open at 12-16 days. If a pup is deaf, it cannot be reversed or corrected. All Dalmatian puppies offered for sale should be tested for deafness. Sometimes a Breeder doesn’t have access to a facility for this type of testing. I test all of my puppies at three weeks of age with first voice, then whistle then smoke alarm. All three methods are very effective in determining complete deafness. The sales contract should have specific conditions for dealing with a deaf puppy. The contract should allow the buyer to exchange the pup for one who can hear or your money should be refunded. Many Kennel Clubs strongly oppose placement of completely deaf puppies, a stance that is supported by most responsible breeders. This position is taken because deaf dogs very rarely make acceptable pets. Deaf dogs can be trained to respond to hand signals, but because the dog can only see the signals if he/she deaf dogs must be kept under strict control at all times. In addition, deaf dogs cannot hear danger sounds such as car horns honking and require extra security measures for their own safety. The difficulty of coping with deafness taxes dogs of even the most stable temperament. Any temperament problems will be amplified in a deaf dog. As large, strong dogs, Dalmatians can be dangerous if they are not under control. Since most reputable breeders never knowingly sell, place or give away deaf puppies, it is likely that a deaf dog or puppy that is up for adoption is the result of a breeding by someone who is less then conscientious or who has not done their homework. Such breeders probably have not screened the sire and dam for health or temperament either. There are a few special owners with special deaf dogs who are functioning well, but in most cases, these owners also recommend that prospective owners not knowingly adopt deaf dogs. Dogs with hearing in only one ear (unilateral) make perfectly acceptable pets and are generally indistinguishable from dogs with hearing in both ears.

I'm in the minority with my views on deaf puppies. I don't believe that an animal who is perfect in every way, except hearing, should not be given the chance to prove itself viable in society. I have had six deaf pups over the years and only had to put one down because she showed signs of aggression at a early age. Four of the remaining five responded well to hand signal training with only one having being hit by a car when it left it's yard unsupervised. I agree a deaf Dalmatian is quite a challenge but it is a challenge that some kind hearted souls are willing to take on.

URINARY PROBLEMS

The Dalmatian has a urinary system unique among dogs. The condition urolithiasis occurs because Dal urine contains uric acid, instead of urea or allantoin. Bladder and kidney stones are formed from salts of the uric acid. Large stones can lodge in the urethra, and small stones, or "gravel", may pass with the urine. Complete blockage of the urinary tract by stones is fatal if not treated promptly. All Dalmatians are susceptible to urinary stones. Careful Dalmatian owners will seek out a diet which does not contain proteins high in purines. Keeping protein levels below 23% dramatically reduces the likeliness of any problems. I never give my puppies puppy food. They are on Adult formula dry dog food from three weeks of age. Organ meats, especially liver, and beef, are major sources of purines and should be avoided. Lamb, poultry, eggs and most vegetables are lower in purines. Adequate water should be provided at all times as well. Some Dal owners 'float' their dog's dry food in 2 or 3 cups of water to ensure adequate water intake. Dalmatians should also be given frequent opportunities to urinate in order to flush their urinary tracts of any crystals. If you suspect any problems, don’t hesitate to take your dog to the Veterinarian.

SKIN ALLERGIES

Once again the protein level in your dog food is the culprit most times when you Dalmatian has a skin allergy. The first litter of pups I had all had a skin condition. At the time I was feeding Purina Puppy Chow. When my Vet. finally figured out the problem and we switched to a Purina Adult Formula, the skin condition of all eleven pups cleared up within days. Live and learn I guess.

HIP DYSPLASIA

Medium to large breeds of dogs are more susceptible to hip dysplasia. This is a rare condition in Dalmatians but it is cropping up more often in the last couple of years.

EPILEPSY

Dalmatians like many other breeds can and do have epilepsy, or seizure disorders. Some are labeled idiopathic , meaning no known cause and may be inherited. These usually occur between the ages of 6 months and 5 years this is called PRIMARY EPILEPSY. Seizures can be caused by many things such as blows to the head, distemper, ingestion of poisonous substances, this is called SECONDARY EPILIPSY. Seizures can also be associated with hypothyroidism

There are several types of seizures,

MILD, which can be just as simple as staring into space momentarily

MODERATE, which is called grand mal, the dog will fall down, convulse, lose control of bladder and bowels, lose consciousness, maybe froth at the mouth, this usually lasts for 3-5 mins, often followed by a period of restlessness, pacing bumping into objects, loss of balance, this can last from 1/2 hr to several days.

SEVERE, which can occur in two forms STATUS EPILEPTICUS, which involves the dog losing consciousness for 30 minutes or more, and CLUSTER SEIZURES multiple seizures within a short period of time, both can be life threatening and a vets help MUST be sought.

If you think that your dog has epilepsy then contact your vet, appropriate treatment early on can help your pet live a normal happy and healthy life.

Main Page Dalmatian History
Physical Description of a Dalmatian Characteristics and Temperament
Commonly Asked Questions Medical Problems
Crate and House Training Basic Obedience Training
Trick Training Responsible Dog Ownership
How to Cope With Your Dog's Death When You Have to find Fido a new home
Ten Dog Commandments A Dog's Prayer
How Your Dog REALLY Ages How to be a good Part-time Doggie Parent
Naming Your Puppy Dalmatian Poem
A Man and his Dog Notes, Quotes and Tidbits
Pictures of my Dogs Copy of some of my Sales/Adoption/ Breeding Contracts
Dog Webrings More Dog Webrings
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