Genetic
Disease that effect Dalmatians:
This
report is designed to catalogue the identified congenital
and hereditary disorders found in Dalmatians and to
describe other common conditions that are thought
to be genetic in origin because they appear with higher-than-expected
frequency in Dalmatians.
This does not mean that your Dalmatian will
develop ANY of these diseases and conditions at all. This list is for you and your Vets information only.
The
three most common disorders in Dalmatians are
1.
Deafness: - 8% of Dalmatians are born totally
deaf (source: The Dalmatian Club of America, webpage;
http://www.thedca.org).
This condition is obvious at 4 to 6 weeks of
age. The
best way to tell if your Dalmatian is deaf is by BAER
(Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) testing.
Another 18% of Dalmatians are born deaf in one ear
(commonly known as Unilateral's, or simiply Uni's).
A Uni is much more difficult to diagnose and BAER
testing is the only reliable way of discovering if
your Dalmatian is a Uni or not.
2.
Uric Acid Calculi (or Bladder Stones):- This
disease is usually not obvious until adulthood.
It generally effects males, but females can
sometimes be effected.
It can be controlled through diet, but in extreme
cases, a surgical solution is available.
3.
Allergies:- These can be caused by numerous
allergens and can be seasonal, just like Hayfever.
Food allergies or contact allergies are also
common.
Other
diseases and conditions:-
Allergies:
same as in humans. Dogs can be allergic to things
they come in contact with, eat or inhale
Atopy:
an allergy caused from things dogs inhale
Blue
eyes:
an adverse reaction to certain vaccines containing
canine hepatitis virus (adenovirus 1) which produces
a bluish discolouration to the cornea.
Cardiomyopathy:
a disease of weakened heart muscles. Seen in giant
breeds, boxers, American cocker spaniels, and Doberman
pinschers.
Deafness:
an inability to hear, due to many different causes.
Demodicosis:
a kind of skin disease (mange) caused by microscopic
Demodex canis
mites living within the skin layers and producing
an immunodeficiency syndrome.
Dermatitis,
atopic:
inflammation and subsequent infection of the skin
due to atopy.
Dermoid
cyst:
a small growth composed of skin-like structures.
Distichiasis:
abnormally growing eyelashes.
Entropion:
an abnormal rolling in of the eyelid.
Folliculitis:
an infection of the hair follicles.
Furunculosis:
an infection of the deeper structures of the skin.
Glaucoma:
abnormally high pressure in the eye.
Globoid
cell leukodystrophy:
abnormal development and/or function of certain types
of white globoid cells in the brain.
Granulomatous
sebaceous adenitis: a disease of sebaceous (sweat) skin glands
characterized by reactive tissue growth and autoimmune
destruction of the sebaceous glands. Hair loss occurs
and is poorly responsive to treatment. Common in standard
poodles, Akita's, Samoyeds and Vizslas.
Hip
dysplasia:
a developmental malformation or subluxation of the
hip joints.
Hypothyroidism:
a common endocrine disease where the body produces
an abnormally low amount of thyroid hormones. An autoimmune
destruction of the thyroid gland which affects more
than 50 dog breeds.
Lymphocytic
thyroiditis:
an autoimmune disease causing inflammation and destruction
of the thyroid gland, which becomes infiltrated with
lymphocytes (white blood cells) and leads to hypothyroidism.
This is the most common endocrine disease of the dog
and has an inherited predisposition.
Lysosomal
'storage' diseases:
a group of progressive multifocal neurologic disorders
caused by specific enzyme deficiencies leading to
death of nerve cells and accumulation of their respective
enzyme substrates in cells.
Microphthalmia:
a condition where one or both eyes are too small.
Osteochondritis
dissecans:
a specific form of inflammation of the cartilage of
certain joints which causes arthritis.
Osteochondrosis:
a group of developmental diseases resulting in abnormal
formulation of joint cartilage. Commonly involves
the shoulder, stifle, hock or elbow.
Pannus:
an immunologic eye disease characterized by abnormal
growth of tissue over the cornea.
Progressive
retinal atrophy:
a disease where the retina slowly deteriorates, producing
night blindness.
Squamous
cell carcinoma:
a cancer arising from the squamous type of skin cell.
Thyroiditis:
an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the thyroid
gland.
Uric
acid calculi:
bladder stones which are formed primarily from urates.
Common in Dalmatians.
Uric
acid excretion abnormalities: an abnormality in the process of the excretion
of the uric acid formed during metabolism. Common
in Dalmatians.
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