The 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 simply 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. While BAER testing is not available throughout all of Australia, it is becoming more and more commonly available, and you should always enquire of any breeder of Dalmatians if their litter, and the parents have been BAER tested, not just home hearing tested. BAER testing is now available in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and at various locations throughout Victoria.
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 and drugs, but in extreme
cases, a surgical solution is available. If left untreated, death can occur. For more information on Urinary Stones, visit my page on Urinary Stones.
3.
Allergies:- These can be caused by numerous
allergens and can be seasonal, just like Hayfever.
Food allergies or contact allergies are also
common.
4. Other conditions, while not as common, can occur in the breed such as heart murmurs, eye abnormalities and hip Dysphasia. These conditions can be easily tested for, and all prospective owners should enquire of any breeder if their dogs have been tested clear of these conditions before breeding. While these tests do not guarantee that the puppies from the mating are clear of these conditions, it greatly increases your chances that they wont be affected by them.
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