Dalmatian

Lifestyle needs

Dalmatian

The Dalmatian was a popular carriage dog in Regency times – he ran for sometimes long distances alongside carriages.  So he is a dog which is strong and active and needs plenty of opportunity to run free.  He should live in a house , preferably with a large garden and enjoy a country lifestyle.  His coat is short and needs grooming once a week to keep it in good condition.

Inbreeding coefficient – COI

(should be as low as possible)

The breed average COI is 6%

See A Beginners Guide to COI.

Health and welfare problems due to conformation

(body shape and physical characteristics)

• Bloat/Torsion (stomach fills with air and twists causing extreme pain – needs urgent vet treatment) common in deep chested breeds.

BVA/KC Health Schemes  http://www.bva.co.uk/chs

• Hip dysplasia (malformation of the hip joints causing pain and disabilty):  breed mean score 12.2 (parents should be lower)

DNA tests available

Parents should be tested for:

• Urolithiasis (urate stones)  Many and perhaps all Dalmatians carry a mutation in a metabolic gene, causing high uric acid which in turn creates painful urate stones, risk of kidney failure, and death (especially for males).  A recent cross with a Pointer has introduced the normal form of the gene, but this is not yet widespread.

Unofficial (breed club) schemes

• BAER testing for deafness (very important that this test is carried out)
• Bitches under 2 years not to produce a litter
• Bitches not to produce more than one litter in a 12 month period
• No more than 4 litters in a lifetime

Ask the breeder to show you the certificates for the above tests/screening for both parents (or check the KC’s health test results finder). If any of the above tests have not been considered necessary by the breeder (and there may be good reasons), ask her to explain why.

Other diseases

(for which there are currently no genetic or screening tests for sire or dam)

• Atopy (hypersensitivity to pollens and other protein particles – causes intense itching)
• Epilepsy
• Shoulder osteochondrosis (abnormal cartilege and bone)
• Panosteitis (bone inflammation in young males)
• Cancer (various)
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (heart chambers enlarge, heart muscle weakens and gradually fails)
• Hypothyroidism (lethargy, tendency to obesity)
• Copper toxicosis (accumulation of copper in the liver)
• Hepatitis (liver disease)
• Laryngeal paralysis- polyneuropathy (dysfunction of the larynx and aesophagus – death by one year)
• Hypertonic myopathies (exercise induced muscle rigidity)
• Myelopathy (hind limb weakness affecting at a very young age)
• Galactocerebrosidosis (severe neurological disease leading to death at around one year)
• Ceroid lipofuscinosis (progressive loss of night vision followed by neurological deficits and blindness)

Ask the breeder about the medical history of the parents, grandparents and great grandparents.  Consider carefully whether to purchase a puppy if some of these or other diseases are in the family line.

Ask about the breeder’s policy in cases of serious genetic diseases occurring to your puppy in later life.  Good breeders will request to be informed of such events in order to improve future breeding decisions.  Some breeders will also agree to contribute towards medical costs or refund purchase price.

You are strongly advised to buy from a breeder who uses (or is prepared to use) the RSPCA / BVA AWF Puppy Contract and Puppy Information Pack (PIP):  www.puppycontract.org.uk

You are also advised to buy from a breeder who follows the Dog Advisory Council’s Standard for Breeders: http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/dac-breeding-standard/

List of Dog Breeds