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Health Issues |
There are currently four health issues for the Alaskan Malamute recorded by the Kennel Club - Hip Dysplasia, Hereditary Cataracts, Polyneuropathy and Cone Degeneration. All breeding stock should be tested for these conditions prior to breeding in line with the AMCUK Code Of Ethics.
| HEALTH ISSUE: Hip Dysplasia |
| DESCRIPTION: Hip Dysplasia is a known
hereditary disease in the Alaskan Malamute. The disease can also be
affected by environmental factors, so it is important to have all
breeding stock tested and ensure that all puppies are purchased from
tested dogs.
Hip Dysplasia is shown as an abnormal development around the structure of the hip joint. The changes in the joint that lead to dysplasia are made during growth with a critical period being from 3 to 6 months of age. During this time, environmental factors can be found to have an effect. |
| SYMPTOMS: Hip Dysplasia can show at various levels of severity from mild lameness or change of gait through to stiffness after exercise and osteo-arthritis. |
| KNOWN TESTING: In the United Kingdom, The British Veterinary
Association (BVA) have a panel of experts who score x-rays and these
are published in the Kennel Club's Breed Record Supplement. Hip scoring can be undertaken by your veterinary surgeon who then submits the x-ray to the BVA. This can be done once a dog is a minimum of 12 months of age and requires the dog to have been microchipped or tattooed. You must also take your dog's Kennel Club registration papers. Further details of the hip scoring scheme can be found here: http://www.bva.co.uk/Hip_Scheme.aspx |
| HEALTH ISSUE: Hereditary Cataracts |
| DESCRIPTION: A cataract is defined as an opacity in the lens. The eye's lens usually is clear or transparent and focuses light rays on the retina. The extent of the vision impairment is determined by the size and location of the cataract in the lens. The size ranges from pinhead marks to total lens opacity. The larger the cataract, the more severe the effect on sight. |
| SYMPTOMS: Cataracts can be observed as a yellow or white clouding of the eye, although generally the first indication is via an eye test. Cataracts can affect sight, the level of sight loss is relative to the size of the cataract. |
| KNOWN TESTING: In the United Kingdom, The
British Veterinary Association (BVA) have a list of approved experts
who are licensed to test for hereditary cataracts. Malamutes should
be tested from 12 months of age and annually thereafter. A clear eye
certificate dated no more than 12 months previously is required
before using a dog or bitch for breeding. Results of eye tests are
recorded in the Kennel Club's Breed Record Supplement. Further details of the eye scheme can be found here: http://www.bva.co.uk/canine_health_schemes/Eye_Scheme.aspx |
| CURRENT RESEARCH: From Sally Ricketts of
the Canine Genetics Research Group at the Animal Health Trust: I am writing following our progress report sent out in February regarding our research investigating the genetics underlying hereditary cataract (HC) in Northern (Arctic) breeds. It is my pleasure to inform you that the Animal Health Trust have recently been awarded a small additional grant from the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation that will enable us to begin following up our exciting findings in these breeds. The work that will be covered by this grant will allow us to investigate the region we have identified in our DNA scans, and as described in our report, will involve resequencing several million nucleotides of DNA in a small selected number of dogs. This will hopefully identify one or more possible points in the DNA that could represent a mutation for HC in these breeds. The next stage of our research will be to validate any potential mutations that we find from our follow-up studies above, and to do this we will need around £2,500 additional funds, so this is where we really need your help! To reach a conclusion in this vital research would be a major advance for the future health and welfare of our fabulous breed, and £2,500 to take the research through the next stage, and another step towards a definitive result, is not a huge amount. All fund-raising initiatives will be gratefully received and, to get the ball rolling, Mike John has set up a JustGiving page specifically to raise this extra bit of vital funding. Go to www.justgiving.com/AHT-HC-Research |
| HEALTH ISSUE: Polyneuropathy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: Polyneuropathy is an
abnormality of the nervous system. It has been known to be a problem
in the breed since the 1970s.
Generally the condition is known to become apparent in older puppies and young adults between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. The condition is known to be recessive so that both parents must be carriers to pass the gene on to the offspring. The only sure way to diagnose the condition is to conduct nerve and muscle biopsies. |
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| SYMPTOMS: The problem can differ in severity in each individual dog. Generally the condition is noticeable by a difference in the dog's gait which can range from a mild change through to more sever symptoms such as walking on it's knuckles, or bunny hopping in the rear legs. Other symptoms have seen a tremor in the rear legs or a sudden unwillingness to jumping or playing. A general lack of coordination and stability is most notable. This causes an intolerance in exercise and a loss of muscle tone throughout. The loss of muscle tone can extend into the larynx, given the dog a change in voice and problems in swallowing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MODE OF INHERITANCE: Autosomal recessive
A tested dog will fall into one of three categories:
A ‘normal’ will never develop the condition and can only pass on the normal gene to all their pups, meaning none of the pups can ever be ‘affected’. Even if you breed a ‘normal’ to a ‘carrier’ or an ‘affected’, the pups can only ever, at worst, be carriers themselves and therefore will never suffer from the condition.
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| KNOWN TESTING: 2012 saw a DNA test become
available thanks to the efforts of the Scandinavian Polyneuropathy
Research Group. Tests are generally carriedout via cheek swabs. Costs
vary considerably, so it is worth "shopping around" for the best
deals. Some labs curently offering the PN test: https://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/dog/AlaskanMalamutePN.php https://www.animaldnadiagnostics.co.uk/ More up to date information can be found at http://www.ampoly.info/ |
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| CURRENT RESEARCH: Further research into the condition is ongoing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HEALTH ISSUE: Cone Degeneration (CD) or Day Blindness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION: Cone
Degeneration (CD) is actually relatively rare in Alaskan Malamutes
and is caused by a distinct mutation in gene CNGB3. It causes day
blindness due to the degeneration of the retinal ‘cones’,
cone-shaped cells in the retina that respond primarily to bright
daylight. The retina of an affected dog initially appears normal when examined by an ophthalmologist, as does the electroretinogram (ERG). However, the ERG response from the degenerating cones declines with age and is non-recordable once a CD-affected dog reaches maturity. In contrast to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), which is the more common type of retinal disease in many dog breeds, CD does not affect night vision. A second type of cell in the retina, the ‘rods’, rod-shaped cells that respond primarily to dim light and detect movement, are not involved in this disease. The CD-affected dog retains the ability to see at night or in dimly lit areas. CD is an autosomal recessive condition and we can now 100% reliably identify the genotype of each dog through the use of a DNA test that has been developed by Optigen in the US. A CD tested dog will fall into one of three categories:
(Homozygous means that both copies of the gene are the same (either both normal or both CD) whilst heterozygous, the carrier, means there is one normal and one CD.) A ‘normal’ will never develop CD and can only pass on the normal gene to all their pups, meaning none of the pups can ever be ‘affected’. Even if you breed a ‘normal’ to a ‘carrier’ or an ‘affected’, the pups can only ever, at worst, be carriers themselves and, therefore, will never suffer from CD and, provided they are tested and, if found to be carriers, put only to clear dogs, will not produce affected stock either.
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| SYMPTOMS: The
condition can be diagnosed very early in an affected dogs life as,
between 8 and 12 weeks of age, when retinal development is normally
completed, signs of vision problems are noticeable. Affected pups
become day blind and are photophobic, they find exposure to bright
light to be irritating and will shun brightly lit areas, though
vision in dim light remains normal. A CD affected dog can lead a normal life in virtually every way, except that special consideration needs to be given in well-lit environments where help may be needed in negotiating obstacles, though dogs will readily learn to adapt to their condition. Additionally, care must be taken not to ‘surprise’ the affected dog (for example, the sudden face-to-face approach of another dog) as this may lead to an unexpected reaction. |
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| KNOWN TESTING: Testing is available via blood sample or buccal swabs at a variety of laboratories both here and abroad. Certain laboratories have their results recorded with the Kennel Club. For a list of these laboratories, refer to the Kennel Club website. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CURRENT RESEARCH: CD is the canine version of the human genetic disease Achromatopsia, total colour blindness and day blindness. Another name for day-blindness is Hemerolopia and gene therapy research aimed at correcting this condition (in dogs as a model for human disease) is currently being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HEALTH ISSUE: Bloat or gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV) |
| DESCRIPTION: Bloat affects mainly
large breeds and the Alaskan Malamute is affected by this life
threatening condition. It involves the stomach filling with gases
causing dilation of the stomach. The resulting pressure on the ends
of the stomach then prevent the gases from escaping and in extreme
cases this causes the stomach to twist, cutting off entry and exit
and can lead to death. Bloat is incredibly painful and life-threatening for the dog. Many dogs die from this condition so it is very important for owners to be aware of the symptoms and causes. Malamutes are prone to this illness due to the deep, narrow chest. It is thought that feeding a large meal of dry food once a day increases the chance of bloat developing, so it is considered safer to feed malamutes smaller meals twice a day or more. Malamutes should not be heavily exercised an hour before meals or two hours after meals to lessen the risk of bloat. When the stomach is distended, a vet will insert a tube down the throat into the stomach to allow gases to be released. If the stomach has twisted it may be necessary to insert a needle through the stomach wall and a general anaesthetic is administered to allow the vet access to untwist the gut. Bloat is life threatening. If you think your Malamute may be developing bloat, get him to the vet immediately! Dogs who have had bloat are at a higher
risk of developing the condition again. |
| SYMPTOMS: Dogs suffering from this condition are unable to swallow, belch or vomit, and as the stomach distends from the increasing gases the dog will start to drool, often pace up and down and be unable to settle, and be in a visible state of discomfort. Often, as the gases increase, the stomach may feel very large and hard and make a noise like a drum when tapped. |
| KNOWN TESTING: None |
| CURRENT RESEARCH: None |
| HEALTH ISSUE: Chondrodysplasia (ChD) |
| DESCRIPTION: Chondrodysplasia (also
known as 'Dwarfism') is a genetic (inherited) skeletal disorder that
occurs in the Alaskan Malamute. ChD is a simple autosomal recessive gene, meaning that to produce chondrodysplastic offspring both parents must be carriers. Breeding two carriers together can produce chondrodysplastic offspring. A carrier bred to an unaffected (or 'clear') will produce clear and carrier offspring and all will appear 'normal', but an unknown number will be carrier's for the disease. There is also an associated inherited, haemolytic anaemia with ChD. |
| SYMPTOMS: The chondrodysplastic
Malamute displays the following physical (phenotypic)
characteristics in varying degrees: Excessively shortened front
limbs with varying degrees of deformity and bowing, especially the
long bones (radius and ulna); A top line that slopes from the pelvis
down to the withers, as opposed to the top line in an unaffected
Malamute which slopes from the withers down to the pelvis. Some Malamutes with ChD display a severe degree of deformity while others display almost no visible characteristics at all. Importantly, recessive carriers of the ChD gene display no outward, physical, identifying characteristics, being completely normal in appearance. |
| KNOWN TESTING: In puppies between 5 and 12 weeks of age it is possible to detect the deformity using x-ray of the front limbs however, at this time, there is no DNA test available for ChD. |
| CURRENT RESEARCH: The University of
Helsinki (supported by a grant from the Canine Health Foundation) is
currently conducting a research programme using DNA from affected
dogs and known carriers which will hopefully lead to the discovery
of a DNA marker, and ultimately a test, for the disease.
Contact information for the research
programme: |
The AMCUK has entered into an agreement
with Genoscoper Laboratories of Finland to provide Club Members with a
concessionary rate for their brand new MyDogDNA initiative.
MyDogDNA is a genome-wide analysis of your dogs genetic health and fitness and
encompasses a huge amount of genetic information that was previously only
available on a test-by-test basis. The scheme provides simultaneous testing of
over 100 genetic disorders and traits and includes AMPN. A full list of the gene
tests included in the scheme can be found through the link below and clicking on
‘Dog DNA Tests’.
Club Members will receive a 10% discount and the Club will receive 10 euros for
every time a Club Member enters a dog into the scheme.
In order to get your 10% discount you must, when ordering, enter the unique code
that has been provided to the Club.
The Club has also established a health fund. Income generated from the
Genoscoper agreement will be ring-fenced along with any other income from the
various health-related and fundraising events that are currently being
considered. This money will be made available to provide funding for research.
Further information on MyDogDNA can be found at www.mydogdna.com
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