Dalmatians: What a Unique Breed! - DocsBay
Your dog is special! She's your best friend, companion, and a source of unconditional love. Chances are that you chose her because you like Dals and you expected her to have certain traits that would fit your lifestyle:
Is it all worth it? Of course! She's full of personality, and you love her for it! The Dalmatian is an exuberant and funloving dog with high exercise needs. She is sensitive to her family and craves human companionship.
The Dalmatian is the only spotted dog breed. Originating in
Croatia, in the once-named region of Dalmatia, Dals have a working and sporting heritage. Due to a natural affinity for horses, Dalmatians were often used as carriage dogs and accompanied horse-drawn firefighting wagons in America as well. Dalmatians have great endurance and speed and are quick to protect their families. The Dalmatian is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.
Dental disease is the most common chronic problem in pets, affecting 80% of all dogs by age two. Unfortunately, your
Dalmatian is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth. Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth.
If we don’t prevent or treat dental disease, your buddy may lose her teeth and be in danger of damage to her kidneys, liver, heart, and joints. In fact, your Dalmatian's life span may even be cut short by one to three years! We’ll clean your dog’s teeth regularly and let you know what you can do at home to keep those pearly whites clean.
Obesity can be a significant health problem in Dalmatians. It is a serious disease that may cause or worsen joint problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease.
Though it’s tempting to give your pal food when she looks at you with those soulful eyes, you can “love her to death” with leftover people food and doggie treats. Instead, give her a hug, brush her fur or teeth, play a game with her, or perhaps take her for a walk. She’ll feel better, and so will you!
All kinds of worms and bugs can invade your Dal's body, inside and out. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears. Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms, and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. For your canine friend, these parasites can cause pain, discomfort, and even death, so it’s important that we test for them on a regular basis. We’ll also recommend preventive medication as necessary to keep her healthy.
One of the best things you can do for your Dalmatian is to have her spayed (neutered for males). In females, this means we surgically remove the ovaries and usually the uterus, and in males, it means we surgically remove the testicles. Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or fathering unwanted puppies. Performing this surgery also gives us a chance, while your pet is under anesthesia, to identify and address some of the diseases your dog is likely to develop. For example, if your pet needs hip X-rays or a puppy tooth extracted, this would be a good time—it’s more convenient for you and easier on your friend too. Routine blood testing prior
to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions against common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk.
Don’t worry; we’ll discuss the specific problems we will be looking for when the time arrives. up in the liver, eventually leading to liver failure if not treated.
Affected dogs usually show symptoms of jaundice (yellow eyes, gums, and skin) by about two to four years of age. Your pet should have liver testing early in life to screen for any abnormalities.
Genetic Predispositions for
Not many things have as dramatic an impact on your dog's quality of life as the proper functioning of his eyes.
Unfortunately, Dalmatians can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful! We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs for concern.
If your Dalmatian has an inherited condition called hyperuricosuria (HU), he will produce more uric acid in his urine. Uric acid acts like fertilizer for bladder stone development and sometimes kidney stones as well. A DNA test is available to test for the specific mutation associated with this disease; however, once stones are present, they often must be surgically removed. By testing early, we can identify whether
HU is a health risk for your pet, and we can start appropriate dietary therapy to prevent further problems. Without a DNA test, we may recommend frequent urine analysis, x-rays, or ultrasounds to make sure he doesn’t have any of these painful stones.
Cataracts are a common cause of blindness in older
Dalmatians. We’ll watch for the lenses of his eyes to become more opaque—meaning they look cloudy instead of clear—when we examine him. Many dogs adjust well to losing their vision and get along just fine. Surgery to remove cataracts and restore sight may also be an option.
When Dalmatian puppies are allowed to grow too quickly, the cartilage in their joints may not attach to the bones properly.
This problem is known as osteochondritis dissecans, or OCD.
If this occurs, surgery may be required to fix the problem. Our recommended growth rate for Dalmatian puppies is no more than four pounds per week. To maintain this rate, don’t overfeed him and don’t supplement with additional calcium.
Feed a large-breed puppy diet rather than an adult or regular
Some Dalmatians can develop a liver disorder called copper hepatopathy. This disease causes toxic levels of copper to build
if indicated. If you suspect he may not be hearing as well as he should, schedule an appointment with us right away as the problem could also be caused by a severe ear infection. puppy diet. And weigh your puppy every three to four weeks to make sure he’s on track.
Teeth abnormalities are often genetically induced and are relatively common in dogs, especially in purebred dogs like your Dalmatian. An overbite or underbite is called a malocclusion or a bad bite. Oligodontia is a condition where only a few teeth are present. Misaligned teeth can also occur and cause lots of problems, but can usually be corrected with braces or extractions. (Yes, dogs can get braces!) We want to keep your buddy’s teeth healthy, so we will be watching his developing teeth closely. The healthcare chart included in this care guide lists the specific oral disorders your pet may encounter.
There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Reactive seizures are caused by the brain's reaction to a metabolic problem like low blood sugar, organ failure, or a toxin. Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary or idiopathic epilepsy. This problem is often an inherited condition, and Dalmatians are commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, episodes will usually begin between six months and three years of age. An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and efficacy. If your dog has a seizure, carefully prevent him from injuring himself, but don't try to control his mouth or tongue. It won't help him, and he may bite you accidentally!
Note the length of the seizure, and call us or an emergency hospital.
Dalmatians are prone to a variety of skin problems, including sebaceous adenitis. You may notice that your dog has dry, scaly skin with patches of hair loss along the top of his head, back of the neck, and along his back. This condition typically develops when your dog is between one and five years of age. Treatment is generally long term, and we’ll likely try a combination of approaches to determine which is most effective with your dog.
The response to treatment is highly variable, but you’ll almost always need to give fatty acid supplements and use special shampoos to remove dead skin and hair. The earlier the skin is checked out, the better the results.
Dalmatian bronzing syndrome is a skin condition, specific to Dalmatians, that is not yet completely understood.
Breeders also call it "Dal Crud", and it typically causes a broad stripe of pink or bronze coloration along the whole topline of the dog’s coat, with patchy hair loss and Bone Pain
Growing Dalmatians can suffer from a painful inflammation of the long bones in the legs called eosinophilic panosteitis, or pano or eo-pan for short. It usually starts around six to ten months of age and shifts from leg to leg. We’ll look for this condition upon examination; if your pal exhibits pain when the area is squeezed or palpated, we’ll take X-rays to diagnose the problem. Panosteitis usually causes no permanent damage, but requires pain medication. If your dog has this condition and develops an abnormal gait to compensate for the sore leg(s), rehabilitation exercises may be required. inflammation of the hair follicles as well. Early research looked for a connection with elevated uric acid levels, but further studies show no relation. A skin biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of DBS, and if your pet is affected, he may develop periodic skin infections that can be managed with antibiotics and special shampoo. Dietary modification and other medications can also help reduce severity, but no cure is known. Responsible Dalmatian
Heritable deafness has been noted in some Dal bloodlines, so if his ears are healthy and he's still ignoring you, a more thorough hearing workup may be needed, including brainwave analysis,
breeders recommend that since DBS is clearly inherited, affected dogs should not be used for breeding.
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