Breed Health
As well as the usual range of health issues which any dog owner should concern themselves with, there are a number of health issues which the potential Alaskan Malamutes owner / breeder needs to be aware of. The two main health concerns are Hip Dysplasia and Hereditary Cataracts. It is strongly recommended that all Alaskan Malamutes should be tested for both of these problems, regardless of whether or not the dogs are to be bred from. The Kennel Club and the British Veterinary Associationrun health schemes which aim to gather scientific data on Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia and Hereditary Eye Diseases.
Hip Dysplasia ~ Resulting from an abnormal structure of the hip joint, all dogs have hip dysplasia to a certain degree, even if it is minute. The problem is particularly problematic in large breeds of dog and the Alaskan Malamute is no exception. Diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia is done by x-raying the pelvic area which is done at the vets. It is recommended that Malamutes are tested at no younger than 12 months old. The x-rays are sent to the British Veterinary Association who's panel of experts scores the x-ray. A score is given which indicates the degree of hips dysplasia in each hip joint. The scores of all tested dogs are collated and used to work out a breed average score. The lower the score, the better. Any dog with higher than average hip scores either should not be bred from, or should only be bred to dogs with very low scores.
Hereditary Cataracts ~ Simple eye examinations can detect the presence of cataracts. HC is becoming more commonplace in Malamutes and this is largely due to breeding from affected dogs, either knowingly or unknowingly. There is no excuse for not testing all Malamutes but especially breeding stock, however it is known that dogs can be "carriers" of the HC gene without actually being affected. The precise genetics of this and other hereditary diseases are still unclear. By carefully studying the pedigrees of potential breeding stock and researching the incidence of HC in related dogs, it is possible to identify possible carriers and therefore avoid breeding from such dogs. The KC/BVA scheme aims to provide valuable information which can be used in genetic research.
Gastric Dilation & Volvulus (Bloat) ~ As with any large, deep chested breed, Bloat is one of the most serious and life threatening conditions that face the Malamute, so much so that any Malamute owner should arm themselves with the information that will help them spot potential Bloat as early as possible. The condition is not really fully understood and there are numerous theories about causes and risk factors. GDV occurs when the stomach fills with gas (dilation) and twists (volvulus). Treatment usually involves surgery to untwist the stomach but if not done so early enough, this can still lead to death quite quickly. If left untreated, dogs with GDV will die, sometimes within a couple of hours of the first symptoms appearing so uregent action is required. Signs to look out for can vary between cases so we would strongly recommend that you read up about causes, reducing the risk and in particular what to look out for. This is a useful website.
Other Health Issues ~ Some less common issues which seem more widely known in the US include Chondrodysplasia, or Dwarfism, and Coat Funk.
Hip Dysplasia ~ Resulting from an abnormal structure of the hip joint, all dogs have hip dysplasia to a certain degree, even if it is minute. The problem is particularly problematic in large breeds of dog and the Alaskan Malamute is no exception. Diagnosis of Hip Dysplasia is done by x-raying the pelvic area which is done at the vets. It is recommended that Malamutes are tested at no younger than 12 months old. The x-rays are sent to the British Veterinary Association who's panel of experts scores the x-ray. A score is given which indicates the degree of hips dysplasia in each hip joint. The scores of all tested dogs are collated and used to work out a breed average score. The lower the score, the better. Any dog with higher than average hip scores either should not be bred from, or should only be bred to dogs with very low scores.
Hereditary Cataracts ~ Simple eye examinations can detect the presence of cataracts. HC is becoming more commonplace in Malamutes and this is largely due to breeding from affected dogs, either knowingly or unknowingly. There is no excuse for not testing all Malamutes but especially breeding stock, however it is known that dogs can be "carriers" of the HC gene without actually being affected. The precise genetics of this and other hereditary diseases are still unclear. By carefully studying the pedigrees of potential breeding stock and researching the incidence of HC in related dogs, it is possible to identify possible carriers and therefore avoid breeding from such dogs. The KC/BVA scheme aims to provide valuable information which can be used in genetic research.
Gastric Dilation & Volvulus (Bloat) ~ As with any large, deep chested breed, Bloat is one of the most serious and life threatening conditions that face the Malamute, so much so that any Malamute owner should arm themselves with the information that will help them spot potential Bloat as early as possible. The condition is not really fully understood and there are numerous theories about causes and risk factors. GDV occurs when the stomach fills with gas (dilation) and twists (volvulus). Treatment usually involves surgery to untwist the stomach but if not done so early enough, this can still lead to death quite quickly. If left untreated, dogs with GDV will die, sometimes within a couple of hours of the first symptoms appearing so uregent action is required. Signs to look out for can vary between cases so we would strongly recommend that you read up about causes, reducing the risk and in particular what to look out for. This is a useful website.
Other Health Issues ~ Some less common issues which seem more widely known in the US include Chondrodysplasia, or Dwarfism, and Coat Funk.
