Breeding and genetic health status of dalmatian dog

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe the main characteristic and inherited diseases of this Dalmatian breed. One of the most popular breed and most unique by its spotted coat colour. Those breed characteristics have been defined internationally by the FCI and each kennel club must follow those characteristics. This breed is also known for its inherited diseases, such as deafness and Hyperuricosuria which are usually associated with high veterinary cost, sudden death and low average age. They are also prone to eye disorders and skin diseases, but they are less common than the previous two, therefore easier forgotten. Congenital deafness is related to colour genes such as white pieblad one. Over the years, breeders have been selecting Dalmatian for specific colour and spotting according to the standards apply in the kennel clubs. Hyperuricosuria is a defect resulting from inefficient transport of uric acid in both the liver and renal proximal tubules due to a single nucleotide exchange in the gene SLC2AE important for uric acid transport in mammals. The presence of commercial DNA-test and BAER test available for those diseases should make their elimination fast in the next years. Dalmatian Backcross project: This project has been started by Dr.Schaible in 1973, and the goal of was to create low uric acid Dalmatian by crossing a breed dog Dalmatian type known as the Pointer with a Dalmatian and the backcrossing the offspring with a purebreds Dalmatian until he reached the Dalmatian characteristics and low uric acid.