Fair Play Dalmatians

Health Issues

Every breed of every dog is plagued with health issues.  There is no breed that is 100% guaranteed to be completely free of any health issues past or present.  That is why it is important that breeding programs adopt genetic health testing to prevent future health problems.  Certain breeds are prone to particular health concerns.  This section will outline some of those concerns of Dalmatians.  *Please note all information on this page is from the Dalmatian Club of America website.

Deafness

Approximately 8% of all Dalmatians are completely (bilaterally) deaf, another 22% are deaf in one ear (unilateral hearing).  There is no cure for this, and no clear understanding of how it is transmitted.  Fortunately, there is a way to test deafness called Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) test.  To learn more about Dalmatian deafness and BAER testing please visit the Dalmatian Club of America's Information on Dalmatian Hearing.

Urinary Stones

Dalmatians are born with the inability to digest certain substances called purines.  What this causes is the potential to form urate bladder stones.  These urate stones can actually block the urethra and become life threatening in a matter of hours.  It's important to feed a low purine diet (lamb and rice is good), keep plenty of water available and allow frequent potty breaks.  To learn more about Urinary Stones please visit the Dalmatian Club of America Information on Urinary Stones and Treatment.

Skin and Coat Disorders

There is a vast majority of information on this subject, please go to the Dalmatian Club of America Skin and Coat Disorders page to learn more.

Thyroid

Please visit the Dalmatian Club of America Information on Thyroid Disorders.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia does occur in Dalmatians, however it's not very common.  It is recommended that if a Dalmatian is used in breeding, it is wise to have the hips certified either OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) or have PennHIP.  Click on the hyperlinks to learn more about OFA and PennHIP.

To learn more about all the health issues mentioned above and more, please visit The Dalmatian Club of America Health and Research Information.

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