HEREDITARY AND CONGENITAL DISEASES WHICH MAY OR CAN OCCUR IN LARGE PUREBRED DOGS:

All purebred dogs have some health problems afflicting the breed.  The Malamute's main health problems are hip dysplasia and chrondrodysplasia (CHD) more commonly called dwarfism.  In chrondrodysplasia, the Kotzebue strain is genetically uninvolved, but it is impossible today to find pure Kotzebue dogs.   Hemolytic anemia (blood disorder), hemerlopia (day blindness); corneal dystrophy, progressive retinal atrophy, juvenile cataracts; and renal cortical hypoplasia (a kidney defect) are also known to exist within the breed.  Reputable breeders will screen breeding stock for hip and eye disease, and provide CHD probabilities.  Gastric torsion (bloat), juvenile cataracts and a condition as yet unnamed but commonly called "coat funk" has recently become a problem in some lines, although how these conditions are transmitted is generally unknown.  All reputable breeders will have screened their dogs for eye disorders, hip dysplasia and CHD probability. 

Hereditary Problems that may or can occur:

Hip Dysplasia -

is an imperfect formation of the ball and socket assembly in the pelvis.  The degree of imperfection can vary from severe to very slight.  Like most large breeds, Malamutes suffer from a high incidence of hip dysplasia.  No one can say for sure how hip dysplasia is inherited, but many feel it is polygenic (many genes involved) and influenced by the environment.  Several registries now screen dogs for this problem including OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) and PennHipp.  When you buy a puppy BOTH parents should be evaluated by one of these authorities to lessen your chances of having a puppy with this affliction.   If the diagnosis is clear, a certificate is issued.  In spite of the most conscientious efforts, a majority of breeders produce a small percentage of dysplastic dogs.  These dogs, if not badly affected, can lead normal and happy lives but should not be used for breeding. 

Chondrodysplasia - 

is a genetic disorder whereby there are deformed or "dwarfed" puppies in the litter.  Both parents must be carriers of this disorder to produce "dwarf" puppies.  No trace or knowledge exists that Malamute puppies have been breed in South Africa. A carrier can appear normal but still harbor this recessive gene.  In an effort to eradicated this genetic disorder from the Alaskan Malamute the AMCA calculates the probability of a dog producing this disorder by examining the number of ancestors that have produced such puppies.   If the owner has a Malamute whose parents are both certificated, that dog is eligible for it's own certificate.  To be certified the analysis rates the dog as having a 6.25% or less chance of producing Chondrodysplasia.   Your puppy should have certified parents.  More info about Chondrodysplasia here. This is a photo of a dwarf puppy that will be used in the AMCA CHD breeding program - notice the odd angle of the front legs. 

Juvenile Cataracts, PRA, Day Blindness -  

With the recent explosion in the number of Alaskan Malamutes producing juvenile cataracts and other eye disease, it is important both parents be certified by an eye registry.  CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) registration shows your breeder supports the goal of eliminating heritable eye disease and provides proof of integrity and commitment in eliminating these problems.  The dog is examined by a canine opthamologist in an effort to remove dogs with eye disease from breeding programs so they will not pass on these diseases to future generations. 

"Coat Funk" -  

Currently there is no way of testing or clearing breeding stock for this newly discovered condition.  It is so new it doesn't even have a scientific name! This condition, similar to follicular dysplasia in Siberian Huskies, but not the same, results in severe hair loss beginning around the neck and tail and spreading to other areas of the body.  Onset can be at any age and any severity.   The haircoat breaks, falls out and does not regrow.  This is much different than seasonal shedding where the haircoat cycles and replaces itself seasonally.  Not much is known about this condition at this time, it is suspected there is a hereditary link but no one is sure how.  Reputable breeders will remove affected dogs from their breeding programs.   At least 2 large universities are studying the condition at this time and research is inconclusive. 

For more information on coat funk (with excellent pictures showing the condition) visit the Minnesota Malamute Club Website.  Also, Chris Wellsandt has done an excellent job of documenting her dog Monty's coat funk. She offers suggestions of coping and possible solutions from a pet owner's perspective.  

 "Bloat" or Gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV) - is an acute, life threatening condition which requires immediate medical or surgical intervention to avoid certain death.    The stomach fills with gas and fluid, twists, cutting off the blood supply to vital organs.  The cause of GDV is unknown, but many contributing factors are suspect including:  

1. Ingestion of large meals

2. Ingestion of large quantities of water

3. Physical predisposition

4. Exercise after a meal

5. General anesthesia for surgery

6. Stress

7. Excessive calcium supplements

8. Trauma

9. Pyloric & duodenal obstructions

10. Vomiting or other conditions causing abdominal stress

Habitability has not been proven as a cause.   The current theory is that with a deep-chested breed, the weight of the stomach is pulled downward causing a laxity which allows for the rotation. 

Hypothyroidism - There are 2 types of hypothyroidism that occur in Alaskan Malamutes, acquired and congenital.  Acquired occurs in dogs middle age or older.  At birth the dog has a normally functioning thyroid gland, but with age, it stops functioning properly.  Symptoms include sleepiness, seeking warm places, gaining weight, sometimes reproductive disorders, and may or may not include hair loss.   In congenital hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is abnormal from birth.    Because it is not functioning properly the puppy cannot grow proportionally at the proper rate.  Some parts may grow faster than others.  Thyroxin is also necessary for proper nerve and brain development, so when deficient, the pups are lethargic and dull.  Treatment for both is a thyroid hormone supplement prescribed by a veterinarian.   While Thyroid testing can be done on the parent dog, it is not that helpful in screening for the disease, since it is not known if this disease is a hereditary condition or how it might be transmitted.

Polyneuropathy - written by Vicky McLean says; 

Polyneuropathy means "many abnormalities of the nervous system". Early literature on the subject is by Dr. Lars Moe from Norway where numerous cases were diagnosed in first generation offspring of Alaskan Malamutes imported from the United States in the 1970's. Veterinary colleges in the U.S. have seen a number of cases since then, but I have been able to find no documented cases dating to before the Norwegian cases. I have, however, heard of several possible, but unconfirmed cases from that era.

The condition is generally characterized by a lack of coordination and instability that leads to a labored gait which has been described as a bunny hopping gait where the rear legs work together to prop up the dog rather than to propel him. The degree of affection may vary from mild to severe. The dog may fall down, walk on the tops of his feet (with the foot folded under itself) or his gait may just look a little off. Exercise intolerance, loss of muscle mass, changes in voice due to an affected larynx and problems swallowing and regurgitating have also been described. First indications of the problem may be subtle — a dog that no longer jumps up on his dog house, a dog that lies down to eat, a dog that no longer jumps up and down at feeding time or shows a slight tremor in his legs. It cannot be emphasized enough that symptoms may vary considerably from dog to dog.

Age of onset is in the older puppy or young adult. There is not enough data to say exactly what ages it may come on, but six months to two years seems to be a good ball park figure with most cases noticed at over a year of age. In the dogs we have seen, the onset is quite sudden rather than gradual and progressive. The symptoms may last for about six to eight months then abruptly lessen but not go away completely. Literature says that symptoms will again appear in the dog when he gets older. Several people have reported that their dog was always "uncoordinated", while our dogs ran on the team for a winter before showing any symptoms.

Because the disease is seemingly rare it may often be misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. There are also cases of some spinal problems (lesions or bone spurs) producing superficially similar symptoms but it would be extremely unlikely for bone spurs to cause absolutely symmetrical symptoms like this does. Because of this it is important to get a positive diagnosis from a school of veterinary medicine or a veterinary neurologist where they can run tests that your local vet cannot do. The diagnostic tests include nerve and muscle biopsies, electromyography and nerve conduction velocities. If the results are positive, these tests will show a deterioration of the myelin sheath of the nerve and conductivity may be slower than is normal. They may also do x-rays to see if there is an enlarged esophagus. Due to the late age of onset, test breeding to clear dogs is not practical as it is with dwarfism.

If we malamute breeders and owners are to put an end to this debilitating problem we must work to get positive diagnoses and start looking at what lines are producing the problem. Test breedings in Norway indicate that the disorder is probably a simple recessive like dwarfism in our breed, so if you have turned up a case, both parents would be carriers. Not facing up to the problem will only put us in worse shape a few years down the road.

To get a start on eliminating the problem we need to get positive diagnoses, pull parents of affected dogs from your breeding programs and likewise pull all offspring from those parents from breeding programs as they have a high probability of being carriers. This will go a long way in cutting down on the problem. This means you will need to stay in contact with puppy buyers or breeders of your dogs and let them know how important it is to work on this together. You will need to be honest and open up to other breeders, especially those working with dogs closely related to yours. Tests are expensive, but sometimes a teaching institution such as a school of veterinary medicine will do these tests for free or for a reduced rate to give their students experience. Veterinarians I know of that are interested in this problem include Dr. Mike Moore, a neurologist at Washington State University in Pullman, Washing and Dr. Kyle Braund at Auburn University in Alabama.

Anyone who thinks they might have polyneuropathy in their dogs, or who just wants to talk about it, feel free to contact Vicky MacLean at 2065 Colorado Gulch, Helena, MT 59501, or call (406) 442-1918 or email agillabs@mcn.net.

Recessive Hemerlopia - Congenital stationary night blindness is an inherited retinal disorder that predominates on rods. It is a rare disease present at birth. Three types of transmission can be found: autosomal dominant, recessive, and X-linked recessive. The affection is heterogenous. The only symptom is hemeralopia with a moderate loss of visual acuity. Both the funduscopy and visual field are normal. In recessive forms, the b wave on the electroretinogram is not found in the scotoscopic study, while the a wave is normal and increases with light intensity. In dominant forms, the b wave is seen. Levels of rhodopsine are normal and regenerate normally. Signal transmission may be the affected function. There is no specific treatment.

Anemia - n

Hemophilea, Factor vii & viii, AHF - n

Renal Cortical Hypoplasia - n

Corneal Dystrophy - n