Alaskan Malamute, Giant Alaskan Malamutes

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Conditions known in the Alaskan Malamute Breed

Bloat:

Canine bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), affects mostly large and giant breeds and is found in the

Alaskan

Malamute. In cases of gastric dilatation, the stomach fills with gas. Increasing pressure prevents the gas

from

escaping by compressing both ends of the stomach. Most cases involve gastric volvulus, in which the

stomach twists,

cutting off the openings to and exits from the stomach.

Bloat is extremely painful and life-threatening. Almost one-third of dogs will die, or must be euthanized following a

bloat episode. Dogs suffering from volvulus cannot swallow, belch or vomit, and they will drool and show

increasing

discomfort as stomach gases expand. The pressure causes the abdomen to distend, and the stomach

may feel very

hard or make a noise like a drum when tapped.

Known risk factors include a deep, narrow chest, old age and feeding one large meal of dry-type food daily. It is

best

to manage this latter risk by feeding smaller, more frequent meals. If you suspect your dog is bloating, get

him to the

vet immediately-bloat is an emergency! When the dog is affected by dilatation but the stomach has not

twisted, the vet

will insert a stomach tube down the throat to allow gases to escape. In cases of volvulus, in which

a tube cannot reach

the stomach via the esophagus, a hollow needle will be inserted through the gut wall. When

the dog has recovered, it

is advisable to have the vet perform gastroplexy, in which the stomach is tacked to the

gut wall to prevent it from

twisting in the future. Without this surgery, an affected dog is at dramatically increased

risk of torsioning in the event

of a repeat incident. Dogs that have bloated and survived are a high risk to bloat

again.

Source: Developed from information obtained from "Risk Factors for Canine Bloat", Jerold S. Bell, DVM

Hypothyroid Disease:

This Disease may be inherited. Not easy to identify. Chronic or temporary illness, reproductive hormones,drugs,

obesity can affect the test.

Veterinarian my suggest test thyroid test, which is down through a blood test, if your pet has gained weight or

having

chronic skin infections or in breeding dogs experiencing reproductive difficulties, especially if the animal

lacks energy

and has a dull coat. Symptoms are lethargy, mental lassitude, weight gain, dull coat, skin infections,

constipation,

diarrhea, cold intolerance, skin odor, hair loss, greasy skin, dry skin, reproductive problems,

aggression and more.

Treatment is a simple supplement based of the levels and may require retest to make

adjustments.

Day Blindness:

Also know as Hemeralopia. In an Alaskan Malamute it is that the dog is blind in bright light. This is an inherited

problem.

Hip Dysplasia-

Meaning an abnormality in the development of the hip joint. Usually an imperfection of the ball or socket

assembly in

the pelvis. The degree of imperfection can vary from mild to severe. Alaskan Malamute being a

larger breed are

susceptible to dysplasia. It can be inherited, may feel it is polygenic ( many genes involved) and

influenced by the

environment.

Some are not badly affected and can lead normal and happy lives but should not be breed. The Orthopedic

Foundation for Animal ( OFA) and Penn Hipp are two ways of screen for this problem. Certifications can be giving

the parents after the age of 2 years old for OFA and younger with Penn Hipp. I personally feel that inbreeding

and

line breeding contribute to this but that is my personal opinion.

Hot Spots:

Can start out as a small spot, sometimes brought about by moisture and can spread quickly. Treatment would be

shave the area and depending on the size you can apply ointment or in some cases the doctor my medicate

and

antibiotic's. Malamutes have a thick coat and this can come about from not rinsing well after a bath , licking

an area

excessively and it has also been know to be cause from corn or wheat allergies. Corn , wheat and beef

allergies can

also cause ear infections and loose stools.

Holistic approach :

Grapefruit seed extract

, found in most health stores is an effective antibacterial agent. Dilute to 33 percent extract

five to six parts water and spray directly on hot spot. The unpleasant taste of grapefruit seed extract is helpful

discourage a dog from further licking and chewing of the spot.

Apple Cider vinegar can be sprayed on a hot spot diluted half and half . Spray on surrounding area to discourage

bacteria growth and soothe the skin.

Repels fleas and ticks as well.

Epilepsy:

No one wants to wish this on anyone. Seizures are not alway hereditary. Some rescue are exposure to toxins,

some

are the indication of underlying disease, and some are the results of an injury. In some cases if there is no

permanent

brain damage the dog will stop after treatment. Idiopathic epilepsy is considered to be genetic. But it

is not easy to

diagnose. Usually not fatal but if they occur in clusters the dog may be prone to develop a

condition called status

epilepticus which is continuous, uncontrollable seizures. Continuous seizures can lead to

exhaustion, hypoglycemia,

hyperthermia, oxygen depletion, brain damage and eventually death.

Pemphigus foliaceus :

Autoimmune skin disorder

Peripheral vestibular disease:

Abnormal function of the vestibular nervous system associated with abnormal balance

Dwarfism:

A genetic condition involving the development of growth plates in the legs, resulting in stunted or

deformed growth. Forelegs can become short, squat, and bow inward under the body. With study in

the

late 1990 dwarfism is rarely seen outside the test breeding.

Snow Nose or Bad pigmentation:

This can appear during the cold months but disappear during the warmer months. Mostly carried are

dogs

with white genes and lighter colored dogs. Some times is due to a Zinc deficiency but not alway.

I have

also seen this a lot in inbreed dogs. Protection from the sun and cold may be advised.

More on health click here

For more detailed infomation go to

http://www.alaskanmalamutehealth.org

http://ourworld.compuserver.com/s_tillotson/breeder1.htm

http://www.workingdogs.com/doc0100.htm

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA)

In dogs with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), the immune system

destroys red blood cells faster than new ones can be produced. The

result is anemia, or

reduced red blood cells, which means less

oxygen is circulated to the tissues. This disorder is occasionally

seen in the Alaskan Malamute.

AIHA is most common in middle-aged dogs, and it is more often found

in females than in males. Evidence of disease ranges in severity -

symptoms can be mild and

hardly noticeable, or severe symptoms may

come on suddenly. Vague symptoms are common and include poor

appetite, weakness, listlessness and lack of

energy. The dog's gums

may be pale, or they may be yellowish due to jaundice as a result of

the breakdown of red blood cells. A dog with AIHA may have a rapid

heart beat and rapid breathing. One form of AIHA (cold agglutinin

disease) causes circulation problems. The ear or tail tips, or feet

may become infected and dark in

color.

A veterinarian will draw blood for testing to determine if a dog is

anemic. Diagnosis of AIHA is made by ruling out other causes of

anemia and identifying antibodies

on the surface of the red blood

cells. Corticosteroid treatment can slow the destruction of red

blood cells. Blood transfusions are needed when the red blood

cell

level is critically low; transfusions can buy the dog some time

while his/her own blood cell levels are recovering. Severely

affected dogs may die even with the

best treatment. This mostly

occurs in the first few days since the onset of the episode due to

kidney, liver, or heart failure, or because of a bleeding problem.

Dogs that recover from an episode of

AIHA may experience future

relapses.

Dogs that have been diagnosed with AIHA should not be used for

breeding.

CHONDRODYSPLASIA (MALAMUTE DWARFISM

)

Chondrodysplasia is a genetic disorder in which puppies are born

with bone deformities, which may become evident in abnormal shape

and length of limbs as they

grow. Also known as "dwarfism,"

chondrodysplasia is caused by a simple recessive gene, which means

that both parents must carry this gene to produce an affected

(chondrodysplastic) puppy.

In very young puppies (under six weeks of age), the deformity is

usually impossible to detect without x-rays, even to the practiced

eye. Chondrodysplastic dogs

(dwarfs) can be affected in varying

degrees. Some adults may appear almost normal, perhaps just

unusually small, while others may have a disturbing

resemblance to a

Bassett hound. Chondrodysplastic malamutes can vary in size, just as

normal malamutes do.

After it became obvious in the 1970s that chondrodysplasia has a

simple recessive pattern of inheritance, a test-breeding program was

implemented by the AMCA to

distinguish carriers from non-carriers.

While the program has been the source of occasional controversy,

there is no doubt that it has been highly effective in limiting

numbers of carriers of chondrodysplasia in the breeding population.

The AMCA chondrodysplasia certification committee is still active

today and has been working

with the Alaskan Malamute Research

Foundation to produce a DNA test that will simplify the task of

identifying carriers and non-carriers.

COAT FUNK

Coat funk is a disorder found in malamutes and a few other breeds,

such as Pomeranians, Samoyeds, and Keeshonds. Veterinary

dermatologists simply call the

condition "alopecia X" because no one

knows much about its cause or cure. In malamutes, the disorder

appears to be inheritable, because many such dogs can be

traced back

to ancestors who had the disorder.

Coat funk causes the guard coat in affected dogs to become dry and

brittle, eventually breaking and falling out. The wooly undercoat,

thus exposed, can become dry

and matted, and it, too, may eventually

come out, leaving the skin bare in spots. Bare skin tends to turn

black, though it does not seem to itch or bother the dog. Care

should be taken to prevent sunburn or frostbite.

Symptoms vary widely, but one common aspect of all coat funk dogs is

that they test negative for other "look-alike" disorders, such a

allergies, hypothyroid or

Cushing's disease. Indeed, the only way

to diagnose coat funk is to rule out other possible causes for a

coat problem. It does happen occasionally that a dog may

have coat

funk and another disorder, such as allergies or hypothyroidism. The

dog's coat should return to health once the other problem is

successfully treated.

Suspect coat funk if the coat continues to

worsen.

DIABETES MELLITUS

Dogs with diabetes mellitus are unable to use carbohydrates/sugars

normally. In a healthy dog, certain cells in the pancreas produce

insulin to regulate sugar

uptake into cells throughout the body. In

some forms of diabetes, the cells do not produce insulin, while in

other forms insulin is produced, but body tissues do not

respond.

Diabetes is found in Alaskan malamutes.

While diabetes is hereditary in some cases, genetics is only one of

many causal factors. Severely affected dogs usually have apparent

symptoms by six months of

age - pups drink and eat excessive

amounts, but develop very slowly. Increased urination and soft

stools are seen.

In other dogs, diabetes mellitus does not develop until middle age.

Higher levels of glucose in the blood and urine cause increased

eating, drinking, and urination,

with weight loss. This can lead to

the development of cataracts, liver disease, and pancreatitis. Many

diabetic dogs also are more susceptible to bacterial infections,

particularly of the urinary tract. Untreated diabetic dogs will

develop ketoacidosis, a state of insulin deficiency aggravated by

ensuing hyperglycemia, dehydration, and

acidosis-producing

derangements in intermediary metabolism. Ketoacidosis is indicated

by depression, weakness, vomiting, and irregular breathing patterns.

To diagnose the condition, a veterinarian will look for elevated

levels of glucose in the blood and urine. Ketones also may be

present in the urine. A complete

laboratory work-up also should be

done to determine if any other condition may be causing or

contributing to, or occurring as a result of, the diabetes mellitus

The

standard treatment for diabetes mellitus is supplemental

insulin, with a goal of normalizing blood glucose levels and

minimizing variation in those levels. Diet

changes and exercise

usually are recommended. Emergency treatment for dogs with

ketoacidois includes intravenous fluids and fast-acting insulin.

Once the animal is stable, a regular

regimen of longer-acting

insulin, diet, and exercise can begin.

EPILEPSY

Epilepsy, which is found in the Alaskan malamute, is the occurrence

of repeated seizures. These seizures indicate that brain disease is

present. A dog can have a

classic "grand mal" seizure, or a partia

seizure (also known as simple or complex focal seizures).

When a typical grand mal seizure begins, the dog stiffens and falls,

then begins jerking movements. The dog cannot control its bladder or

bowels during a seizure,

and may urinate or defecate. The dog is not

conscious during a seizure, though its eyes may remain open. A grand

mal seizure usually lasts about two minutes.

More serious seizures

can occur in clusters, in which the dog seizes again and again in

succession, sometimes culminating in a continuous seizure that

doesn't

stop (status epilepticus).

Simple focal seizures are characterized by twitching, most commonly

in the face. The pet is alert and aware while this is happening, and

often becomes confused.

The seizure may stop there, or it may become

a classic grand mal seizure. Complex focal seizures may cause the

dog to run uncontrollably; engage in senseless,

repetitive behavior;

or, rarely, fly into a rage. These types of seizures often are

accompanied by a grand mal seizure.

Anything that injures the brain in the right area can cause

epilepsy. If the cause of the seizures can be determined, the dog

has symptomatic (or secondary) epilepsy.

If the cause can't be

determined, the dog has idiopathic (or primary) epilepsy. Many

idiopathic epileptics have inherited epilepsy, meaning that their

epilepsy is caused by a genetic mutation inherited from their

parents. Malamutes with idiopathic epilepsy frequently begin seizing

between one and three years of

age.

Seizures can have a number of causes; therefore, a single seizure

does not indicate inherited epilepsy. Common causes include toxins

(such as those found in

some plants and pesticides), metabolic

diseases and physical brain injury (for example, trauma or a tumor).

Diagnosing idiopathic epilepsy is a process of

elimination. If you

suspect your pet is having seizures, your veterinarian can perform

various tests to try to determine the cause, including physical and

neurological

examinations, a complete blood count (CBC), routine

serum chemistry profile, urine analysis, bile acids assay and

thyroid function tests. Affected animals should not

be bred.

HYPOTHYROIDISM

Dogs with hypothyroidism have impaired production and secretion of

thyroid hormones resulting in a decreased metabolic rate. The

disorder may be acquired (a

progressive deficiency of thyroid

hormone) or congenital (present at birth). The acquired form is the

most common in dogs and appears to be widespread in Alaskan

malamutes, though we need more data to determine its exact

prevalence.

Found most commonly in dogs aged four years or older, the disorder

is the result of gradual atrophy of the thyroid gland or progressive

replacement of the thyroid

gland with lymphocytes due to an

autoimmune process (lymphocytic thyroiditis). The disease tends to

run in families and is therefore thought to be genetic, though

the

exact mode of inheritance is unknown. Affected dogs should not be

bred.

A broad range of clinical signs make hypothyroidism a challenge to

diagnose. Early signs include lower energy levels, unusual episodes

of aggression, and

increased susceptibility to infections. As the

disease progresses, the dog may develop symmetrical hair loss,

darkening of the skin, or dry or greasy hair. Other

clinical signs

include a slow heart rate, lethargy, difficulty maintaining body

temperature, mental dullness, exercise intolerance, infertility,

constipation and weight

gain. A dog may exhibit all or only a fe

of these symptoms. When hypothyroidism is suspected, ask the

veterinarian to do a complete thyroid assay.

Standard treatment consists of thyroxin supplementation once or

twice a day for life. Within a week of starting treatment, the

dog's attitude and activity levels should

improve, although

improvement in the skin and coat can take up to six weeks or more.

With treatment, all symptoms should eventually disappear. If they

do no

consider whether your dog may have been misdiagnosed.

Because the symptoms are similar to those present in a variety of

other disorders, hypothyroidism is

among the most overdiagnosed of

canine diseases.

ORTHOPEDIC

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a genetically determined disease that causes a

malformation of the hip joint. Faulty joint function leads to

varying degrees of arthritis (also called

degenerative joint

disease). Degenerative joint disease can eventually result in

considerable pain and debilitation in affected dogs. Hip dysplasia

is caused by

multiple genes, but scientists do not yet know which

genes or exactly how many of them are involved.

No one can predict when or even if a dysplastic dog will start

showing clinical signs of lameness due to pain. Multiple

environmental factors can worsen the severity

of clinical signs and

speed deterioration in the hip joint, including excess weight,

accelerated growth rate, and high-calorie or improperly supplemented

diets.

Be alert for any stiffness in the dog's hindquarters, difficulty in

getting up or lying down, or yelping or whimpering when moving the

rear. There appears to be little

correlation between the severity

of radiographic changes (those seen on an x-ray) and a dog's actual

mobility and comfort level. Many dysplastic dogs with extremely

malformed hip joints and severe arthritis can run, jump, and play as

f nothing is wrong, yet other dogs who show very little joint

deterioration on film are noticeably

lame.

By the time osteoarthritis shows up on an x-ray, dysplastic changes

are irreversible and usually degenerative. If a dysplastic dog has

secondary arthritis and pain,

most owners elect an initial treatment

of weight control and exercise management. Studies have shown that

up to 76 percent of severely dysplastic dogs with arthritis

secondary to HD are able to function relatively normally and live

comfortable lives with conservative management.

Numerous drugs and alternative drug therapies known as "disease-

modifying osteoarthritis agents" are available to control the signs

of arthritis secondary to HD.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAIDs) and glucosamine supplements are among the most popular

interventions. Several surgical procedures are

currently available

to help certain categories of affected dogs. An orthopedic

specialist can help determine whether surgery is a good option for

your dog. Prior to

initiating any therapy, make sure that your

veterinarian gathers a complete medical history and performs a

thorough physical examination to help determine the best

treatment

for your dog.

Because hip dysplasia is relatively common in malamutes, responsible

breeders screen dogs for this disorder before using them in their

breeding programs. The

Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)

evaluates x-rays and assigns a rating and clearance number to dogs

two years and older with normal hip conformation.

When inquiring

about purchasing a puppy in the United States, expect the breeder to

produce clearance certificates issued by the OFA for both parents.

Another

legitimate certifying body is Pennsylvania Hip Improvement

Program (PennHip), but this program is relatively new. At this

time, most malamute breeders still use

OFA.