Alaskan Malamute Health Issue's
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 as
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 partial
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 few
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 not, 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
if 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.
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