| Dalmatian health issues should not keep you from | | | | BAER tests which are the Brainstorm Auditory |
| owning this wonderful breed of dog as they are still | | | | Evoked Response tests. This is the only reliable |
| extremely healthy dogs as well as very loyal and | | | | method of testing that is foolproof. If your Dalmatian |
| protective companions. They make excellent guard | | | | does have this condition, it is permanent and can not |
| dogs and terrific family pets. In fact, several experts | | | | be corrected. However, a deaf dog can easily be |
| have claimed them to be almost people like in nature | | | | trained with hand signals and just like in humans, |
| as they absolutely love to be around people and | | | | when one sense is lost, the others become more |
| families. | | | | powerful. |
| Dalmatians are classified as a non-sporting breed | | | | They still make absolutely incredible and lovable family |
| primarily because they have a wide variety of talents. | | | | pets. |
| In fact, their sense of smell is so strong and defined, | | | | Ear infections: |
| that they were used both in World Wars as well as | | | | The heredity deafness challenge also leaves them |
| in Vietnam to guard our troops and alert them. Their | | | | more vulnerable to ear infections. Most all dog ear |
| keen sense of smell also makes them excellent | | | | infections are caused because moisture remains in |
| tracking dogs as well as search and rescue dogs. | | | | the ears and this allows both bacteria and yeast to |
| They are a large breed and a well grown male can | | | | grow. Dogs with large floppy ears are more prone |
| weigh up to 90 pounds. They are built by heredity | | | | for these infections, but because of their inherited |
| for endurance and can run or trot for several miles at | | | | challenges, Dalmatians are a lot more likely to develop |
| a time and were believed to be breed by English | | | | this condition than most breeds. |
| aristocrats to run along side and protect carriages | | | | Treating these ear infections will be a constant |
| almost 200 years ago. | | | | routine with your Dalmatian. Vitamin C will help reduce |
| Their beautiful silky white coat identifies them as well | | | | the inflammation as it also helps in the production of |
| as their black or liver spots. However, Dalmatians are | | | | a natural steroid that slows down the inflammation as |
| born pure white unless they are patched. The spots | | | | well as keeping the adrenal glands operating properly. |
| are present at birth and will grow in size as they | | | | There are also natural herbs such as Tea Tree Oil, |
| mature. There are some Dalmatians that are | | | | Rosemary, and Marigold that you can make into a |
| tri-colored which keeps them from any dog shows | | | | liquid formula that will reduce these infections. Simply |
| but it certainly does not keep them from being the | | | | boiling these herbs for an hour and letting them cool |
| loyal friend that they will become. | | | | will set them, and than you rub a small portion gently |
| They were bred to be friends and companions, not | | | | into their ears. There is also a very effective flush |
| show dogs. Their temperament has often been | | | | called ChlorhexiDerm that is a tropical antimicrobial |
| related very similar to people as they can be | | | | flush that works almost instantly. |
| extremely sensitive to any type of a scolding or | | | | You can not eliminate this problem in your Dalmatian, |
| reprimand, but are also very boisterous when they | | | | but you can very effectively treat it. |
| are happy or want to gain your attention. They also | | | | Urinary System: |
| require a lot of exercise, the more the better. They | | | | Dalmatians have a very unique urinary system that is |
| are breed to run for hours at a time and absolutely | | | | different than any other breed. Dalmatian's urine |
| love to run. | | | | contains uric acid instead of urea acid which makes |
| Dalmatian health issues are almost unique in nature | | | | them very susceptible to both bladder infections as |
| compared to most breeds. The quality of breeding in | | | | well as kidney stones. |
| Dalmatians is absolutely critical and you should never | | | | This is especially dangerous for this breed as if the |
| get a Dalmatian from anyone other than a top rated | | | | stones become large enough they can block the |
| and qualified breeder as it can and will lead to an early | | | | urinary track completely and could cause the death |
| death in your Dalmatian if you do so. I learned that | | | | of your dog if not treated very quickly. |
| from experience. | | | | Feeding your Dalmatian a diet that does not have |
| However, if you get a well breed Dalmatian, they can | | | | too much protein will be critical as excessive protein |
| live and be part of your family for several years. My | | | | strengthens uric acid. Liver and beef should be totally |
| current Dalmatian is now fifteen years old and our | | | | avoided; instead use food that contains lamb, poultry, |
| veterinarian still shakes her head every time she | | | | eggs or vegetables. |
| checks him as he looks to be six to seven years old | | | | If your Dalmatian starts to develop this condition |
| and not the old man he actually is. Here are the most | | | | feeding them a homemade diet of rice and turkey |
| serious of Dalmatian health issues: | | | | burger will eliminate it very quickly. Turkey burger is |
| Hereditary Deafness: | | | | high in protein but is very low in the purines and can |
| Dalmatians have a hereditary deafness issue that is | | | | be very helpful. |
| referred to as polygenic inheritance. This is an | | | | Skin allergies: |
| inheritance that can not be breed out of Dalmatians | | | | Dalmatian health issues also include skin allergies and |
| as it composed of quantitative traits. This means that | | | | can cause a reddish tinge in your pet. This is most |
| it is influenced by multiple genes rather than just one | | | | always associated with their diet and providing them |
| gene. An example of a polygenic inheritance would be | | | | with either turkey or even venison is a natural way |
| skin color in humans that is determined by genes that | | | | to keep the protein levels high enough but at the |
| are hereditary. | | | | same time protecting them against allergies as well as |
| However, that does not mean that all Dalmatians will | | | | challenging their urinary issues. |
| be deaf. | | | | Summary: |
| Less then ten percent of this breed is totally deaf | | | | Isaac is our third Dalmatian and we have learned |
| while approximately twenty five percent will have | | | | through trial and error what you need to look for |
| unilateral hearing, which means that they will have | | | | with this wonderful, intelligent, and very gentle breed |
| hearing in only one ear. | | | | can bring. The hypertension that is often associated |
| Any breed of a puppy is born with ear canals that | | | | with Dalmatians can easily be worked out with the |
| are closed but they will open usually two weeks | | | | proper exercise. |
| after birth. In Dalmatians, it will be critical for breeders | | | | And do not ignore them, include them. They want to |
| to check all puppies for this development as it will be | | | | be part of any family activity that they can be in and |
| determined by the age of six to eight weeks if they | | | | you will not find a more loyal and protective breed of |
| will be deaf, have bilateral deafness, or have normal | | | | dog than a Dalmatian, despite their many health |
| hearing. | | | | issues. We have enjoyed this wonderful breed now |
| All reputable breeders will use what is called the | | | | for over 25 years. |