| Are white dogs deaf? Are dalmatians deaf and what | | | | have the full range of problems, as some may be |
| is the cause of dalmatian deafness? Why did I end | | | | deaf and suffer from allergies, or deaf with partial |
| up with a deaf Boston terrier? What are the most | | | | vision loss. In this case the double merle gene causes |
| common deaf dog breeds? These are the most | | | | a wide range of health problems in addition to |
| popular questions that owners ask in regards to the | | | | deafness. The breeds affected by the merle genes |
| causes of dog deafness. There four different types | | | | are: Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, Harlequin Great |
| of genetic defects that affect deaf puppies. | | | | Danes, Dappled Dachshund, American Foxhound and |
| The first gene error involves the piebald gene. This is | | | | Old English Sheepdog. |
| a pigmentation gene, which determines the colour of | | | | A third occurrence of genetic deafness was |
| the dog's coat. The increasing amount of white, in a | | | | discovered in Pointers. Although Pointers do carry a |
| dog's coat and head increases the likelihood of | | | | piebald gene, it is believed that a recessive gene is |
| deafness. The piebald gene is common in the Bull | | | | the cause of deafness and it is not linked to a |
| Terrier, Boston Terrier, Samoyed, Greyhound, Great | | | | predominantly white coat or head. This recessive |
| Pyrenees, Beagle, Bulldog, Jack Russel Terriers, | | | | gene causes only total deafness in pups, and no |
| Dalmatian and English Setter. It is still unclear how | | | | partial hearing loss with no further health problems. |
| these genes are transmitted. As the Samoyed, an all | | | | Breeds affected by this recessive gene are Pointers, |
| white breed, does not present any problems with | | | | Whippets and Rottweilers. |
| hereditary deafness. | | | | A fourth type of genetic deafness was discovered d |
| Luckily, there are no links between piebald genetic | | | | in Doberman Pinschers. Dobermans and Shropshire |
| deafness and other specific health problems (apart | | | | Terriers do not carry the merle or piebald genes |
| from the ones present in a particular breed) they are | | | | however the deafness is caused by a simple |
| just healthy dogs who cannot hear. | | | | autosomal recessive gene and it is not linked to an |
| The second occurrence of hereditary and congenital | | | | excessive amount of white in the coat. Unfortunately |
| deafness involves the merle genes, in particular the | | | | these dogs also have balance problems and they |
| homozygous merle gene. The merle or dappled gene | | | | may walk with their head tilted or in circles. |
| creates light and dark areas of colour in the dog's | | | | Since pups that are affected by the double merle |
| coat. Trouble arises when two dogs with the merle | | | | gene have a wide range of health problems, there is |
| coat gene are bred. In that case, there is a 25% | | | | a common belief that ALL deaf dogs have additional |
| chance that the offspring may inherit the | | | | health problems. Dalmatians, deaf or not, may have |
| homozygous merle gene. These homozygous merle | | | | problems specific to the breed, not because of the |
| pups are also called "double merle" or "lethal white" | | | | deafness. It's also widely believed that only white |
| pups. | | | | dogs can be born deaf and neither of these common |
| Double merle pups will have large amounts of white in | | | | beliefs are entirely accurate. It is important to know |
| their coats and some merle patches. In addition to | | | | the different characteristics of each genetic error and |
| being deaf, these pups may also be blind, partially | | | | the breeds that are affected by them. There is also |
| blind, have severe organ problems, as well as allergy | | | | a higher incidence of deafness in liver spotted |
| and skin problems. Some do not live long, hence the | | | | Dalmatians and blue eyed Dalmatians. |
| nickname "lethal white." Not all double merle pups | | | | |