Typical Dalmation Health IssuesMost dogs have some minor (or major) health issues specific to their breed. Here are some dalmation health issues and concerns that you should be aware of: Skin Problems and Food Allergies Most dogs have some sort of reaction to flea bites. As you know, they itch and sometimes actually hurt! However in many dalmations, flea bites set off allergic reactions that cause pink or red rashes and hives. As the dog bites or licks at the itchy area, more skin damage is done. Keeping your dalmation on an effective flea treatment is smart. Check with your vet for his or her recommendations. Because this breed is prone to sensitive skin, some types of weeds or fungus in grass can also set off an allergic reaction. Oftentimes, the dog's scratching leads to mild or severe skin infection which must be treated by a veterinarian. Don't let this dalmation health issue go untreated. Skin allergies can make your pet miserable as well as lead to increased vet bills. A dalmation health issue known as bronzing syndrome is an allergy related skin disorder which affects the dog's coat and requires veterinary treatment. As with any skin problem, it can range from mild to severe. Another dalmation health issue you might have to deal with is food allergies. Just like humans, some dogs suffer with this. How can you tell the itching might be a food allergy? If your dog is itching all over and he scratches immediately after being touched, there is a good chance the cause is food related. The good thing is that this is an issue that can be fairly easily controlled through diet. Foods that contain beef, soy meal or corn are big triggers. Switching to foods that contain lamb, chicken, turkey, rice and barley will often clear this up. Check with your vet if you suspect your dog has a food allergy.
Dry skin also triggers skin problems and if left untreated can advance to the point of needing vet care. If your dog is using the coffee table or other items in the house for a back scratcher and you notice dry, flaking skin on your dog's lower back, upper tail or other areas, and the skin is not inflamed or raw, try rubbing a little Avon Skin So Soft or some Alpha Keri Oil onto the afected area. There are also pet products made specifically for dry skin which can help with this dalmation health issue. Dry skin can also be prevented with the use of essential fatty acid supplements which are usually added to the dog's food or given in the form of a daily pill.
I have both food and skin allergies. My human had to eliminate from my diet all dog food containing beef products and those with high amounts of corn meal (which is a filler used by dog food companies). She buys Nutro and Nutro Max products, which I do like to eat! I also get bathed from time to time with a mild oatmeal or tea tree based shampoo which helps calm my itchy skin. Just don't overbathe us or use harsh flea products! Doing so will dry out our skin and make us itch more. Your vet or a breeder can give you good advice about shampoos for dalmation healthy skin! Urinary Stones Dalmations (or dalmatians) have a high tendancy to get urinary stones. This is due to the fact that this breed's urine contains uric acid which forms dense salt "stones". These stones (just like in humans) can lodge in the urethra and prevent the dog from emptying its bladder. Small stones, though irritating, often pass through in the urine. If the urinary tract becomes completely blocked by stones, it can be fatal. If you suspect your dog is having trouble emptying his or her bladder, don't wait to make an appointment with your vet. This is a definate dalmation health issue that needs fast attention! You can help your dog avoid or limit the production of urinary stones by staying away from food containing proteins high in "purines" such as beef and liver. Better choices are foods made from lamb, chicken, or turkey.
Hip Dysplasia Any medium or large breed of dog (purebred or not) can be affected with hip joint problems. These problems occur when the thigh bone does not fit properly into the joint. Just as it does with other breeds, this dalmation health issue is one that can show up as mild limping or produce total lameness. It is a painful condition requiring ongoing care. Reputable breeders and vets try hard to keep dogs with this problem from being bred so it won't be passed along genetically. How does a dog owner or prospective owner know if their pet will have it? Sorry, it's pretty much a gamble unless you have gone through a breeder who has made sure the male and female they are breeding has been x-rayed and "certified" as having proper hip joints; however, this can't be guaranteed until after the age of two. Routine checkups by your vet may catch it early, but in most cases, it shows up when your dog hits middle age. What can you do if your beloved pet winds up with this problem?
Most likely, your vet will prescribe medication for any pain and inflammation. You may be advised to try and limit your pet's activities. You may be asked to help your dog lose weight by changing to a "lite" formula dog food. In extreme cases, some owners will choose to have surgery performed on the dog's affected hip.
Sometimes, it helps your dog if you change to a different type of pet bed.
Dalmations like to keep themselves as clean as possible. In fact, some will lick their coats almost as much as cats lick theirs! Unfortunately, sometimes these dogs don't know when to quit and will wind up giving themselves a skin infection or irritation which turns into a nasty open sore. The skin around the sore will start hardening; which for some reason makes them lick even more. Also, my veterinarian said that some dals will lick excessively out of boredom or when something upsets them. Excessive licking can lead to skin problems which, as noted above, is a real dalmation health issue. You can try sour apple sprays to discourage excessive licking, though it doesn't always work. I think some dals get to like the taste! For mild sores, topical medicines and sprays are available through your local pet store. For more severe or infected sores, you need to ask your vet for something stronger.
Yep, I'm guilty of this. It makes my humans nuts when I get on a licking kick. I have developed a rather ugly hard, hairless area on one of my back legs which my vet refers to as a "licknoma". (I have no idea how to spell it.) Once I start working on this area, I can't seem to leave it alone. My human has to grab the bottle of Gentamicin Sulphate and chase me around the house in order to apply it. Geeze, I hate being sprayed with that stuff. It almost makes me want to quit licking myself! In Summary Just like any other member of your family, your dog is going to get sick during its lifetime and maybe at some point will need treatment for an illness or medical problem that is totally unexpected. Things happen. As your dog ages, you can also expect specific health issues to appear. Make sure you keep your vet's phone number where you can find it quickly and don't forget to schedule regular health exams. Sometimes your pet's natural instincts will take over and they will resort to one of Mother Nature's remedies such as eating grass. Unless your yard is covered with chemical fertilizers or weed killers, don't worry when Fido starts grazing. Also, with the increasing costs relating to pet health care, you might want to learn more about
pet health insurance, specifically dog health insurance. If you are expecting to see deafness included here, you won't. Deafness is not really a dalmation health issue, it's a genetic one. Perfectly healthy dogs can be deaf. Deafness is, however, something that serious breeders along with veterinarians and others are trying to genetically stop in this breed. Information on deafness in dalmatians can be found on this website. Dals, gotta love 'em!
I hope this page has been useful to you. For answers to more dalmation health concerns you may have, you can search the web using Google below.
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