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Before you buy an Alaskan Malamute, there
are some important things you need to
establish about the breeder and their dog/s
to ensure the puppy you buy is purebred and
has minimal risk of developing hereditary
health disorders.
Dedicated breeders are trying to eradicate
hereditary diseases by screening their dogs before using
them for breeding, ensuring that the puppies they produce
are as healthy as possible.
Some diseases can't be tested for, so a
dedicated breeder will research the dogs in their pedigrees
to ensure they aren't effected with any serious diseases.
There are several health issues that are not uncommon in
Alaskan Malamutes.
Hip Dysplasia:
This disease is the most common of hereditary joint
diseases in dogs, effecting virtually all breeds but more commonly
seen in large breed dogs. Though there are varying degrees of severity,
it can be a very serious disease, causing your dog extreme pain. A dog
effected with Hip Dysplasia usually requires very expensive
corrective surgery (or in unrepairable cases - euthanasia). Before any Alaskan Malamute is used for
breeding it should have it's hips X-rayed and assessed using either
the PennHIP method or the AVA scoring system. These X-rays can only
be assessed by a Specialist Radiologist.
A regular vet is NOT qualified to accurately assess
hips.
The breeder should have an official Hip Dysplasia Evaluation Report
for both the sire and dam of the litter for you to view. This report
will show the score the dog received compared to the breed average.
Dogs with a score above the breed average should NOT be used for
breeding.
for more
info click here
Eye Diseases:
There are many eye diseases that can effect Alaskan Malamutes, most
are hereditary and some can cause blindness. The breeder should have
an official Ophthalmic Examination Certificate for both the sire and
dam of the litter for you to view. This certificate will have been
signed by a Specialist Ophthalmologist and should be dated within 12
months of the time the breeding took place.
for more
info click here
Chondrodysplasia: Is a
crippling joint disease of the forelegs. Due to the
careful breeding and hard work of dedicated
breeders, this disease is rarely seen nowadays. In
order to keep Chondrodysplasia at bay the breeder
should have a certificate of Chondrodysplasia
probability number from either of the following:
for
both the sire and dam of the litter.
Some breeders will also have pups X-Rayed at six or
eight weeks of age and have them assessed by a
Specialist Radiologist for signs of
Chondrodysplasia, these X-Rays are a definitive
clearance for the puppy.
for more
info click here
Hypothyroidism: A
very common condition in Alaskan Malamutes, with varying degrees of
severity. The exact mode of inheritance for hypothyroidism is not
yet known, but it does tend to run in families. The breeder should
have a Pathology Report showing normal T4 levels for both the sire
and dam of the litter. The reports should be dated within 12 months
of the time the breeding took place.
for more
info click here
Pyometra:
Pyometra (infected uterus) is a very serious condition that will
cause death if not identified and treated in it's early stages.
Previously thought to mainly effect older bitches, it is now
becoming more and more common in younger bitches. The only way of
avoiding this terrible disease is to desex your bitch, preferably
prior to her first heat cycle. Desexing the bitch BEFORE her first
cycle will also greatly lesson the chance of her developing mammary
gland cancer later in life.
for more
info click here
Testicular and Prostate
Cancer:
Are just a couple of the many, potentially fatal health problems
that can effect the entire (non-desexed) male dog. Desexing your
male dog can have other benefits too, it reduces certain behavioural
problems common in entire males including the desires to escape in
search of females on heat (risking being hit by a car), to fight
with other male dogs and to pee on every second thing he walks past.
for more info click
here
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