Alaskan Malamute Genetic Medical Disorders

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The Alaskan Malamute is a “natural” breed, the product of its environment and function rather than “man made”. The resulting wider gene pool has left the breed relatively free of a large number of inherited medical disorders.

However, there are a few genetic problems which are of great concern to breeders of this ancient breed, and a brief outline of these are contained in this pamphlet. Prospective purchasers of the Alaskan Malamute must ensure that breeding pairs are appropriately screened and certified by an authorized agency.

Your breeder will be able to answer your questions and provide you with certificates ensuring that the sire and dam are free of these disorders. While this will not guarantee that your puppy will not inherit these problems, the risk of inheritance is greatly decreased with each successive generation of clear parents. Your breeder should be able to provide you with an agreement outlining responsibility should your puppy be afflicted with a hereditary disease later in life.

Cataracts

A cataract, which occurs in the posterior part of the lens, is prevalent in the Alaskan Malamute. This cataract is usually present by 1-2 years of age and is therefore loosely identified as a “juvenile” cataract. Although this type of cataract rarely progresses to blindness, veterinary ophthalmologists recommend that affected animals not be used for breeding.

In order to reduce and/or eliminate inherited eye diseases in the Alaskan Malamute, breeders are encouraged to have breeding stock examined by a member of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (AVCO).

After a painless examination of the dog’s eyes, the resulting findings will be sent to the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) for the purpose of tabulating data on all breeds. This examination will reveal the presence of cataracts, as well as various other types of eye abnormalities.

AVCO Diplomats are not readily accessible in all areas of the country. In some areas, breeders may only have access to non-member Veterinary Opthamologists who, although are qualified in evaluating eye conditions, the owner/breeder cannot submit these examination results to CERF. Eye Clinics are often available in various areas, on an annual to semi-annual basis where an AVCO Diplomat is made available for this purpose.

A copy of the examination report is issued to the dog’s owner which, if clear of hereditary disorder, may be submitted to CERF for certification. Unlike ChD and HD certifications, the dog’s eyes must be reexamined yearly to maintain valid certification.

Chondrodysplasia (ChD)

Chondrodysplasia is a genetic disorder in the Alaskan malamute, which manifests itself in puppies born with deformities, eventually evident in the abnormal shape and length of their limbs. Although not entirely correct, this condition is commonly referred to as “dwarfism” due to the lateral bowing of the forelimbs, enlargement of the wrist joints and lateral deviation of the forepaws. When believed evident or necessary, radiographs are used for detection of ChD.

Early in the 1970′s, it was conclusively proven that ChD is genetically inherited through a simple recessive mode, i.e. the sire and dam must both have this gene in order to produce an affected puppy. The Alaskan Malamute Club of America operates a ChD certification program based on the dog’s pedigree, thus determining a percentage of probability.

A certificate issued by the AMCA indicates that the certified dog has little probability of producing an affected puppy, and is valid for the life of the dog. While this procedure has greatly reduced the incidence of affected puppies, we must stringently breed only certified dogs to prevent the resurfacing of this disorder.

Hip Dysplasia (HD)

The Alaskan Malamute, like most large breeds can suffer from canine hip dysplasia. In its simplest terms, HD is an imperfect formation of the ball and socket assembly in the pelvis. The degree of imperfection can vary from very slight, which often does not visibly affect a dog, to severe, in which the animal is so badly affected that often euthanasia is the only humane course.

The mode of inheritance of HD is not fully understood and even the most experienced researchers, veterinarians and breeders are divided in their opinions as to the exact cause.

It has, however, been conclusively demonstrated that breeding dogs with dysplastic hips substantially increases the incidence of hip dysplasia in puppies. While a dysplastic puppy can occur from mating clear parents, the chances are minimized or much less if both parents are clear.

Presently, the conclusive method of detection of hip dysplasia is a pelvic x-ray. The x-ray should be done by a trained professional and evaluated for certification by a recognized institute. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) in Missouri is perhaps the best known institute and has established a hip control registry for all breeds. Alternative registries have been established by the PennHIP foundation of Pennsylvania and the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Guelph, Ontario. While some certificates are issued at a younger age, OFA certification is provided following two years of age and is valid for the life of the dog.

If you are buying a “pet” puppy, chances are you will never have its hips x-rayed. But, just because a breeder is selling “pet” puppies is no reason not to be breeding clear, healthy stock. The hips on your “pet” puppy should be just as good as those of his “showing/breeding” littermate.

Hypothyroidism

This condition is the result of an abnormally low production of Thyroid hormones. Affected animals appear to have a low metabolic rate and are comparatively “easy keepers,” requiring small amounts of dietary intake as compared to their size.

Clinical signs vary in intensity with each individual case; dry, coarse and/or sparse coats, ocular discharge, pale mucous membranes, good appetites with normal or above normal weight, mental dullness, slower awkward gait. Diagnosis is made through a blood sample, and treatment is effective in most cases with the oral administration of synthetic thyroid tablets.

Unfortunately, this condition is frequently misdiagnosed by veterinarians because the tests available for evaluating thyroid conditions are not very specific and can be inaccurate for a true diagnosis. However, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) has recently initiated a Canine Thyroid Registry which, upon submission of a blood sample, will certify the donor clear of hereditary Autoimmune Thyroiditis and Idiopathically Reduced Thyroid Function (non-genetic). Autoimmune Thyroiditis is the most common cause of primary hypothyroidism in dogs.

Due to the variable onset of the presence of autoantibodies, periodic testing is necessary. It is recommended that dogs be tested annually up to the age of four and every other year thereafter. Since this registry is relatively new, it is doubtful that many breeders will have certified breeding stock at this time. However, it is hoped that this certification will become more prevalent in the future.

The Alaskan Malamute will sometimes exhibit a condition affecting the coat, which is commonly referred to as “coat funk”. This condition is often misdiagnosed as hypothyroidism, yet thryoid supplementation does not correct the symptoms. Affected dogs will exhibit a dry, brittle guard coat sparsely covering a “woolly” looking under coat.

The coat does not fall out, nor does the dog “blow coat” like normal. Damaged guard hairs do not regenerate and the dog begins to look similar to a sheep with a malamute head. Dogs will appear normal in youth, sometimes not exhibiting symptoms until five or six years of age. To date, no conclusion has been reached as to hereditability or cure.

Alaskan Malamute Genetic Medical Disorders

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