Understanding Dalmatian Health: Common Issues & Prevention Tips

Females with urinary stones sometimes lick the genital area and subsequently have housebreaking accidents, while males are often unable to urinate. Canine urinary blockage is an emergency situation requiring immediate veterinary care.

Dalmatian health problems and eyes

Some Dalmatian puppies are born with incorrectly developed iris sphincter muscles, which means the pupils cannot contract normally when the dog is exposed to bright sunlight. Exposure to bright lights can therefore be painful. Dogs might squint when outdoors.

Entropion is another potential Dalmatian health issue — it's a condition where the eyelid rolls inward and the eyelashes rub against the surface of the eye, causing irritation. This disorder can lead to vision loss over time.

Other visual Dalmatian health problems include glaucoma, or a buildup of pressure within the eye; pannus, which is an inflammation of the cornea; ceroid lipofuscinosis, a metabolic disorder that deteriorates the retina, and dermoids, which are folds of skin that form near the eye and irritate the cornea or conjunctiva.

Dalmatian nervous system disorders

Dalmatian puppies sometimes succumb to a nervous system disorder called laryngeal paralysis. Puppies with this disorder usually show symptoms before they are six months old. These Dalmatian puppies might have difficulty breathing and usually die of pneumonia within several months of diagnosis. Common symptoms include loss of muscle tone, generalized weakness, and coughing.

Degenerative myelopathy is another nervous system issue. The myelin that protects the nerves in the spinal cord deteriorates. Affected dogs might have progressive difficulty using their back legs. Degenerative myelopathy, one of several Dalmatian health issues, is a result of a genetic mutation and only two percent of Dalmatians are believed to be carriers of this mutation.