Dalmatians are among the most unique and iconic dog breeds, beloved for their cute spotted coats and energetic personalities. They were once bred as guard dogs, which is likely why those residual protective traits make them excellent family dogs.
Unfortunately, despite their strong muscles and energetic behaviors, Dalmatians are still prone to health problems. Like all dog breeds, they can live long lives with proper proactive care. The typical Dalmatian lifespan is 10 to 13 years.
To stay vigilant and ensure your pooch is in perfect health, you need to learn about the most common Dalmatian health issues that could affect your pooch. This is precisely what we’re here to talk about, but also what you can do about these issues and how to monitor them with the help of Maven Pet Health Monitor, a cutting-edge tool that will keep you informed about your pup’s health at all times.
Top 5 Dalmatian Health Issues and How to Monitor Them
There are a lot of Dalmatian dog health problems you need to be cautious of, but some are more prevalent than others. So, to promote pet wellness in your pup, it’s best to learn more about the most common ones. We’ve prepared a list of five, so keep reading.
1. Deafness
According to the Dalmatian Club of America Foundation, hereditary deafness is the most common health issue affecting otherwise healthy Dalmatians. Between 15% and 30% of dogs are affected somehow, while 5% are born deaf in both ears.
However, it’s important to note that they don’t go deaf sometimes in their lives any more than other dog breeds.
Symptoms:
- Slow response to auditory commands (common with partial deafness)
- Lack of response to sounds (common with complete deafness)
Monitoring with Maven Pet:
The Maven Pet smart collar can help you monitor for early signs because it can indicate frustration and disorientation caused by hearing problems.
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2. Urinary Stones
Urinary stones are one of the more common Dalmatian health issues and symptoms. These are more apparent than those pointing to hearing problems.
In addition, Dalmatians are more prone to developing urinary stones than many other breeds because they have a gene mutation that causes high uric acid levels.
Symptoms:
- Difficulty urinating
- Blood in urine
- Frequent attempts to urinate
Monitoring with Maven:
Our smart pet collar can track changes in behavior that indicate discomfort. You can also log symptoms, like frequent urination, and consult your vet based on the findings logged in the app. The device will also monitor nighttime restlessness, which can be caused by urinary discomfort.
3. Allergies and Skin Issues
Allergies, especially those that affect the skin, like atopic dermatitis, are common in Dalmatians. Other skin problems like hair loss and dry skin are also prevalent. As you might expect, this is all due to their unique spotty coat.
One of the more common Dalmatian dog health issues of this kind is bronzing skin syndrome, which is exclusive to Dalmatians and manifests as a pinkish or bronze stripe from head to tail.
Symptoms:
- Redness
- Irritated or flaky skin
- Excessive licking
- Excessive scratching
- Hair loss
Monitoring with Maven:
As we mentioned, our smart collar detects changes in behavior, including head shaking and scratching, which can indicate an allergy or other skin issue. You can also log symptoms you notice and send pictures to your vet for review.
4. Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is one of the more common Dalmatian health issues primarily because of the dog’s size. It affects large dog breeds more than others, and Dalmatians, unfortunately, fit the bill.
This hereditary joint condition tends to cause pain, reduced mobility, and stiffness. The causes can be very diverse, and genetics play a significant role.
Symptoms:
- Decreased activity and range of motion
- Limping
- Difficulty getting up
- Reluctance to climb stairs
- Loss of thigh muscle mass
- Stiffness and pain
Monitoring with Maven:
Our tool can track your pup’s activity level and nighttime restlessness, all of which can be caused by pain and discomfort.
5. Hyperuricemia (High Uric Acid Levels)
Hyperuricemia is an inherited disorder primarily characterized by high uric acid levels in the dog’s urine. As we’ve explained, this also predisposes dogs to developing kidney stones. Unfortunately, it’s not curable, but it can be managed with proper low-protein diets your vet can prescribe.
Symptoms:
- Painful joints
- Lethargy
- Signs of urinary blockage
Monitoring with Maven:
The Maven Pet collar can help with proactive care by providing insights into behavioral changes linked to various forms of pain and discomfort, including those caused by this disorder. It can also track reduced playfulness and lethargy.
Prevention and Care Tips for Dalmatian Health Issues
It’s not all about Dalmatian health issues treatment plans. An improved life expectancy for Dalmatians and a healthier life overall stems from being proactive and caring for your dog. With that in mind, here are a few tips you should consider:
- If necessary, and if the vet prescribes it, you should put your pup on a low-purine diet to prevent urinary stones.
- Take your Dalmatian to the vet for regular check-ups. The vet can especially examine for joint and urinary issues.
- If your pup has issues with allergies and skin conditions, use hypoallergenic shampoos and supplements.
- Maintain moderate exercise regimens to maintain joint health, but ensure there’s no overexertion.
- Use the Maven Pet Health Monitor to continuously track your pooch’s activity, sleep, and behavioral changes.
Why Monitoring Matters for Dalmatian Health
Monitoring and staying proactive is crucial because Dalmatians are prone to health issues that may not have obvious symptoms early on.
That’s why the Maven Pet collar can be beneficial here with its 24/7 active monitoring features. Here’s what it does:
- Tracks activity levels and detects lethargy or reduced mobility.
- Monitors nighttime restlessness and identifies issues stemming from discomfort or pain.
- It lets you log symptoms like scratching, appetite loss, and urination changes.
This consistent monitoring can lead to early diagnosis and better treatment outcomes, increasing your pup’s quality of life.
Conclusion
Understanding the most common Dalmatian health issues is crucial in detecting them early. Your pup might never develop any of these, and we hope it doesn’t, but it’s always better to know what could happen, especially if that leads to early diagnosis and better treatment.
On top of that, using a smart device like the one we at Maven Pet offer, you can gain a trusted partner that can detect issues early, giving you peace of mind and improving your proactive care.
Read more about our pet health monitor and how it can help with your Dalmatian’s well-being and consider subscribing to the service to get your smart collar as soon as possible.
Maven Pet focuses on improving the quality of life of our pets with technology, using artificial intelligence (AI) to enable proactive pet care. By accurately collecting and monitoring pet data 24/7 and flagging any irregularities, Maven Pet empowers pet parents and veterinarians to stay ahead of potential health issues, ensuring the well-being and longevity of our beloved companions.
