Health and Longevity in the Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes are a pretty healthy breed for their size and stature but that doesn’t mean they aren’t prone to particular health conditions.
We are highly committed to ensuring each dog we produce here has the highest chance of a long and healthy life. Health testing is fundamental to our program and their health clearances determine whether or not each dog is included in our breeding program.
Whilst we understand producing life of any kind comes with risks, health testing gives us the best calculated decision with the highest chance of healthy progeny.
We believe it is incredibly important to monitor their health for the whole course of their life, with the majority of our dogs receiving multiple screening throughout their lives.

Hips and Elbows

Most large breed dogs will come with the risk of Hip and Elbow Dysplasia.
Hip dysplasia in dogs is a common, often inherited, developmental disorder where the hip ball-and-socket joint fits poorly, causing looseness, instability, and can eventually cause painful osteoarthritis
Hip and Elbow scoring requires the dog to be sedated before taking a radio graph of their pelvic region and each elbow. These images are sent to a imaging specialist and a score is generated on the construction of their joints. These scores are added to the national Hip and Elbow Dysplasia scheme to accumulate a 5 year breed average.
Every dog we use in our breeding program needs to receive a favorable hip and elbow score to be considered for our program.
For more information on Hip and Elbow scoring please follow the link below.

Eyes

Alaskan Malamutes seem to have few issues with their eyes, however we have read of a potential for HD, Hereditary Cataracts. We take our dog to an eye specialist to have their eye clearances done. Ideally these tests are done annually.
We have recently had a dog confirmed affected with posterior polar subcapsular cataracts (PPSC), despite having clear eyes in a previous clearance.
A harsh reminder that these tests should be done annually.
We have completed tests on all the affected dogs progeny and all have been certified clear. We will be monitoring this closely in the future.

DNA Full Breed Analysis

Full breed panels screen for genetic conditions known to each specific breed. This is where a swaps of the mouth or blood is sent into a verified lab to test for relevant conditions.

Polyneuropathy (NDRG1) (Alaskan Malamute)
PN an inherited, autosomal recessive, neuromuscular disease in Alaskan Malamutes that causes peripheral nerve damage, leading to progressive muscle wasting, weakness, and exercise intolerance, typically starting between 7-18 months of age. Symptoms typically include hind limb weakness and a wobbly, "bunny hopping" gait particularly in the rear legs which generally progresses to difficulty using rear legs, muscle atrophy, and often voice changes due to laryngeal involvement. Merete Fredholm and her research team discovered the genetic cause of polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamutes in 2011. The group identified a G>T mutation in the NDRG1 gene, which leads to a glycine-to-valine amino acid substitution. This breakthrough led to the development of a DNA test that can accurately identify clear, carrier, and affected dogs, allowing breeders to make informed mating decisions to prevent the disease. 

Achromatopsia (Shepherd/Arctic Breed Type) (Cone Degeneration)
Cone Degeneration (CD), also called "day-blindness" is an inherited eye disorder causing light-sensitivity (photophobia) and an inability to see in bright light.  Affected dogs show clumsiness, disorientation, and extreme light sensitivity during the day, but see normally at night.  This is an incurable, autosomal recessive disease caused by a mutation in the CNGB3 gene.  While fortunately the disease is rare, it can be managed in affected dogs by keeping them in dimmer lighting and exercising them on-leash in a safe, escape proof yard.

Primary Ciliary Dyskenesia (Malamute Type)
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) in Alaskan Malamutes is an inherited, autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by a deletion in the NME5 gene, leading to defective, non-functional motile cilia. It causes chronic respiratory infections, nasal discharge, and sometimes infertility in young puppies. Treatment is generally limited to supportive care.

We also pay to include Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive, incurable, and non-painful neurological disease in older dogs (typically 8+ years) that causes chronic spinal cord degeneration, resulting in severe hind limb weakness and eventual paralysis. Similar to ALS in humans, it affects breeds like German Shepherds, Boxers, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis due to an SOD1 gene mutation.
This does not appear to be a prevalent condition in the Alaskan Malamautes, we have never experienced a dog carrier or affected. We are firm believers that prevention is better than cure!

Chondrodysplasia

Chondrodysplasia in Alaskan Malamutes is an inherited, autosomal recessive, non-lethal skeletal disorder commonly known as "dwarfism," causing disproportionately short and bowed front legs, enlarged joints, and a sloping topline. While affected dogs can live normal lives, they often develop arthritis. It is diagnosed via X-rays in puppies between 5-12 weeks of age, revealing abnormal bone maturation

Thankfully we have never come across this in our time with this breed - we hope to keep it that way!

Click below to learn more about the history of Chondrodysplasia and the Alaskan Malamute

Thyroid

Alaskan Malamutes are highly prone to canine hypothyroidism, an autoimmune condition where the thyroid gland under-produces hormones, often emerging around age 4. Symptoms include unexplained weight gain, lethargy, cold intolerance, and skin issues. Treatment requires daily, lifelong, affordable synthetic hormone replacement medication
All of our dogs are tested via T4 (blood tests) the year they are used in our program. Thyroid should be monitored for the full course of a breeding animals life. Symptoms can present at any time and T4 is only indicative of the time in which it is taken, it is not a future guarantee just a guarantee the dog is normal at the time of breeding.

Alopecia X (“Coat Funk”)

Differentiation: Alopecia is the general term for abnormal hair loss. In Malamutes we expect radical seasonal coat changes, and most of us are at least somewhat familiar with the various hormonal mediators that must be in proper balance for the shed-and-growth cycle to proceed normally. 
Departures from these normal hormone levels will usually result in noticeable symptoms besides hair-growth irregularities, which aids in their diagnosis.  Most hormone-mediated alopecia can be successfully treated with chemotherapy.
Alopecia X, or Follicular Arrest, is hair loss not associated with such hormone imbalances, and is probably caused by a malfunction in the hair follicles themselves, since it occurs when all the regular hair growth triggers are still present.

This primarily affect male dogs with only minimal occurrences being seem in females. This condition sadly has no genetic testing to predict its occurrence. There is research being undertaken to determine the cause/prevention, with no conclusive answers as yet. We have not produced a case of this in our breeding career yet, but are mindful of this condition in our decisions when looking for suitable studs for our kennel.