Above photograph: Ms Ook - Yukonjak's Seal of Distinction - seeing if she can spy a chipmunk or two on which to munch!
DNA Tests available for Alaskan Malamutes:
(AFFECTED / CARRIER / CLEAR of disease)
Degenerative Myleopathy - progressive disease of the spinal cord. Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a fatal, neurodegenerative disease showing a lack of coordination of muscle movements in the pelvic limbs. This disease, a result of gradual loss of both myelin (the insulation around nerve fibers) and spinal cord nerve fibers which begins in the thoracic spine, causes progressive loss of coordination and weakness in the back legs which eventually leads to the dog being unable to walk. Loss of bowel and bladder control result as well. Unlike spinal cord injuries, this form of spinal paralysis is generally not painful as the nerves which would transmit the pain degenerate.Dogs diagnosed with DM have degeneration of the spinal cord. When muscles no longer receive the messages from the motor neurons that they require to function, the muscles begin to atrophy (become smaller). Limbs look "thinner" as muscle tissue atrophies. In end stages of the disease, limbs may become paralyzed. DM affects adult dogs typically over the age of 8 years and there are Alaskan Malamutes diagnosed with it. A DNA test is available for use by anyone. Having two mutated copies of the gene does not necessarily result in disease, particularly since many dogs die of 'other things' prior to the disease developing. My dogs are clear and do not carry for this particular disease, which is now known to affect many, if not all, breeds of dog.
More information: http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/144-canine-degenerative-myelopathy-symptoms
Alaskan Malamute Polyneuropathy - DNA test for polyneuropathy (became commercially available July 2012 from material from the Faculty of Health Sciences - University of Copenhagen). The disease: The disease involves a defect in the transmission of impulses from nerves to muscles. Clinical symptoms are usually detected at the age of 8 to 14 month. Initially clinical signs are subtle and characterized by slowly progressive exercise intolerance. Many dogs also express laryngeal paresis. As the disease progresses gait abnormalities and muscle atrophy is seen. Heredity: Polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamut follows a simple autosomal recessive inheritance. Autosomal means that the disease is not sex-linked and recessive means that the disease will only appear if a puppy receives the defective gene form both parents. A dog that has one normal and one defective copy of the gene is called a carrier and it will not show signs of the disease. The mutation: Polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamute is comparable to an illness in humans called CMT4 (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 4) and to polyneuropathy in Greyhounds. The cause of these polyneuropathies is the presence of mutations in the NDRG1. It is also a mutation in the NDRG1 gene that causes Polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamute. Based on this information a diagnostic test has been established. The test and results: Homozygous normal means that the dog has two normal copies of the gene - so no mutations in the NDRG1 gene. A dog with this result can be used for breeding without reservation. Heterozygous carrier means that the dog has one normal copy of the gene and one defective copy. The dog is clinically completely healthy, but it will pass the mutation to half its offspring. As long as the dog is only mated to homozygous normal dogs it will not produce sick offspring. Heterozygote carriers can therefore be used in breeding, but only to homozygous normal breeding partners. Homozygous sick means that the dog has two defective copies of the gene and should not be used for breeding. Every dog I own is clear of, and does not carry, this particular disease. The test only costs $50 per dog - and much less if you are testing multiple dogs, at the same time. The online database currently has a carrier rate of around 20% - with an additional 10% as affected. Unfortunately, there are many dogs who are carriers, and who are affected, who are not listed. Along with all the dogs who were never tested. This is now a completely preventable disease, for $50 (or less) per dog.
More Information: http://www.inupiat.no/ampoly2.html
Cone Degeneration - day blindness. The OptiGen “CD” test is a DNA based test that provide a method to identify Cone Degeneration Disease (CD) in the the Alaskan Malamute (and German Shorthaired Pointer). Although the disease is rare, it is important to control the gene frequency so as to prevent producing puppies affected with the disease. CD disease causes day blindness due to degeneration of the retinal “cones” – cone-shaped cells in the retina that respond primarily to bright daylight. While CD can be diagnosed by exam in the early weeks of the affected dog’s life, carriers require a DNA test. The pups become day-blind and are photophobic – meaning that exposure to bright light is irritating or even painful. CD does not affect night vision. The test only costs $50 per dog - and much less if you are testing multiple dogs, at the same time. The disease expresses prior to the puppies leaving the breeder's home, so it would be rare to see an 'affected' in the pet population. That said, the 'affecteds' may have been put to sleep or killed, so that no one, but the breeder, knows they have the disease. This is now a completely preventable disease, for $50 (or less) per dog.
Multidrug Resistance (MDR1 mutation) - moderate to severe allergic reaction to certain tranquilizers, antibiotics, anti-cancer and pain control drugs. My first Malamute was profoundly affected by many of these drugs I've listed here - but there wasn't any 'DNA test' at that point. Acepromazine (tranquilizer and pre-anesthetic agent); Butorphanol (analgesic and pre-anesthetic agent); Emodepside (Profender®)-is a deworming drug; Erythromycin; Ivermectin (antiparasitic agent); Loperamide (ImodiumTM; antidiarrheal agent); Selamectin, milbemycin, and moxidectin (antaparasitic agents); Vincristine, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin (chemotherapy agents). Cyclosporin (immunosuppressive agent); Digoxin (cardiac drug); Doxycycline (antibacterial drug). Morphine, buprenorphine, fentanyl (opioid analgesics or pain medications).
* Carrier, or even affected, can be bred - harmlessly - to NON-CARRIER and NON-AFFECTED, thus, eliminating the disease without continuing it.
More information: http://www.dogheirs.com/dogheirs/posts/144-canine-degenerative-myelopathy-symptoms
Alaskan Malamute Polyneuropathy - DNA test for polyneuropathy (became commercially available July 2012 from material from the Faculty of Health Sciences - University of Copenhagen). The disease: The disease involves a defect in the transmission of impulses from nerves to muscles. Clinical symptoms are usually detected at the age of 8 to 14 month. Initially clinical signs are subtle and characterized by slowly progressive exercise intolerance. Many dogs also express laryngeal paresis. As the disease progresses gait abnormalities and muscle atrophy is seen. Heredity: Polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamut follows a simple autosomal recessive inheritance. Autosomal means that the disease is not sex-linked and recessive means that the disease will only appear if a puppy receives the defective gene form both parents. A dog that has one normal and one defective copy of the gene is called a carrier and it will not show signs of the disease. The mutation: Polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamute is comparable to an illness in humans called CMT4 (Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 4) and to polyneuropathy in Greyhounds. The cause of these polyneuropathies is the presence of mutations in the NDRG1. It is also a mutation in the NDRG1 gene that causes Polyneuropathy in Alaskan Malamute. Based on this information a diagnostic test has been established. The test and results: Homozygous normal means that the dog has two normal copies of the gene - so no mutations in the NDRG1 gene. A dog with this result can be used for breeding without reservation. Heterozygous carrier means that the dog has one normal copy of the gene and one defective copy. The dog is clinically completely healthy, but it will pass the mutation to half its offspring. As long as the dog is only mated to homozygous normal dogs it will not produce sick offspring. Heterozygote carriers can therefore be used in breeding, but only to homozygous normal breeding partners. Homozygous sick means that the dog has two defective copies of the gene and should not be used for breeding. Every dog I own is clear of, and does not carry, this particular disease. The test only costs $50 per dog - and much less if you are testing multiple dogs, at the same time. The online database currently has a carrier rate of around 20% - with an additional 10% as affected. Unfortunately, there are many dogs who are carriers, and who are affected, who are not listed. Along with all the dogs who were never tested. This is now a completely preventable disease, for $50 (or less) per dog.
More Information: http://www.inupiat.no/ampoly2.html
Cone Degeneration - day blindness. The OptiGen “CD” test is a DNA based test that provide a method to identify Cone Degeneration Disease (CD) in the the Alaskan Malamute (and German Shorthaired Pointer). Although the disease is rare, it is important to control the gene frequency so as to prevent producing puppies affected with the disease. CD disease causes day blindness due to degeneration of the retinal “cones” – cone-shaped cells in the retina that respond primarily to bright daylight. While CD can be diagnosed by exam in the early weeks of the affected dog’s life, carriers require a DNA test. The pups become day-blind and are photophobic – meaning that exposure to bright light is irritating or even painful. CD does not affect night vision. The test only costs $50 per dog - and much less if you are testing multiple dogs, at the same time. The disease expresses prior to the puppies leaving the breeder's home, so it would be rare to see an 'affected' in the pet population. That said, the 'affecteds' may have been put to sleep or killed, so that no one, but the breeder, knows they have the disease. This is now a completely preventable disease, for $50 (or less) per dog.
Multidrug Resistance (MDR1 mutation) - moderate to severe allergic reaction to certain tranquilizers, antibiotics, anti-cancer and pain control drugs. My first Malamute was profoundly affected by many of these drugs I've listed here - but there wasn't any 'DNA test' at that point. Acepromazine (tranquilizer and pre-anesthetic agent); Butorphanol (analgesic and pre-anesthetic agent); Emodepside (Profender®)-is a deworming drug; Erythromycin; Ivermectin (antiparasitic agent); Loperamide (ImodiumTM; antidiarrheal agent); Selamectin, milbemycin, and moxidectin (antaparasitic agents); Vincristine, Vinblastine, Doxorubicin (chemotherapy agents). Cyclosporin (immunosuppressive agent); Digoxin (cardiac drug); Doxycycline (antibacterial drug). Morphine, buprenorphine, fentanyl (opioid analgesics or pain medications).
* Carrier, or even affected, can be bred - harmlessly - to NON-CARRIER and NON-AFFECTED, thus, eliminating the disease without continuing it.