Article written by Doctor Vincent, French Dalmatian Club veterinary surgeon

    The dysplasy of the hip is an affection with hereditary component characterized by a disorder of the development appearing by an articular instability evolving to osteoarthritis. It affects primarily the races of large size. For the Dalmatien, of average format, a functional deficit related to the dysplasy of the hip is rare. 

    About

    A radiograph carried out under general anaesthesia and interpreted by a veterinary surgeon specialist, having the statute in "OFFICIAL READER" makes possible to distinguish 5 levels, according to precise criterias:

• A: no sign of dysplasy

• B: appreciably normal state

• C: light dysplasy

• D: medium dysplasy

• E: severe dysplasy

    The dysplasy is a hereditary affection determined by several genes, whose expression is influenced by the conditions of the external environment, in fact a total overfeeding involving a ponderal overload, or a mineral and vitaminized contribution defective, and even a mode of badly done exercise.

    The heritability is a statistical parameter making possible to quantify the influence of the external environment on the expression of responsible genes. Thus a heritability equal to 1 corresponds to the only expression of genes, the environment absolutely not intervening. Regarding  the dysplasy,  the heritability varies, according to the different Authors,  from 0.14 to 0.47, it means that the environment influence is significant. Let us underline however that a defective diet will not encourage the dysplasy in not genetically predisposed animals.

    European Co-operation of the Dalmatians Clubs (ECDC), during the meeting of the 25/04/2003 in San Remo, wished  that each Club specify in the near future, his recommendations concerning the breeding as for the dysplasy. Thus in Norway 50% of Dalmatians were the subject of a radiography of the hips, highlighting a total rate of dysplasy of 8.4% on a sample of 1000 individuals. 

    At present, French Dalmatian Club French does not recommend a systematic radio, but demands the size mentioned in the standard is scrupulously respected in dog shows. Indeed Dalmatian is a dog of medium size and must remain it, or else the frequency of the dysplasy and osteochondrosis risk to increase. Certain reproducers, possibly called by their titles in shows, to  mark the race, are, on the initiative of their breeders radiographed right now; one can only be pleased.

                                                        Docteur Dominique VINCENT