Polyneuropathy
There is a DNA test for this deadly disease!
As of Summer 2012, a DNA test has been developed and is commercially available, for breeders to test their dogs to determine the status of their breeding (or pet) dogs.
Polyneuropathy is a life-destroying disease.
Once a dog is tested, the results will indicate unaffected / non-carrier or unaffected / carrier or affected (has two copies of the mutant gene). Carriers may be bred to non-carriers. In other words, both parents may look, behave perfectly normal - but be carriers of this deadly disease. If the dogs are not DNA-tested, and happen to be carriers, they have a high probability of making affected puppies.
Using ONLY clear to clear - or clear to carrier - status parents is the only way to ensure that the disease will not be created.
Most ethical breeders will assume the obligation to test for this disease (carriers show no symptoms) - but puppy purchasers ALSO have an obligation to verify ANY health testing - including this disease - was actually performed on the parents of their puppy.
How to acquire the test, historic data, pedigrees, forms:
http://www.ampoly.info/
Database of all dogs tested for Polyneuropathy
:http://www.inupiat.no/PNTest/PNResults.pdf
Facebook support group to help those with questions:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/125185114180834
Alaskan Malamute Club of America information:
http://alaskanmalamute.org/health/health-topics
As of Summer 2012, a DNA test has been developed and is commercially available, for breeders to test their dogs to determine the status of their breeding (or pet) dogs.
Polyneuropathy is a life-destroying disease.
Once a dog is tested, the results will indicate unaffected / non-carrier or unaffected / carrier or affected (has two copies of the mutant gene). Carriers may be bred to non-carriers. In other words, both parents may look, behave perfectly normal - but be carriers of this deadly disease. If the dogs are not DNA-tested, and happen to be carriers, they have a high probability of making affected puppies.
Using ONLY clear to clear - or clear to carrier - status parents is the only way to ensure that the disease will not be created.
Most ethical breeders will assume the obligation to test for this disease (carriers show no symptoms) - but puppy purchasers ALSO have an obligation to verify ANY health testing - including this disease - was actually performed on the parents of their puppy.
How to acquire the test, historic data, pedigrees, forms:
http://www.ampoly.info/
Database of all dogs tested for Polyneuropathy
:http://www.inupiat.no/PNTest/PNResults.pdf
Facebook support group to help those with questions:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/125185114180834
Alaskan Malamute Club of America information:
http://alaskanmalamute.org/health/health-topics