What is a health tested Alaskan Malamute puppy in the United Kingdom?

It is a range of blood samples and X-rays that have been submitted to recognised animal health organisations and graded or tested for a result.  Both parents of the puppies will have gone through these tests at great expense to make sure both dogs are suitable to be bred from so that horrible painful conditions are not passed down the puppies.  Some can be cured some can't and only make the puppies life painful with a lifetime of pain management or worst still, put to sleep.  Most puppy sales on Gum tree and Preloved SKIP this bit for maximum profit even if they look cute in the arms of a family and nice home.

These health tests are different for all breeds of dogs.  Some carry eye problems more than hip problems, or some have breathing issues if they have short noses etc.

The Alaskan Malamute has a number of possible illnesses that can be removed from potential problems with your puppy if the tests are all done.  These tests are:

AMPN - Alaskan Malamute Polyneuropathy. A brain disorder.  Both Mum and Dad have their mouths swabbed (cells wiped from inside their cheek) and submitted.

Results are emailed back and a certificate is given to say both Mum and Dad do not carry the disease.  Please ask to see both certificates. We provide a photocopy of these in your puppy pack.

Hip Scores - Both Mum and Dad are slightly sedated and have their hips X-rayed and rated by a hip specialist.  The lower the score the least likely the dogs will get hip dysplasia (HD).  This is a very excruciating painful problem in LOTS of dogs where their hips slip in and out of the socket (!) Only a £2-3K operation will fix it and it can be avoided if you see the certificates first.  It is recommended that the combined hip scores for both sire and dam should not exceed 200% of the prevailing breed average score. For example, if the breed average score is 13, the combined hip scores for both Mum and Dad should not exceed a total of 26.

Scores over 20 are to be considered far too high. Uneven scores like 8/1 although breed average is unbalanced and could cause issues.  We provide a photocopy of these in your puppy pack.

HC - Hereditary Cataracts - A clouding of the inside of their eyes.  Every year Mum and Dad go to a dog eye specialist, where the eye Vet puts a drop of harmless liquid in their eyes and 20 minutes later looks at them close up with a kind of hand held microscope.  This is painless and a true example of temperament, letting a strange vet stare directly into their eyes.  Within minutes he knows if your dog has any eye problems.  Any dots or clouding and the dog fails and cannot be used for breeding and then no puppies can get this horrible eye condition when they are older.   Both Mum and Dad will have a certificate dated within one year showing they are 'clear' of HC and you will see the certificates.  We provide a photocopy of both in your puppy pack.

CD - Cone Degeneration - An eye condition that causes day blindness.  A painless swab of both Mum and Dad's cheeks will show if they have the gene.  Certificates are provided showing that they are clear and the puppies will not get the disease.   We provide a photocopy of both in your puppy pack.

Thyroid function - All our dogs are tested annually from 2 to 7 years of age monitoring for the appearance of the antibody TgAA (Means the start of hypothyroidism which can cause epilepsy type seizures, food allergies and temperament changes) And also we monitor the levels of T4 to see if there is any declination.  Our local veterinary animal hospital excel in the interpretation of thyroid results which are too often over looked.  Please email if you need any help here as we will not miss a trick when its thyroid related. We provide a copy of these results in your puppy pack and would love you to continue with the blood tests for our own research. 

It's a complicated illness to understand, however being a carrier of the antibodies alone is enough to not have the dog in the breeding program.  More info:  Hereditary Hypothyroidism: Understanding the disease process - TUFTSBG2003 - VIN

*** TgAA+ Malamutes are removed from our breeding program instantly ***

*** Declination of thyroid function Malamutes are removed from our breeding program instantly ***

PCD - Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disease caused by defects in the structure or function of the motile cilia. Motile cilia are present in the respiratory tract including the paranasal sinuses, in the auditory tube and middle ear, in male and female reproductive tracts, sperm cells, and in the ependyma lining the ventricular system and central canal of the brain and spinal cord. Abnormal ciliary function typically leads to recurrent and chronic infections of the upper and lower respiratory tract beginning in neonates due to reduced mucociliary clearance.  A test is now available in Malamutes after recent research. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008378

Elbow Scores - Via Xray.  Is not too often done in Malamutes, however, we have added it to our tick-list.

Lastly:

A Kennel Club document showing both Mum and Dad are registered with the Kennel Club.  They will be typed out and on a green or purple slip of paper.  NOT hand written. They have a stamp or two of the eye doctors date of checking.  The breeder will provide you with the puppy transfer of ownership on collection, green paper slip.  The breeder will of made, normally on their own PC a 'pedigree' of all the dogs family and who was bred to who.  They gain pride in this and it will be all typed up and sometimes has photos and their pet names typed in too.  The Kennel Club will give you the option for their version of the pedigree (the exact same thing) but all embossed and stamped and with an extra £20-30 fee.

Your Puppy Breeder Checklist:

Read lots of books and ask yourself what kind of life can I give a Malamute and how much time do I have?

View many breeders that will have a puppy in the future - Not available now puppies. Good breeders don't have them on 'tap'

View their adult dogs in packs of 3 dogs or more.  This tests the adults temperament with same sex. 4 dogs+ ideally.

Go to a dog show and see many 'types' of malamutes.  Just because they win the class doesn't mean they are sociable or easy to handle.                           (Most of these people here will have ALL the health certificates - so get networking)

Check all paper work when viewing puppies that you visit:   (Feel free to print out)

                Kennel club registration document for both Mum and Dad

Eye Certificates of dogs that will be used for the breeding - Need to be done annually, Are they in date?

Cone degeneration certificates of Mum and Dad, Both must be clear or only one carrier.

PCD certificates of both Mum and Dad, Both clear or one carrier

AMPN Certificate of Mum and Dad, Both must be clear or only one carrier.

Hip score sheet for both Mum and Dad.  Both will have been graded and stamped.  How high numbered and even are the hips?  Each dogs should be closely even on  both hips and ideally under 13 in total per adult dog. Personally I look for under 6.

Thyroid results, checked annually of both Mum and Dad.  Affected dogs should not be in any breeding programs.  Although not commonly asked, I would see if any of their dogs have had any thyroid issues or had a Thyroid gland full diagnostics T4 blood check for 'autoantibodies' thyroglobulin TgAA  If the dog has these anti bodies it is recommended not to breed from them and avoid, unless youre happy to supplement this puppy daily for life, via the vets and 6 monthly blood checks.

I provide ALL of the above in the puppy pack and have ALL documentation available on your visits. Ask away....

A good breeder will appreciate your questions and knowledge on the above.  They will not be offended.  They will happily photocopy you these documentation in full and enclose in your puppy pack.  If they are shady or can only provide a couple of pieces of information, walk away!

A true breeder wants you as an extension of their family to share all your adventures and photos with.   There will be rules on breeding, but that's because they have invested so much time and energy into your puppy they want to protect it from being bred to a dog without the same quality standard.

Some respectable breeders in the UK are part of our main club. The Alaskan Malamute Club of the UK  However, please judge for yourself and take your check list above anyway to help you decide.

Best of luck :)