Large Munsterlander breed health
We're lucky enough to have a wealth of experience within the committee, including a veterinary professional. Here's all you need to know about the health of the breed, and what to look out for when you consider bringing a Large Munsterlander into your life.
Hips and Elbows
Hip/elbow dysplasia are complex inherited conditions where the hip joint does not develop correctly. As a dog gets older, the joint undergoes wear and tear and deteriorates, leading to a loss of function. This can cause varying degrees of pain, discomfort, stiffness and lameness.
Eyes
Large Munsterlanders require testing for something called a Hereditary Cataract - cataracts passed down from the parent which can be tested for.
Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
Hyperuricosuria (HUU) means elevated levels of uric acid in the urine. This inherited trait predisposes dogs to form stones in their bladders or sometimes kidneys.
Hips and Elbows
Elbow Dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia involves abnormal development of the elbow joint. The term includes a number of specific abnormalities that affect different sites within the joint. These cause problems by affecting growth of the cartilage which forms on the surface of the joint or the structures around it.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a complex inherited condition where the hip joint does not develop correctly. As a dog gets older, the joint undergoes wear and tear and deteriorates, leading to a loss of function.
FAQ: Hips and elbows
X-rays of your dogs’ hips and elbows are taken either under general anaesthetic or sedation and sent to the British Veterinary Association (BVA) or similar health scheme where they are scored by a panel of expert vets.
BVA results are uploaded automatically to your dogs’ Royal Kennel Club (RKC) profile as part of its canine health schemes. Scored results from X-rays sent to any other scheme will be sent to you but will not be recorded on the RKC data base.
Some dogs may seem fit and healthy, but they may have physical changes, which can only be seen on X-ray hat are linked to hip and / or elbow dysplasia.
Even if their ability to exercise isn’t affected, dogs with these changes have a higher risk of passing on genes that are linked to hip / elbow dysplasia to their puppies. Having your dog screened under the BVA/KC hip dysplasia scheme helps you to find out more about your dog, allowing you to make informed breeding decisions and reduce the risk of producing affected puppies.
Also, by having your dog screened, their results contribute towards estimated breeding values, which is a useful tool that can help you understand more about the genes your dog passes on to their puppies.
The hip score is made up of the total number of points given for different features in the hip joint, it is representative of the severity of the condition. The lower the score the better. The minimum score for each hip is 0 and the maximum is 53, giving a range for the total score of 0 to 106. This total score should be compared to the breed median.
The current breed median (2024) for Large Munsterlanders is 7 (a total of both the left and right hip score combined).
An elbow joint x-ray is assessed and the degree of elbow dysplasia present is indicated by a scale of 0 to 3 (0 being the best and 3 being the most severe). Only the highest grade of the two elbows is taken as the elbow grade for that dog. For example if a scored a grade of 1 on its left elbow but a grade of 2 on its right then its overall elbow score is 2. Elbows with a grade 0 both left and right is the aim - especially for a dog to be used for breeding.
Eyes: Hereditary Cataracts
Hereditary Cataracts
Hereditary Cataracts (HC) is a disease where the lens of the eye becomes clouded due to a breakdown of tissue in the eye. This condition generally results in an inability to see clearly and can cause total blindness. In dogs, cataracts are often passed down from the parent; this type is known as Hereditary Cataracts.
There are many types of hereditary eye diseases that affect dogs, either congenital (conditions that exist from birth or soon after birth) or non-congenital (conditions that develop later in life). Many of these conditions can have serious affects on health and welfare, causing pain, blindness, or the need for lifelong medication, and should be taken into consideration when breeding dogs.
FAQ: HUU
Eye tests involve eye drops being administered to your dog to dilate their pupils followed a five-minute visual screen by the BVA eye panellist - it is quick and painless.
Adult dogs should be examined under the eye scheme before they are used for breeding, this should be carried out within 12 months before mating; especially in the breeds in which inherited eye disease can develop later in life.
A final examination, at reduced cost, should take place in all dogs that have been used for breeding when they have reached 8 years of age.
Credit: The Royal Kennel Club
Your dog will either be given a result of "affected" or "unaffected".
Hyperuricosuria (HUU)
HUU
Hyperuricosuria (HUU) means elevated levels of uric acid in the urine. This inherited trait predisposes dogs to form stones in their bladders or sometimes kidneys.
These stones often must be removed surgically and can be difficult to treat. Dogs can be classed as a clear, carrier or affected. Affected dogs should never be bred from.
FAQS - HUU
- Clear to Clear will produce 100% clear
- Clear to Carrier will produce 50% clear + 50% carriers
- Clear to Affected will produce 100% carriers
- Carrier to Carrier will produce 25% clear + 25% affected + 50% carriers
- Carrier to Affected will produce 50% carriers + 50% affected
- Affected to Affected will produce 100% affected
You can do a HUU test yourself at home by ordering a home test kit. A swab is taken of inside the mouth and sent to the laboratory for testing.
Get in touch with us
Membership enquiries
For all enquiries regarding becoming a member or updating your details, please contact:
membership@largemunsterlanderassociation.co.uk
General enquiries
For anything else, please contact:
hello@largemunsterlanderassociation.co.uk
Copyright © 2024 The Large Munsterlander Association (Proposed) - All Rights Reserved
Oh, hi there!
Welcome to the Large Munsterlander Association (Proposed)'s website!
We are a brand-new proposed breed club for the Large Munsterlander, catering for the expanding needs of members and the breed.
We'd love to have you on board to support the future longevity of the breed.