History of the breed The Dalmatian dog is a very old breed and the first images of this dog were found in Ancient Egypt which proves that this breed of dog originates over 4000 years ago. The first records of Dalmatian dogs appeared in Đakovo in 1374. However, it was not until 1955 that the International Kennel Club published the first standard for the Dalmatian dog, classifying it in a group of pointers called ‘Dalmatian Jaghund’. It was mostly bred and kept in the coastal regions of Croatia. In the past, it was used as an escort for carriages, for hunting in packs, bird hunting, herding etc. Today, because of its exceptional beauty it is kept only a pet. Characteristics of the breed: Country of origin: Croatia Lifetime from 12 to 14 years, but they can live up to 18 years Height: males 56-62 cm, females 54-60 cm Weight: male 27-32 kg, females 24-29 kg Short white coat with black or liver color spots Interesting facts: At birth, they are completely white and their characteristic spots appear as they get older They gained popularity in Disney movie '101 Dalmatians' They have spots everywhere, even in their mouth They can have a few spots or they can be completely spotted Some are born deaf They like running and they are excellent jogging partners They have selective hearing They serve as mascots for firefighters George Washington was the first Dalmatian breeder in the US Health problems Most common health problems: deafness, urolithiasis Less common health problems: allergies, epilepsy The unique defect with Dalmatians is inability to metabolize uric acid to allantoin, which leads to a tendency of creation of urinary calculi. Urinary calculi Urinary stones formation occurs over a long period of time, but it is usually noticed in the final stage when there is obstruction and inability to empty the bladder. Uroliths (bladder stones) can be of different composition, so they are classified as: struvite, oxalate, cystine and less frequently urate uroliths. Uroliths are always made of 2% of organic substance and 98% of minerals. Sometimes calculi of a different mineral composition can be found or calculi that consist of several layers of different minerals. Urinary calculi are most commonly found between the ages of 2 and 8. It is important to determine the mineral composition, to identify the cause and determine the treatment and nutrition (diet). Struvites are the most common urinary calculi. They are more common in female dogs than in male. If the dogs younger than one year have calculi in 80% of cases those are struvites, regardless of gender. Calcium oxalate are the second most common calculi and they usually occur in males. Urates are the most common type of calculi for Dalmatian dogs, since many Dalmatians cannot metabolize ammonium urate in the liver, so they excrete the excess by urine. Since the uric acid is not stable in water it can cause urate crystals that precede the formation of urate calculi. Urate calculi can be formed even in the dogs that have liver diseases. Therefore, attention should be paid to their diet and low purine level food should be part of the diet. Today on the market we have a lot of prescription dietary food and also in some regions food based on fish. Preventive care As outlined above, we must consider carefully the food and nutritional needs of Dalmatian dogs. Important factors for prevention of calculi and after surgical removal of calculi include: increased water intake to reduce the specific gravity of urine include food with low purine content increase urinary pH 7.0 - 7.5 include drugs that inhibit the formation of urinary acid Production of today's pet food has advanced a lot and it is very sophisticated, so it can help in the prevention and treatment of a kidney calculi. Here are some foods with “low” or “zero” purine content, if you want to prepare a meal for your pet, on your own: Food without purine: Eggs pasta cheese brown rice whole grains milk butter peanut butter Meat with a lower part of purine: fish, chicken, beef, pork Symptoms The most common symptoms related to urinary calculi are difficulty urinating, frequent and painful urination, the dog takes the position as if to urinate but does not urinate, haematuria (blood in urine), cystitis, incontinence, and urinary tract obstruction, which is quite common in males due to anatomical structure of penis. Urinary calculi in the urethra cause severe pain and discomfort. Diagnosis Urine analysis (urinary pH, the presence of bacteria, proteins or crystals, blood in the urine, elevated level of white blood cells, etc.) can provide us with useful information. Radiography is the method of choice for the diagnosis of urinary calculi. When there is a suspicion of urate calculi a contrast agent must be used. Ultrasound is an excellent method for diagnosis of all kinds of calculi, as well as the changes in the urinary tract. Treatment If there is a total obstruction a surgery is the only choice. Rarely, in highly specialized institutions some non-invasive (not surgical) methods are used, such as lasers and ultrasound, which will break the calculi into smaller pieces and allow them to pass through the urinary tract. The use of antibiotics might also be required due to secondary infections. Drugs that inhibit the formation of urinary acid might also be prescribed. In the case of struvites and urates change of diet, food supplements and drugs can provide excellent results and alleviate the problems caused by the calculi.

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