The short answer
Get a BAER hearing test, because many Dalmatians are deaf in one or both ears. Keep your Dalmatian well hydrated, follow any diet your vet recommends, and see a vet for straining or blood in the urine; a male that strains and passes nothing is an emergency. Treat a red, painful eye as urgent. Price pet insurance in your first week.
Congenital deafness
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals reports the Dalmatian has the highest prevalence of congenital deafness, at about 8% deaf in both ears and 22% deaf in one ear in US data. It is linked to the breed’s white coat pattern.
Dogs deaf in one ear often seem normal at home, so a BAER hearing test, done once, is the only reliable answer. Deaf dogs live full lives with hand signals, a vibration collar if your trainer suggests one, a leash near traffic and care not to startle them while sleeping.
Urate bladder stones
Every Dalmatian carries two copies of a gene variant that changes how the body handles uric acid; a genetics study found all Dalmatians are homozygous for this trait. The Merck Veterinary Manual explains that Dalmatians excrete much of this waste as poorly soluble urate, and that urate stones are highly recurrent.
Signs are straining, frequent small amounts, blood in the urine or accidents in the house. Males can become blocked, which is an emergency. Prevention centres on plenty of water and a lower-purine diet your vet recommends, with regular urine checks.
Browse adoptable Dalmatians
Ask the rescue whether the dog has had a BAER hearing test or any urinary problems.
See Available Dalmatians →Eyes, skin and hips
The Dalmatian is on VCA’s list of breeds associated with glaucoma. A red, painful, cloudy or bulging eye is an emergency.
If your Dalmatian is itchy or has recurring skin infections, get a diagnosis rather than treating at home. Hip dysplasia occurs in active medium-to-large breeds, so keep the dog lean and build fitness gradually.
The first vet visit after adoption
Ask about a BAER hearing test, a urinalysis, a diet and hydration plan, an eye exam, a skin check, a body condition score and baseline bloodwork. Bring the rescue’s records, including any history of stones or urinary trouble.
Price pet insurance the same week. Every Canadian provider excludes conditions documented before enrolment, and bladder-stone surgery is a common cost in this breed.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common Dalmatian health issues?
Congenital deafness, urate bladder stones, glaucoma, itchy skin and hip dysplasia.
Are all Dalmatians deaf?
No, but they have the highest rate of any breed tested: about 8% deaf in both ears and 22% in one ear in US data. A BAER test tells you for certain.
Why do Dalmatians get bladder stones?
Every Dalmatian carries a gene variant that makes them excrete uric acid waste as poorly soluble urate, which can form stones. Water, a vet-recommended diet and regular urine checks help prevent them.
My male Dalmatian is straining to urinate. Is it urgent?
Yes. A male that strains and passes little or no urine may be blocked by a stone, which is an emergency. Go to a vet immediately.
Can a deaf Dalmatian be a good pet?
Absolutely. Deaf dogs learn hand signals well. Keep them leashed near traffic and avoid startling them while they sleep.
Should I get pet insurance for a rescue Dalmatian?
It is worth pricing in your first week. Canadian pet insurance excludes conditions documented before enrolment, and stone surgery is a common cost.
Sources
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Congenital Deafness: Dalmatian highest prevalence: about 8% bilateral, 22% unilateral (US); BAER test
- Mutations in the SLC2A9 gene cause hyperuricosuria in the dog (Europe PMC): all Dalmatians are homozygous for the trait
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Urolithiasis in Dogs: Dalmatians excrete urate; urate stones highly recurrent; low-purine diet
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Glaucoma in Dogs: Dalmatian named; emergency
General information, not veterinary advice. Diagnosis and treatment decisions belong with your veterinarian.
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