In comparison with many dog breeds, Siberian Huskies are a pretty healthy bunch. They are natural athletes, have a good lifespan (12-15 years average) and have very few endemic health problems.

Responsible breeders do their utmost to ensure that this situation does not change. How do we do this?

Health Testing

Primarily, by ensuring that before a dog and bitch are bred from, the health tests appropriate to the breed are carried out with satisfactory results. 

Hip Dysplacia is not a major problem within the breed (in 15 years, we have not come across a Sibe with HD although, of course it does occur very occasionally), and the way this situation can be maintained and improved is by every breeder hip-scoring his/her dogs under the BVA scheme. The current breed average hip score is 7.

Eye Problems - again, these are not common within the breed, but, unfortunately are not unknown. There is some disagreement about which eye tests are necessary for Siberians in the UK, but both of the UK breed clubs and SHWA(UK) agree that sibes should be tested for both Primary Glaucoma and Hereditary Cataracts. Other conditions for which testing is recommended are PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), PPM (Persistent Pupillary Membrane) and CD (Corneal Dystrophy).

It goes without saying, that dogs carrying any of the above eye conditions, or having a high (or unbalanced) hip score should not be bred from.

As founder members, committee members and trustees of The Siberian Husky Welfare Association (UK), we abide by the SHWA(UK) Code of Ethics regarding the ownership, care and breeding of our Siberian Huskies. The SHWA(UK) Code of Ethics can be accessed HERE

Hand Rearing - A Warning to Breeders

Milk replacements might not be sufficient!

Three years or so ago, one of our litters was born by caesarian section. When the mum recovered consciousness after the anaesthetic, she rejected the puppies and refused to feed them. As a result, we had to hand-rear the whole litter. Three years on, one of the pups has been diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes, despite both parents having tested clear for Hereditary Cataracts. After some research, the diagnosis was refined and the problem identified as juvenile nutritional cataracts. Luckily, the poor dog in question has responded well to surgery and is doing really well.  

When discussing this on a sibe forum, someone mentioned that there had been an article on this phenomenon 10 years or so ago in the SHCGB magazine. The important part of the article was as follows:

"Another type of cataract is the congenital or nutritional cataract. This is caused by the lack of the amino acid arginine in the milk given to puppies when they have to be hand reared. The syndrome is well known in wolves, which are often hand reared in zoos or by people who wish to keep them as pets, although this is thought to be because the composition of wolf milk is different to dog milk. Nutritional cataracts have been known to occur in arctic breeds and a case in Samoyeds is described in the scientific records. A recent case has occured in Siberians and a possible case has been identified in a litter of Siberian/Samoyed crossbreeds, so it is possible that the arctic breeds have a milk composition more similar to wolves than dogs. This matter is still under investigation, but the problem is well known in wolf hybrids, so anyone having to hand rear a litter from a very early age should investigate the possibility of obtaining an arginine supplement from their vet."

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