Congenital deafness and coat color
....predominantly white dogs, and dogs with merle coats, are particularly susceptible(to deafness). Genetic evidence suggests that this form of deafness is associated with the color of the coat and is linked with either the merle or the piebald gene. Breeds with the merle gene include the OES. |
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| As I have read and remember off the top of my head. The double merle or piebald gene is the big deal. All OES have a single merle gene (Please correct me if I am not remembering correctly) If you mate two doubles then you increase the percentage of deafness occerances. The white coat is a result of the gene, look for skin pigmentation also not just around the eyes that is not the only place pigmentation occurs and is not the only indicator of good pigmentation look inside the mouth especially on the roof of the mouth and the skin ingeneral for black spots.
From: http://www.deafdogs.org/faq/ The most common cause of congenital deafness is pigment related. (There is some talk about a recessive gene as well, but most researchers do not believe this is the case.) Some dogs have white coats, but still have pigmented skin (Samoyeds, West Highland Terriers, and White German Shepherds fall into this category). Although they have white fur, they have black noses and eye rims (their fur is actually not pure white, but a very light buff color). Other dogs normally have colored coats, and white trim (this includes Dalmatians; the white is actually not their real coat color, the "spots" are). The "trim" comes from areas of unpigmented (pink) skin, which produces white hair. If there is unpigmented skin in the inner ear, the nerve endings atrophy and die off in the first few weeks of the puppy's life, resulting in deafness. Please note that you cannot tell the color of hairs in the inner ear by looking at any visible part of the dog's ears (including the hair around the ear canal). Although many dogs with white hair on their ears will be deaf, many deaf dogs have colored ears as well. Hearing loss affecting both ears is called Bilateral Deafness. A bilaterally deaf dog is completely (or mostly) deaf in both ears. Hearing loss occurring in, or affecting only one ear, is called Unilateral Deafness. A unilaterally deaf dog has hearing loss in only one ear and has full hearing in the other ear. From Rogers Dad: My take on this is we need to take dogs, non champions that meet the standard, that are ignored by champion breeders and introduce them in the mix there are many many great dogs out there in Finland, Germany, Croatia and the US etc. that don't have a show lineage that are excellent candidates. Also the OESCA could open the stud book to the public if one exixts or establish one. In addition, around $50,000 or so dollars would be enough to establish a baseline in genetic markers for the breed to have a place to start. The OESCA is a wonderful club and we are possibly on the verge in America of doing the things that are needed. Britan's KC is opening their stud books soon on certain breeds. |
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