Genetic Skin, Urinary and Reproductive Disorders in Mixed Breed Dogs

Veterenarians today are armed with a great deal of knowledge about the genetic risks of disease for purebred dogs. Unfortunately, the risk of developing a genetic disorder for mixed breed dogs is much more difficult to determine. To know a dog's risk of getting a genetic disorder, a vet must know the breeds of any of the dog's purebred ancestors. In the past, this was almost impossible to determine.

Mixed breed Dog DNA tests now offer a relatively quick, at home method of determining if a mixed breed dog has a purebred parent of grandparent. Once this information is known, a vet can determine if a mixed breed is at risk of specific genetic disorders.

Skin disorders
Disorders of the skin with an inherited component include:

• Acanthosis nigricans
• Acral lick dermatitis
• Acral mutilation syndrome
• Atopy/allergic inhalant dermatitis
• Bullous pemphigoid
• Canine acne
• Colour dilution alopecia
• Congenital hypotrichosis
• Cutaneous asthenia
• Cutaneous mucinosis
• Dalmatian bronzing syndrome
• Demodicosis/Demodectic mange
• Dermatomyositis and ulcerative dermatosis
• Dermoid sinus
• Ectodermal defect
• Epidermal dysplasia
• Epidermolysis bullosa
• Follicular dysplasias
• Fold dermatitis/pyoderma
• Growth hormone responsive dermatosis
• Ichthyosis
• Lethal acrodermatitis
• Lupus erythematosus
• Lymphedema
• Lupoid dermatosis
• Malassezia dermatitis
• Nodular dermatofibrosis (nevi) and renal cystadenocarcinoma
• Pattern baldness
• Pemphigus
• Perianal fistula
• Psoriasiform-lichenoid dermatosis
• Schnauzer comedo syndrome
• Sebaceous adenitis
• Seborrhea
• Vitamin A-responsive dermatosis
• Vitiligo
• Zinc-responsive dermatosis

Urinary and reproductive disorders
Disorders of urinary and reproductive systems with an inherited component include:

• Cryptorchidism
• Disorders of sexual development
• Familial kidney disease Fanconi syndrome
• Nodular dermatofibrosis and renal cystadenocarcinoma
• Urolithiasis (stones)

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