Health & Breeding
Health & Breeding
The Irish Terrier is one of the healthiest of all purebred dogs, it is a vigorous dog that usually just gets on with living. With only a small number of devoted preservation breeders throughout the world, the breed has remained extremely healthy, partly because it has never suffered from being ‘fashionable’ but mostly because breeders hold them so dearly and protect them well, in order to maintain the excellent health and quality of the breed.
Irish Terriers rarely suffer from the complaints commonly seen in other breeds, and although diseases can occur, especially in old age, they not known to be hereditary. There are only two hereditary diseases known to affect Irish Terriers: Hereditary Footpad Hyperkeratosis (HFH) and Cystinuria (Type III - androgen-dependent).
Hereditary Footpad Hyperkeratosis (HFH) is a condition where there is abnormal development of the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) on the footpads. The footpads harden and grow with cracks and protrusions forming, which can cause pain and lameness especially if they become infected. Hyperkeratosis is an autosomal-recessive condition, this means that a dog must inherit two copies of an abnormal gene (one from its mother and one from its father) before its health is affected. A dog that inherits only one copy of the abnormal gene (from its mother or its father) will have no signs of the disease, but will be a carrier and may pass the gene on to any offspring. A DNA test is available, so carriers can be identified to eliminate the risk of producing affected puppies. As a result, the disease is now very rarely seen in Irish Terriers.
Cystinuria is an increase of cystine (an amino acid) concentrations in the urine. Affected dogs fail to reabsorb cystine in their kidneys, which leads to the formation of cystine crystals and uroliths (kidney or bladder stones) in the urinary tract that may require surgical removal. Cystinuria occurs in many different breeds of dog and there are several genetic tests for specific forms of cystinuria.
Unfortunately, there is no genetic test available for Cystinuria Type III, which is the type that occurs in Irish Terriers, and the mode of inheritance for Type III is also unknown. Cystinuria Type III develops only in the presence of a certain level of male hormones, so only mature intact males may become clinically affected, and with most pet dogs being neutered the disease is not often seen, this in turn makes identification of possible carriers difficult. Intensive research has been ongoing for the past 10-years in several countries specifically relating to Irish Terriers, and no conclusive gene markers have been identified; however, recently researchers have come to believe that Cystinuria Type III in Irish Terriers is not a monogenic inherited disease - meaning there is more than one gene is involved, and they are contining to work towards identifying these with the hope that a reliable DNA test can be developed in the future. If affected dogs are treated and neutered, they are expected to lead normal lives.
All my current breeding dogs have been DNA tested for Hereditary Footpad Hyperkeratosis (HFH) with their result displayed on their profile page.