LUA stands for Low Uric Acid
A LUA Dalmatian does not suffer from the same genetic mutation that all HUA (High Uric Acid) Dalmatians do.
This mutation impacts the everyday life of both owner and dog because a HUA Dalmatian can only eat certain kinds of food.
This mutation impacts the everyday life of both owner and dog because a HUA Dalmatian can only eat certain kinds of food.
A bit about LUA
In 1973 a man by the name of Dr. Robert Schaible mated a Champion Pointer to a female Dalmatian in an effort to address the breeds genetic mutation. It worked!
This Pointer was and is the only one to ever be used for the LUA program and he was only used the one time.
Since then, the offspring of that original mating have only been mated to Dalmatians. This has resulted in Dalmatians that are 99.99% Dalmatian and who are almost impossible to tell apart genetically from a HUA.
The only difference? LUA's can eat anything any other dog can! No diet restrictions at all.
Before 2005, breeders could only identify which puppies were LUA by taking a urine sample from each puppy. Those with a cloudy/milky urine were HUA and those with a clear/transparent urine were LUA.
There is now a DNA test to determine this for us, and although we still do the urine test for a cheeky sneak at who might be LUA, every breeder sends in for the DNA test on all of their LUA potential litters.
In 2015 we got the opportunity to introduce the gene into Australia.
With the help of US breeder Barb Allison (www.rimrockdals.webs.com) and her handsome LUA boy
Ch Rim Rock Stocklore Mystic Maks, we did just that.
This Pointer was and is the only one to ever be used for the LUA program and he was only used the one time.
Since then, the offspring of that original mating have only been mated to Dalmatians. This has resulted in Dalmatians that are 99.99% Dalmatian and who are almost impossible to tell apart genetically from a HUA.
The only difference? LUA's can eat anything any other dog can! No diet restrictions at all.
Before 2005, breeders could only identify which puppies were LUA by taking a urine sample from each puppy. Those with a cloudy/milky urine were HUA and those with a clear/transparent urine were LUA.
There is now a DNA test to determine this for us, and although we still do the urine test for a cheeky sneak at who might be LUA, every breeder sends in for the DNA test on all of their LUA potential litters.
In 2015 we got the opportunity to introduce the gene into Australia.
With the help of US breeder Barb Allison (www.rimrockdals.webs.com) and her handsome LUA boy
Ch Rim Rock Stocklore Mystic Maks, we did just that.
