Details about the disease
In affected dogs, uric acid does not dissolve easily in urine and accumulates. The excessive amount of uric acid forms crystals which lead to urinary calculi (stones), which may require surgery.
Clinical signs
The changes in the urine are generally present from birth. However it usually takes some time for crystals to form and combine into stones that cause problems, most often between 3 and 6 years of age. The signs you will see in your dog depend on where in the urinary tract the stones end up. They collect most commonly in the bladder, in which case you may see blood in the urine, difficulty and pain in urinating and small, frequent amounts of urine.
Urinary tract obstruction is a serious condition that occurs when a stone completely blocks the urethra and blocks the outflow of urine (more common in male dogs that have a smaller urethra). Signs include straining to urinate, vomiting and loss of appetite, weakness and lethargy (lack of energy), due to toxins building up in the body.
How is it inherited?
The disease is described as 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.
Which laboratories test for this condition?
Two lists of laboratories that test for HUU can be found below.
Laboratories that send a copy of your dog's results straight to The Kennel Club, so you don't have to.
| Laboratories | Contact details |
|---|---|
|
Kennel Club CombiBreed (UK) Available as part of an all-in-one health test package for:
|
Read more about CombiBreed |
| AHT (UK) | The AHT closed down on 31 July and no longer offers this test. Web: www.aht.org.uk |
| Animal Genetics (UK) Only available for the following breeds:
|
Phone: 01726 247788 Email: Animal Genetics Web: www.animalgenetics.eu |
| Pet Genetics Lab (UK) | Phone: 01624 679 720 Email: Pet Genetics Lab Web: www.petgeneticslab.co.uk |
Where will your dog's results be published?
DNA test results from these laboratories are sent directly to The Kennel Club and are recorded on to the dog's record in the registration database, and are published:
- in the next available Breed Records Supplement
- on our Health Test Results Finder
Laboratories that do not send a copy of your dog's results to The Kennel Club. You'll need to do this yourself.
| Laboratories | Contact details |
|---|---|
| Animal DNA Diagnostics (UK) | Phone: 01223 395577 Email: Animal DNA Diagnostics Web: www.animaldnadiagnostics.co.uk |
| Antagene (France) Only available for the following breeds:
|
Email:
Anta gene
Web: www.antagene.com/en |
| DDC Veterinary (USA) Only available for the following breeds:
|
Email:
Vet DNA Center
Web: www.vetdnacenter.com/ |
| MyDogDNA (Finland) Only available for the following breeds:
|
Email:
My Dog DNA
Web: www.mydogdna.com/ |
| Laboklin (UK) | Phone: 0161 282 3066 Email: Laboklin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Web: www.laboklin.co.uk |
| Paw Print Genetics (USA) | Email:
Paw Print Genetics
Web: www.pawprintgenetics.com |
| University of California (USA) Only available for the following breeds:
|
Web: www.vgl.ucdavis.edu |
| Van Haeringen (Holland) Only available for Dalmatians. |
Email: Van Haeringen Genetics Web: www.vhlgenetics.com |
| VetGen |
Email:
Vet Gen
|
How to submit DNA test results to The Kennel Club
The laboratories listed above do not send your dog's DNA test results to The Kennel Club. To have these results placed on your dog's record please submit them yourself by scanning and emailing them to our health results team.
What we require on the results certificate
Please note that we require at least two forms of identification on the result certificate. These must include the dog's microchip or tattoo number along with either the dog's registered name or registered number. Results without these details cannot be accepted by us.
Where will your dog's results be published once you have submitted them?
DNA test results received by The Kennel Club are recorded on the dog's record in the registration database, and are published:
- in the next available Breed Records Supplement
- on our Health Test Results Finder
How to responsibly breed from your DNA-tested dog
If, once your dog is DNA tested, you would like to find out what their DNA test results mean, or how to select the right mate to avoid producing affected puppies, then please read our breeding advice and DNA testing information.
How to find out if a potential mate has been DNA tested
The Kennel Club’s Health Test Results Finder allows you to find the results of DNA tests carried out as part of The Kennel Club's official DNA testing schemes for any dog on The Kennel Club’s Breed Register.