Details about the disease
MLS affects the development and structure of connective tissue and can affect multiple organs and structures, including bone, heart, skin and muscle.
Clinical signs
These problems are characterised by short outer toes on the front and sometimes all four feet, high-set creased ears on a flat skull with extra cartilage in them, slant narrowed eyes and very thick, tight skin with little scruff. Such pups are small in stature with a very stiff gait but not all affected pups will show all these signs. The short toes make them walk like a ballerina on their middle toes. They have a very good gregarious temperament although many have been reported to develop seizures. Some will live a normal life span as the condition may stabilise once they reach maturity but they are smaller than normal and some die very young of problems associated with the disease.
How is it inherited?
The disease is unique to Beagles and 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 we record and publish the results from?
To find out which laboratories The Kennel Club is able to record results from, and which laboratories will send results directly to The Kennel Club, please refer to our website.
Please be aware, The Kennel Club has a set of criteria that we request DNA testing laboratories to meet to enable us to record their results, helping to maintain and protect the integrity of results that appear on a dog’s record. We strongly advise that customers ensure their chosen laboratory is included on our list if they wish The Kennel Club to record and publish the results. Results from laboratories not included on this list will not be recorded.
Breeding advice and what your dog's results mean
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.