Phosphofructokinase Deficiency

Dogs suffering from PFK deficiency display hemolytic anemia (breakdown of red blood cells) especially with alkaline blood. Barking or panting, rigorous exercising, or high environmental temperature may trigger the clinical signs by increasing the body's pH value. This may lead to a hemolytic crisis causing anemia, fatigue, and fever. Affected dogs can also show pigmenturia and jaundice after an episode. Other milder clinical signs include muscle weakness and reduced exercise tolerance. Cardiac problems have also been observed in Whippets.

Treatment is supportive care dictated by the severity of the clinical signs during an episode. Owners of affected dogs should be advised on how to manage their dog so that hemolytic episodes can be prevented.

There are many responsibilities to consider when breeding dogs. Regardless of test results it is important that your dog is in good general health and that you are in a position to care for the puppies if new responsible owners are not found. For first time or novice breeders, advice can be found at most kennel club websites.

This disease is autosomal recessive meaning that two copies of the mutation are needed for disease signs to occur. A carrier dog with one copy of the PFK mutation can be safely bred with a clear dog with no copies of the PFK mutation. About half of the puppies will have one copy (carriers) and half will have no copies of the PFK mutation. Puppies in a litter which is expected to contain carriers should be tested prior to breeding. Carrier to carrier matings are not advised as the resulting litter may contain affected puppies. Please note: It is possible that disease signs similar to the ones caused by the PFK mutation could develop due to a different genetic or clinical cause.