Lundehund health issue

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#1
I just got a copy of "The Dog Bible" and came across the Lundehund in the breeds section. It sounded interesting till I got to these lines
It's owner should be financially prepared for health problems
Up to 90% of lundehund's are diagnosed with PLE.
:eek: What on earth, besides inbreeding, could cause so many individuals in a breed to have such a severe health problem? Have there been any attempts to eradicate the disease in the breed? I have a feeling if they don't get rid of the issue, the breed may go extinct from lack of healthy individuals.
 
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#3
It's short for Protein-loosing enteropathy or Lundehund Syndrome
Lundehund Syndrome

Lundehund syndrome is a set of digestive disorders that can lead to an overgrowth of digestive bacteria, intestinal cancer, and a loss of ability to absorb nutrients from food.[1] In extreme cases the dog can starve due to its inability to derive nutrients and protein from food, regardless of food intake. All Lundehunds have the syndrome, though not every Lundehund is severely afflicted and some are nearly symptom free. There is no cure, though the disease can be managed.[2]
Here's a picture of the dog:
 

BostonBanker

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#4
They are incredibly inbred. I was really interested in the dog for a while, and did a lot of reading. The breed was very near extinct; I believe I read that the numbers may have gotten as low as 20 or so dogs. They are slowly bringing them back, but obviously there are some serious issues with recovering a breed so decimated.

My father travels to Norway and Sweden pretty frequently, and I have begged him to sneak one back for me in his suitcase. They are ridiculously cute and incredibly unique dogs.
 

BostonBanker

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#6
They are puffin hunting dogs; puffins were no longer hunted because they became protected. So the breed no longer had a purpose. I think at one point they were assumed extinct, and in the 40s and 50s a few were discovered and the breed slowly started being brought back.

There is one I know of that lives locally (found out about it from my vet when I discussed the breed with them, but haven't had the opportunity to meet it.
 

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