Dwarfism affects more than just the front limbs. There is an associated inherited hemolytic anemia that is characterized by morphologically abnormal red cells known as "stomatocytes". In addition to the stomatocytes, the anemia is characterized by increased red cell size (MCV), decreased mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and a normal amount of red cell hemoglobin (MCH). The red cell sodium content is increased while the percent solids is decreased.
The following table summarizes some of the work done by Dr. Sheilah Fletch. A second table shows the specific values for three dwarfs. The table of ranges was originally published in the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. [reference 6]
The left side of the table shows the ranges of three blood parameters (MCHC, MCV, and MCH) for the three phenotypes of the Alaskan Malamute, namely clear, carrier, and chondrodysplastic. The second table shows the same three blood parameters for three known dwarfs (Cameo, Munchkin, and Duke).
| Clear | Carrier | Dwarf | |
| MCHC | 33.1 - 37.1 | 32.3 - 35.5 | 24.6 - 27.2 |
| MCV | 65.9 - 69.9 | 69.5 - 74.5 | 91.8 - 100.2 |
| MCH | 22.5 - 24.9 | 23.0 - 25.4 | 23.4 - 26.4 |
| Cameo | Munchkin | Duke | |
| MCHC | 25.0 | 27.1 | 26.7 |
| MCV | 93.2 | 97.0 | 93.8 |
| MCH | 23.3 | 22.5 | 25.0 |
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Copyright © 2003 Linda Dowdy, last revision 030406