The Dalmatian is a breed of large-sized dog, noted for its unique white coat marked with black or liver-coloured spots and used mainly as a carriage dog in its early days. Other, more rare colors, include blue (a blue-grayish color), brindle, mosaic, tricolored (with tan spotting on the eyebrows, cheeks, legs, and chest), and orange or lemon (dark to pale yellow). Patches of color may appear anywhere on the body, mostly on the head or ears, and usually consist of a solid color. Hyperuricemia in Dalmatians (as in all breeds) is inherited, but unlike other breeds, the 'normal' gene for a uric acid transporter that allows for uric acid to enter liver cells and be subsequently broken down is not present in the breed's gene pool. The only possible solution to this problem must then be crossing Dalmatians with other breeds to reintroduce the 'normal' uric acid transporter gene.