Dobermans are generally healthy but, like other
breeds, they have some problems that occur more
frequently than in the general dog population.
You should be aware of these problems when searching
for your special puppy, and ask questions of
your prospective breeder regarding the incidence
of these problems in the ancestors of the litter.
Below is a brief description of the problem,
possible symptoms and testing methods currently
available. Always work with your veterinarian
when diagnosing and treating any disorder.
The three biggest killers of our Dobermans are
known as the three C's; cardio, cancer and CVI.
At present we have no diagnostic tests to predict
future onset of these diseases.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Cardiomyopathy is a general term meaning “disease
of the heart muscle.” The word “dilated”
further classifies the disease (the heart walls
become very thin), as opposed to hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy (where the heart walls thicken)
and viral cardiomyopathy.
Dilated cardiomyopathy has become synonymous
with heart disease in Dobermans and is a leading
killer of our dogs. It is just one form of cardio
in Dobermans, but by far the most common. Because
of the poor prognosis for Dobermans it is believed
by some to be at least somewhat different from
that seen in other breeds, hence the term Doberman
DCM. The disease generally appears between the
ages of 6–9 years; long after the dogs
may have been bred. Unfortunately, the most
common sign is sudden death.
Currently ultrasound and EKGs are the best tests
available for early detection of this disease;
DCM can not be diagnosed simply by listening
to the heart. The limitation of ultrasound or
any other available test is that it is good
only for the moment—the dog may contract
the disease days or weeks after the test and
exhibit few, if any, symptoms. It is very important
to talk to your prospective breeder about the
ages and causes of death of the ancestors of
their litter.
Cancer
Cancer occurs quite often in Dobermans as it
does in many breeds and, indeed, in humans.
Research suggests that environmental pollutants
and chemicals in food are major factors in the
development and support of this group of diseases.
While there may be many factors that seem to
“cause” cancer, they don’t take
effect unless the animal is in a weakened, susceptible
condition.
So the key would seem to be prevention. The
condition of the thymus gland and its associated
lymphatic tissues and immunological functions
is extremely important. The immune system will
be strong if you can keep the dog in excellent
health with good food, adequate exercise, access
to fresh air and sunshine and in a stable emotional
environment. Whereas a weaker animal might succumb
to the effects of carcinogens, the strong one
will more likely resist and detoxify them. So
prevention is paramount. No drug or vaccine
can ever take the place of good health.
Cervical Vertebral Instability (CVI) or
Wobblers
Description
Wobblers syndrome is caused by a narrowing or
malformation of the spinal cervical (neck) vertebrae
which causes pressure on the spinal cord by
the lower cervical (neck) vertebrae due to either
a malformation of the vertebra or a malocclusion
(when the vertebrae do not come together properly).
This causes anywhere from a mild, to a severe
affect in the dogs gait.. Other conditions can
mimic the symptoms. The only definitive diagnosis
of Wobblers Syndrome or Spondololithesis, is
a mylogram where dye is injected into the spinal
column and then the neck is flexed and x-rayed.
Breeds affected: - Dobermans and Great Danes
primarily - young Danes more commonly affected.
Dobermans - young and old, can grow through
the problem as youngsters, more commonly seen
in middle aged to older Dobermans (3 to 9 years
of age) Other breeds who have a similar if not
identical syndrome described include the Boxer,
Basset, Bull Mastiff, St. Bernard, Weimeraner,
Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, Rhodesian
Ridgeback, Dalmatian, Samoyed, Old English Sheepdog,
Irish Setter, and the Borzoi. Males are affected
more often, in a ratio of 2:1
Cause
The cause of Wobblers Syndrome is unknown, although
a link to fast growth and genetics is suspected.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, "The
cause is unknown, although rapid growth rates
and nutrition, mechanical factors, and genetics
may be implicated." Some breeders say that
there has been a marked decrease in the incidence
of not only Wobblers Syndrome, but other diseases
that occur during the early, fast growth stages
of Great Danes, when weight is kept down and
growth rate has been slowed nutritionally
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a common problem in Dobermans.
This disease, where thyroid gland function slows
or ceases, is easy and inexpensive to treat—but
remember, this medication will have to be given
for the rest of the dog’s life. To reduce
the incidence of the disease in our breed, all
breeding stock should be tested every couple
of years and only thyroid normal dogs should
be bred wherever possible. Pets don't need to
be tested unless they exhibit some symptoms.
Symptoms can include a poor coat, lethargic
attitude, overweight, heat-seeking behaviour,
periodic bouts of diarrhea and reproductive
problems. This condition usually manifests itself
in older dogs; puppies or young dogs are seldom
affected.
von Willebrands Disease (vWD)
This disease can cause some Dobermans to have
extended bleeding periods without clotting.
We have a relatively new DNA test that will
classify a Doberman’s genetic vWD status.
This new test identifies whether a Doberman
is genetically Clear, Carrier or Affected. Clear
indicates that the dog does not carry the defective
gene. Carrier means the dog carries one copy
of the defective gene; they clot normally. Affected
dogs carry two copies of the defective gene.
However, just because a dog is DNA affected
does not mean it will have slow clotting times,
only that it is at risk. Many “affected”
Dobermans have no symptoms. Nevertheless, it
is important to test the clotting status of
these dogs; affected dogs with slow clotting
times should not be used for breeding purposes.
It appears that many of our Dobermans are either
carrier or affected, but the number of affected
dogs that have bleeding problems is very small.
Currently, VetGen and GeneSearch (U.S.) and
Healthgene (Canada) do DNA testing for vWD.
See the links page for web sites. A veterinarian
is not required to take the samples; the dog
owner can order the swabs, take cell samples
from inside the mouth and mail the swabs back
to the testing facility.
Canine hip dysplasia (CHD)
In Dobermans, the incidence of this disease
is relatively low. To increase the likelihood
of a puppy free of hip dysplasia, both parents
should be OFA certified prior to breeding. When
you realize that even certified clear dogs can
still pass on this disease, certification becomes
even more important. Hip dysplasia is polygenic
(involves many different genes) and multifactorial
(influenced by many non-genetic factors); unfortunately
we don’t know yet how it is passed on.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
rates dogs free of this disease as either Fair,
Good or Excellent. To receive certification,
dogs must be two years of age or older when
x-rayed. Each x-ray is examined and graded by
three veterinary radiologists; these individual
grades are the basis for the final rating. OFA
is a semi-open registry, so the certification
numbers are published and available to the general
public. Certification numbers are in the form
of DP9999G24F-T, where DP indicates Doberman
Pinscher, 9999 is the certification number,
G (or F, E) is the rating, 24 indicates the
age of the dog in months at the time the x-ray
was taken, F (or M) indicates sex and the optional
-T indicates that the dog is permanently identified,
usually with a tattoo. Note: Effective 1-Jan-2001
the -T has been replaced with either a -PI (permanently
identified with DNA profile, microchip or tattoo)
or -NOPI, indicating that the dog is not permanently
identified.
A relatively new test, the PennHip method, is
also available—at present it is controversial
and not widely recognized.
Heritable eye problems
There are many heritable eye diseases; the
incidence in Dobermans seems to be quite low.
All breeding stock should have a relatively
current CERF certification, which indicates
the absence of specific heritable eye conditions.
The Canine Eye Registration Foundation currently
provides yearly certification. Certification
numbers are in the form of DP999/98-24, where
DP indicates Doberman Pinscher, 999 is the certification
number, 98 is the year the test was done and
24 indicates the age of the dog in months when
tested.
Urinary incontinence
Depending on who you talk to, urinary incontinence
is a common to infrequent problem in spayed
Doberman bitches. Ask your breeder about the
frequency of the problem in their line. My own
veterinarian has indicated that it's quite common
in spayed bitches, period. There are several
causes of incontinence—some needing surgical
remedies—so be sure to consult your veterinarian
to identify the cause prior to starting treatment.
Estrogen-responsive incontinence is typically
treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic
estrogen, although the high frequency of bone
marrow toxicity is a concern. If DES is not
effective or is contra-indicated, phenylpropanolamine
(PPA) is often prescribed. Mixed results have
been obtained with available natural and homeopathic
remedies—consult your alternative vet.
FCI
Dobermann Standard: