Doberman Health Problems

Genetic and other health problems

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)

Dilated Cardiomyopathy is a serious problem in Dobermans and unfortunately, the most common sign is sudden death. Currently ultrasound is the best test available for this disease; DCM can not be diagnosed simply by listening to the heart. The limitation of ultrasound 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.

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 actual number of affected dogs that have bleeding problems is very small. Currently, VetGen and GeneSearch do DNA testing for vWD. 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 to the testing facility.

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 need not be tested unless they exhibit some symptoms. Symptoms can include poor coat, lethargic attitude, overweight, heat seeking and reproductive problems. This condition usually manifests itself in older dogs; puppies or young dogs are seldom affected.