Diseases in Dobermans

There are some very common conditions in Doberman dogs, a Pinscher-type breed native to Germany. It emerged during the 19th century, thanks to Friedrich Louis Dobermann, its first breeder.

The Doberman is a medium-sized, strong, very brave dog. Knowing the conditions it could develop will help you care for it and catch symptoms in time. Let's look at what they are.

Bone and Joint Conditions in Doberman Dogs

There are two main conditions affecting this breed's musculoskeletal system:

Wobbler Syndrome

Wobbler syndrome is among the Doberman's common conditions, since this breed has a genetic predisposition to develop it. It affects the cervical spine and is a chronic, degenerative disorder, meaning it has no cure and worsens over time.

It involves the cervical vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and their ligaments. This condition causes compression of the spinal cord, leading to signs of pain and neurological symptoms.

This condition is also called "wobbler syndrome" because it's characterized by:

• Difficulty walking
• Stiff legs
• Headache
• Loss of balance
• Disinterest in play
• Unsteady gait

Besides the genetic predisposition, your dog could develop it from a hard blow to the neck area. Whether from trauma or genetics, it requires an immediate vet checkup. Sometimes surgery will be necessary, but only your vet can determine that.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is one of the disorders affecting medium and large dog breeds, like the German Shepherd and the Doberman. It consists of inflammation of the hip joint where the pelvic bone meets the femur.

Dysplasia is a multifactorial, polygenic, hereditary condition — meaning several factors contribute to and cause hip dysplasia, several genes are involved in its development, and it has a hereditary component.

Environmental factors are becoming increasingly important in the development of hip dysplasia; the genetic factor is necessary for the disease to develop, but it isn't the only factor. Genetics is a necessary but not sufficient factor — meaning a dog can have the genetic predisposition and not develop the condition, but without that predisposition, it's certain not to develop.

This condition appears from around 6 months of age, and can worsen if your dog does high-impact exercise and eats a diet that causes it to become overweight. The symptoms are:

• Pain, difficulty walking
• Disinterest in physical activities
• Limping
• Stiff legs

It's possible to improve your dog's quality of life by moderating exercise and offering a healthy diet. Remember to see your vet for more recommendations.

Heart and Circulatory Conditions in Doberman Dogs

There are two health issues that directly affect the Doberman breed:

Von Willebrand Disease

This is a chronic condition caused by the absence of von Willebrand factor. This is a glycoprotein responsible for transporting clotting factor VII in the blood, so its absence affects wound clotting.

A dog with this condition will show heavy bleeding from even minor wounds, and injuries will take longer to heal. There's danger if the dog gets seriously hurt; likewise, complications can arise if it needs surgery for any other reason.

Von Willebrand disease in Dobermans shows up from a young age and has no cure.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy is another of the common conditions in Doberman dogs. It consists of a weakening of the heart muscle fibers' contraction. The condition affects the heart muscle's ability to contract, leading to congestive heart failure or sudden death in adult dogs. Its symptoms are:

• Heart arrhythmia, trouble breathing
• Fatigue, low blood pressure
• Pulmonary edema, coughing
• Stomach swelling
• Vomiting, loss of appetite

This condition is very dangerous, since its symptoms don't show up until the problem is advanced. Without a vet visit, it will kill the dog in a short time.

Skin Conditions in Doberman Dogs

Though less common, there are some skin conditions that can affect your Doberman. These are the most common:

Seborrhea

This is a condition affecting the scalp and is usually a symptom of another health issue, like the presence of external parasites and fungi, as well as skin cancer, endocrine or metabolic disorders, and poor nutrition.

There are two types of seborrhea:

• Dry: shows up as excess keratin, with "flakes" visible on the dog's skin.
• Oily: affects the coat's shine, causing grease buildup, along with dry skin and frequent scratching.

To treat seborrhea, you first need to find out its underlying cause. See your vet for this.

Vitiligo

Vitiligo isn't a common condition in dogs, but it can affect your Doberman. It consists of a loss of coat and skin pigmentation. The complete absence of melanocytes, the cells that give the skin its color, characterizes this asymptomatic condition. Among the various proposed causes are autoimmune, toxic, and neurological origins.

It shows up as the dog grows, since colors are normal at birth. This condition doesn't require treatment, since it doesn't affect your dog's quality of life.

Acral Dermatitis

Among the Doberman's skin issues is acral dermatitis, an infection caused by mites and fungi, allergies, or boredom in a stressed dog. It's triggered when a skin wound occurs and your dog starts licking it nonstop. Eventually, the dog may bite it and worsen the injury.

A vet needs to determine whether the cause is bacterial or due to a behavioral issue.

Other Common Conditions in Doberman Dogs

Beyond the ones mentioned, there are other conditions that commonly affect the breed:

Gastric Torsion

The American Kennel Club (AKC) identifies gastric torsion, also called bloat, as one of the leading causes of death in Doberman dogs. This is a stomach condition whose cause still isn't fully agreed upon, though it's associated with eating large amounts followed by intense exercise.

Torsion means the stomach and the arteries around it become distended, causing an obstruction of blood flow connecting to the esophagus. Because of this, oxygen supply to the organs stops, putting the dog's life at risk.

Its symptoms are:

• Abdominal distension
• Drooling
• Arrhythmia
• Coughing
• Stomach pain
• Restlessness

As a Doberman owner, you need to familiarize yourself with these symptoms to act quickly if your dog develops this, since it's fatal without treatment.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't produce and secrete enough thyroid hormones. It's a common hormonal imbalance in dogs, generally caused by inflammation or shrinkage of the thyroid gland.

This progressive destruction of the gland leads to decreased thyroid function and insufficient thyroid hormone levels. Hypothyroidism is typically seen in middle-aged to older dogs.

Hypothyroidism is usually the result of other conditions. Its symptoms are:

• Fatigue, obesity.
• High cholesterol, balance issues.
• Seborrhea, hair loss.
• Arrhythmia, anemia.
• Testicular atrophy

Diagnosing this condition requires a hormone test. Treatment consists of administering a synthetic version of the hormones produced by the thyroid, with the correct dose determined by a vet.