With encouragement, they make a wonderful addition to the family. Dobermans are intelligent, almost stealth-like, and have great stamina. The Doberman Pinscher is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of 13 years. We know that because you care so much about your dog , you want to take good care of her.
That is why we have summarized the health concerns we will be discussing with you over the life of your Doberman. By knowing about health concerns specific to Doberman Pinschers, we can tailor a preventive health plan to watch for and hopefully prevent some predictable risks.
That does not mean your dog will have these problems; it just means that she is more at risk than other dogs. We will describe the most common issues seen in Doberman Pinschers to give you an idea of what may come up in her future.
This guide contains general health information important to all canines as well as the most important genetic predispositions for Doberman Pinschers. At the end of the article, we have also included a description of what you can do at home to keep your Dobie looking and feeling her best. Unfortunately, your Doberman Pinscher is more likely than other dogs to have problems with her teeth.
Dental disease starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and progresses to infection of the gums and roots of the teeth. In fact, your Dobie's life span may even be cut short by one to three years! Doberman Pinschers are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections — the same ones that all dogs can get — such as parvo, rabies, and distemper. Many of these infections are preventable through vaccination , which we will recommend based on her age, the diseases we see in our area, and other factors.
Obesity can be a significant health problem in Doberman Pinschers. It is a serious disease that may cause or worsen joint problems, metabolic and digestive disorders, back pain, and heart disease. Instead, give her a hug, brush her fur or teeth, play a game with her, or perhaps take her for a walk. All kinds of worms and bugs can invade your Dobie's body, inside and out. Everything from fleas and ticks to ear mites can infest her skin and ears.
Hookworms, roundworms, heartworms , and whipworms can get into her system in a number of ways: drinking unclean water, walking on contaminated soil, or being bitten by an infected mosquito. Some of these parasites can be transmitted to you or a family member and are a serious concern for everyone. One of the best things you can do for your Doberman is to have her spayed neutered for males. In females, this means we surgically remove the ovaries and usually the uterus, and in males, it means we surgically remove the testicles.
Spaying or neutering decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers and eliminates the possibility of your pet becoming pregnant or fathering unwanted puppies.
Performing this surgery also gives us a chance, while your pet is under anesthesia, to identify and address some of the diseases your dog is likely to develop. Routine blood testing prior to surgery also helps us to identify and take precautions against common problems that increase anesthetic or surgical risk.
Doberman Pinschers are especially prone to a life-threatening heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, in which the heart becomes so large, thin, and weak that it can no longer effectively pump blood to the body. As this problem advances, your pet may act weak or tired, faint or collapse, breathe in a labored way, or cough.
If indicated, treatment includes medication and dietary supplementation. A genetically linked neurological condition, known as wobbler disease or wobbler syndrome, causes a wobbly, drunken gait in affected pets.
Wobbler disease is the result of a narrowing of the vertebrae in the neck that pinches the spinal cord and associated nerves. When pinched, the nerves do not send signals to the brain as they should causing the pet to be unable to feel his feet. The first signs you will often notice with wobbler disease are unstable hind legs, stumbling, and sometimes falling.
Treatment options include medications, neck braces, rehabilitation exercise programs, and surgery. Gastric dilatation volvulus, also known as GDV or bloat, usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests. This means your Doberman is more at risk than other breeds.
When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills with gas. The twisting cuts off the blood supply to the stomach and sometimes to the spleen. Left untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as half an hour. Your dog may retch or heave but little or nothing comes up , act restless, have an enlarged abdomen, or lie in a prayer position front feet down, rear end up.
Preventive surgery in which the stomach is tacked down or sutured in place so that it is unlikely to twist is an option. If you see symptoms, take your pet to an emergency hospital immediately! There are several types of inherited bleeding disorders that occur in dogs. They range in severity from very mild to very severe. Many times a pet seems normal until a serious injury occurs or surgery is performed, and then severe bleeding can result.
Dobies are particularly prone to some relatively rare diseases of the blood. Your Doberman Pinscher is prone to a chronic liver disease called hepatitis, which can develop around middle age. We usually diagnose hepatitis with blood testing and liver biopsy, and we can treat it with medication and a special diet.
Signs of liver disease do not usually occur until the liver is already significantly damaged or destroyed, so early detection and intervention with routine blood screening are crucial for detecting problems at an early, more treatable stage. Diabetes mellitus is a fairly common disease in dogs. Any breed can be affected, but Dobies have an above average incidence. Dogs with diabetes are unable to regulate the metabolism of sugars in their bodies and require daily insulin injections.
Diabetes is a serious condition and one that is important to diagnose and treat as early as possible. Symptoms include increased eating, drinking, and urination, along with weight loss.
If he shows signs, we will conduct lab tests to determine if he has this condition and discuss treatment options with you. Treatment requires a serious commitment of time and resources. Well-regulated diabetic dogs today have the same life expectancy as other canines.
Not many things have as dramatic an impact on your dog's quality of life as the proper functioning of his eyes. Unfortunately, Doberman Pinschers can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful!
We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs for concern. Glomerulonephropathy is an inherited disease that slowly damages your Doberman Pinscher's kidneys, causing them to fail, often at an early age. Early detection leads to a happier pet and an easier, more affordable treatment plan.
We may also recommend a special diet as part of his therapy. A number of different musculoskeletal problems have been reported in Doberman Pinschers. While it may seem overwhelming, each condition can be diagnosed and treated to prevent undue pain and suffering. With diligent observation at home and knowledge about the diseases that may affect your friend's bones, joints, or muscles, you will be able to take great care of him throughout his life.
Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, and other behavioral changes.
Treatment is usually as simple as replacement hormones given in the form of a pill. Cancer is a leading cause of death in older dogs. Your Dobie will likely live longer than many other breeds and therefore is more prone to get cancer in his golden years. Many cancers are curable by surgical removal, and some types are treatable with chemotherapy. Early detection is critical! The healthcare chart included in this care guide lists the cancers your pet may encounter.
Your Dobie is susceptible to various kinds of skin infections and diseases. One type, Malassezia dermatitis, is caused by a kind of yeast. When this yeast infects the ears, it causes itching, redness, and an accumulation of brown, waxy discharge. On the skin, this yeast leads to greasy, hairless areas, especially on the neck and throat, with a characteristic odor. Another common skin disease called seborrhea can cause dry, flaky skin or greasy, oily skin.
Skin diseases make your pet itchy and uncomfortable. Much of what you can do to keep your dog happy and healthy is common sense, just like it is for people. Be sure to adhere to the schedule of examinations and vaccinations that we recommend for her.
Another very important step in caring for your pet is signing up for pet health insurance. There will certainly be medical tests and procedures she will need throughout her life and pet health insurance will help you cover those costs. Build her routine care into your schedule to help your Dobie live longer, stay healthier, and be happier during her lifetime.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of a proper diet and exercise routine. Any abnormal symptom could be a sign of serious disease or it could just be a minor or temporary problem. The important thing is to be able to tell when to seek veterinary help and how urgently. Many diseases cause dogs to have a characteristic combination of symptoms, which together can be a clear signal that your Doberman Pinscher needs help.
Give us a call for an appointment if you notice any of these types of signs:. Seek medical care immediately if you notice any of these types of signs:.
The oldest documented pinscher is the German pinscher, established first on farms in the early 15th century. Bred as fighting dogs and ratters, German pinschers have a naturally strong prey drive, and early illustrations show compact, narrow-muzzled and medium-size dogs with tightly cropped ears.
It is believed that the Doberman's ancestry includes the German pinscher, the Rottweiler and the Weimaraner. A common misconception of the miniature pinscher, or "Min Pin," is that it is a scaled-down version of the Doberman pinscher, purposefully bred to be smaller, like the miniature Australian shepherd. The Doberman and the miniature pinscher are actually two distinct breeds, unrelated other than their likely mutual origin from the German pinscher.
Miniature pinschers have existed longer than Dobermans and are suspected to be a cross of the German pinscher, the dachshund and the Italian greyhound. Share It. Origin of the Pinscher Name Documented as a singular noun in , pinscher is Germanic in origin and refers to a fox-terrier type of dog. Further Etymological Origins The English word pinch stems from the 13th century Old North French word pinchier, meaning to pinch, squeeze, nip or steal.
Pinscher Dog Origins The oldest documented pinscher is the German pinscher, established first on farms in the early 15th century.
0コメント