A single affected copy of either gene is necessary to develop symptoms, but not all dogs with DCM1, DCM2, or both mutations will develop disease. Since a single copy of either mutation can increase risk for disease, this trait is considered a dominant trait. However, since not all dogs with these mutations go on to develop disease, these mutations are thought to be incompletely penetrant. Other factors likely explain the incompletely penetrant nature of this disease, and studies to investigate additional genetic and non-genetic risk factors are ongoing.
Recently it was noted that in a European Doberman Pinschers sample set, the DCM1 mutation was not as correlated with disease risk as it is in the original Doberman study cohort.
Further, not all Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy have either of these mutations. Therefore, it is also likely that additional as of yet unidentified variants in these or other genes are involved in disease presentation and progression. Continued research is needed to identify additional genetic and non-genetic risk factors.
Source: UC Davis, Owczarek-Lipska, M., Mausberg, T., Stephenson, H., Dukes-McEwan, J., Wess, G., & Leeb, T. (2013). A 16-bp deletion in the canine PDK4 gene is not associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in a European cohort of Doberman Pinschers. Animal Genetics, 44(2), 239-239. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2012.02396.x
Recently it was noted that in a European Doberman Pinschers sample set, the DCM1 mutation was not as correlated with disease risk as it is in the original Doberman study cohort.
Further, not all Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy have either of these mutations. Therefore, it is also likely that additional as of yet unidentified variants in these or other genes are involved in disease presentation and progression. Continued research is needed to identify additional genetic and non-genetic risk factors.
Source: UC Davis, Owczarek-Lipska, M., Mausberg, T., Stephenson, H., Dukes-McEwan, J., Wess, G., & Leeb, T. (2013). A 16-bp deletion in the canine PDK4 gene is not associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in a European cohort of Doberman Pinschers. Animal Genetics, 44(2), 239-239. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2012.02396.x
Doberman Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy and the Doberman breed.
There is a disease in some Doberman Pinschers that can be undetected until too late called Occult Cardiomyopathy. Let’s learn a bit about it. Occult cardiomyopathy (OC) is a slowly progressive heart muscle disease that results in abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) in Doberman Pnschers.
The type of arrhythmia it causes are often ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), it is also called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy .
Dobermans with OC may have no clinical signs for long periods, which is why the disease is referred to as occult or silent. Eventually the dog develops arrhythmia and, later, dilated cardiomyopathy.
OC runs heavier in certain lines of Dobermans, so there seems to be a genetic factor involved but unfortunately at this time (June 2022) there is no valid DNA test.
DCM can be traced back to the original imported seven sires of Doberman lines in the United States, three of which died suddenly when they were middle-aged.
OC can start as early as 6-9 months of age, but most dogs are between 2-4 years old. By 6 years of age, about 60% of Dobermans have OC. Most dogs with OC have no symptoms. Their arrhythmia may be detected on a routine physical examination or on a screening electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor study. Dogs with more frequent VPCs or VT may have fainting episodes (syncope) or they seem to pass out for short periods of time (like seconds) and then come back. About 30% of affected dogs die suddenly, without prior symptoms. Some dogs will show tiring with minimal exertion as well.
Since OC is very prevalent in Dobermans, annual screening of adult dogs should start at 2 years of age on their birthdays so you can remember easier, and should include a 24-hour Holter monitor and electrocardiogram (heart ultrasound) study. The likelihood of finding VPCs, VT, or echocardiographic changes increases as the dog ages. Once arrhythmia have been found, the only way to diagnose OC is to rule out all other causes of ventricular arrhythmia.
How do you treat this?
In some cases hospitalization is needed to stabilize these dogs depending on test result or clinical signs. Some can be treated as an outpatient with frequent rechecks early in the course of medications. Unfortunately, the more severe the arrhythmia (over 150 pvc's in 24 hrs), the greater the chance of sudden death. Not every drug works in every dog, so sometimes a dog must be switched from one drug to another to control the ventricular arrhythmia. Side effects can occur so communication with your vet is needed to best administer the proper care.
Affected Dobermans require frequent ECGs until their VT or VPCs are controlled. Ideally, a Holter monitor is applied to dogs with non–life-threatening arrhythmia to document the frequency of the arrhythmia prior to treatment. Another Holter recording is done after the drug has reached adequate blood levels, to judge how effective it is in controlling the abnormal beats. Affected dogs require antiarrhythmic therapy for the rest of their lives. Electrocardiograms may be done every 6-12 months to monitor for evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy, which can follow OC. Dobermans with infrequent VPCs that are feeling well usually develop changes on their electrocardiograms within 1 year. Within 2 years, their VPCs and heart changes often get worse, and 30-50% of these dogs may die suddenly.
Dobermans with severe VPCs or VT that are well controlled with medication can live up to 1 year or longer. I personally know of a male that had 15,000 vpc's in 24 hrs that was put on daily medication just before his 3rd birthday and is still alive and well now at 10 + years!
No drug is 100% effective in preventing sudden death. The better the arrhythmia is controlled, the less likely it is that sudden death will occur. Holter monitors provide the best way to evaluate how well the medications are controlling the arrhythmia.
If dilated cardiomyopathy develops, the dog’s life span is only weeks to months (average, 3-4 months). Because OC has a genetic basis and tends to run more often in certain families, it is wise not to breed dogs that have the problem.
This is a problem widely seen in Dobermans so do your research when you get a puppy and ask the breeder about this and whether they follow up their puppies into adulthood to see if any show this.
See how old their dogs are in the kennel as that can give you an idea of whether the dogs can live past a certain age as not always are breeders forthcoming about this but many reputable breeders are keenly aware of this and make every effort to select the parents that don’t show this in their puppies or have lines of dogs that are free of OC. It is a bummer of a disease for the owners that love their dogs and a horrible disease for the Dobermans to endure.
All lines of Dobermans in the USA and elsewhere stem from a very narrow band of dogs, or just a few dogs and over time inbreeding or very close line breeding will lead to the exhibiting of poor genetic traits, such as OC or in King Cavalier, mitral valve disease.
Ref; Rebecca E. Gompf, DVM, MS, DACVIM
There is a disease in some Doberman Pinschers that can be undetected until too late called Occult Cardiomyopathy. Let’s learn a bit about it. Occult cardiomyopathy (OC) is a slowly progressive heart muscle disease that results in abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) in Doberman Pnschers.
The type of arrhythmia it causes are often ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), it is also called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy .
Dobermans with OC may have no clinical signs for long periods, which is why the disease is referred to as occult or silent. Eventually the dog develops arrhythmia and, later, dilated cardiomyopathy.
OC runs heavier in certain lines of Dobermans, so there seems to be a genetic factor involved but unfortunately at this time (June 2022) there is no valid DNA test.
DCM can be traced back to the original imported seven sires of Doberman lines in the United States, three of which died suddenly when they were middle-aged.
OC can start as early as 6-9 months of age, but most dogs are between 2-4 years old. By 6 years of age, about 60% of Dobermans have OC. Most dogs with OC have no symptoms. Their arrhythmia may be detected on a routine physical examination or on a screening electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor study. Dogs with more frequent VPCs or VT may have fainting episodes (syncope) or they seem to pass out for short periods of time (like seconds) and then come back. About 30% of affected dogs die suddenly, without prior symptoms. Some dogs will show tiring with minimal exertion as well.
Since OC is very prevalent in Dobermans, annual screening of adult dogs should start at 2 years of age on their birthdays so you can remember easier, and should include a 24-hour Holter monitor and electrocardiogram (heart ultrasound) study. The likelihood of finding VPCs, VT, or echocardiographic changes increases as the dog ages. Once arrhythmia have been found, the only way to diagnose OC is to rule out all other causes of ventricular arrhythmia.
How do you treat this?
In some cases hospitalization is needed to stabilize these dogs depending on test result or clinical signs. Some can be treated as an outpatient with frequent rechecks early in the course of medications. Unfortunately, the more severe the arrhythmia (over 150 pvc's in 24 hrs), the greater the chance of sudden death. Not every drug works in every dog, so sometimes a dog must be switched from one drug to another to control the ventricular arrhythmia. Side effects can occur so communication with your vet is needed to best administer the proper care.
Affected Dobermans require frequent ECGs until their VT or VPCs are controlled. Ideally, a Holter monitor is applied to dogs with non–life-threatening arrhythmia to document the frequency of the arrhythmia prior to treatment. Another Holter recording is done after the drug has reached adequate blood levels, to judge how effective it is in controlling the abnormal beats. Affected dogs require antiarrhythmic therapy for the rest of their lives. Electrocardiograms may be done every 6-12 months to monitor for evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy, which can follow OC. Dobermans with infrequent VPCs that are feeling well usually develop changes on their electrocardiograms within 1 year. Within 2 years, their VPCs and heart changes often get worse, and 30-50% of these dogs may die suddenly.
Dobermans with severe VPCs or VT that are well controlled with medication can live up to 1 year or longer. I personally know of a male that had 15,000 vpc's in 24 hrs that was put on daily medication just before his 3rd birthday and is still alive and well now at 10 + years!
No drug is 100% effective in preventing sudden death. The better the arrhythmia is controlled, the less likely it is that sudden death will occur. Holter monitors provide the best way to evaluate how well the medications are controlling the arrhythmia.
If dilated cardiomyopathy develops, the dog’s life span is only weeks to months (average, 3-4 months). Because OC has a genetic basis and tends to run more often in certain families, it is wise not to breed dogs that have the problem.
This is a problem widely seen in Dobermans so do your research when you get a puppy and ask the breeder about this and whether they follow up their puppies into adulthood to see if any show this.
See how old their dogs are in the kennel as that can give you an idea of whether the dogs can live past a certain age as not always are breeders forthcoming about this but many reputable breeders are keenly aware of this and make every effort to select the parents that don’t show this in their puppies or have lines of dogs that are free of OC. It is a bummer of a disease for the owners that love their dogs and a horrible disease for the Dobermans to endure.
All lines of Dobermans in the USA and elsewhere stem from a very narrow band of dogs, or just a few dogs and over time inbreeding or very close line breeding will lead to the exhibiting of poor genetic traits, such as OC or in King Cavalier, mitral valve disease.
Ref; Rebecca E. Gompf, DVM, MS, DACVIM
DOBERMANS AND DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY whats the problem?
Read More at the Doberman Diversity Project
DCM continued ... 1st feature : Sudden death by heart failure (cardiomyopathy)
Many dog breeds are affected at various frequencies but in the death-rate statistics of all breeds the Doberman by far takes the sad first place in both the USA and in Germany. Mr. Kraft (1989), from the University of Munich, presents heart death statistics from dissection materials of different pathological institutes where frequently the Doberman stands before the Great Dane, the St. Bernard and the German Shepherd Dog. Beyond it Mr. Kraft presents the result of a regional survey of the Doberman Club (VDH) from South Germany. From 92 cases of deaths, 24 died of death by heart failure. The extensive statistics of death by heart failure in pedigreed dogs, by Calvert and Pickus (1982, 1989) from the USA, look like the situation in Germany. The Doberman by far leads the Great Dane, the Irish Wolf hound and the St. Bernard.
The majority of affected Dobermans die at the age 3 to 5 (van der Zwan 1987). Both in North America and in Europe there is an increasing reduction of the death age (Kollenberg 1998). In general, two progressive forms can be distinguished in the Doberman, dependent on the quickness of death and on other features (van der Zwan 1987, Schuler 1997). Type A: arrhythmia. With this most frequent type of death by heart failure the death occurs allegedly without external warning. All of a sudden the dog collapses and dies. There were few publications about the diagnosis of the dog's arrhythmia but in the long-term ECG it should be similar to that of a human being. Type B: heart muscle weakness. With this less frequent type of death by heart failure a lingering development for a prolonged period is diagnosed. The dog often coughs in the morning as a result of water accumulation in the lungs. Diagnostically, heart enlargements and vessel changes can be located long before the death occurs.
A partly X-chromosome polygenetic hereditary transmission can be assumed because, according to the statistics, approximately 3/4 of all Dobermans that died of heart failure, are males. The noticeable frequency of death cases over several generations (Fig. 1) can be identified in the German and American Dobermans' pedigrees. The heredity of sudden death by heart failure must be assessed as average to high. A complicated polygenetic hereditary process could exist because the symptom of death by heart failure is based on different heart defects and proceeding on the assumption that these defects were affected by certain environmental impacts. The cooperation between breeding clubs and genetic scientists is necessary for a better understanding of genetics. Calvert and Pickus recommend that the clubs utilize as many breeding animals as possible, along with their descendants, to take a standardized heart examination. A combination of several methods is useful, like for example, a long term ECG for diagnosis of function changes and fan ultrasound test for size recognition identification and x-ray.
The crossbreeding of another breeds as a breeding method may be less popular among dog breeders but it represents a frequently used standard method for most domestic animal breeds; e.g. - in horse breeding. In almost all warm blooded animals the performance and health tested elite studs of the breeds "English or Arabian Thoroughbred" are permanently interbred in dependence on this breeding strategy. For the Doberman it is thinkable to use the Beauceron, the German Shepherd Dog or other Shepherd Dog breeds, the Weimaraner or other Short-haired Pointers.by Dr. Reinhard Haberzettl
2002
Many dog breeds are affected at various frequencies but in the death-rate statistics of all breeds the Doberman by far takes the sad first place in both the USA and in Germany. Mr. Kraft (1989), from the University of Munich, presents heart death statistics from dissection materials of different pathological institutes where frequently the Doberman stands before the Great Dane, the St. Bernard and the German Shepherd Dog. Beyond it Mr. Kraft presents the result of a regional survey of the Doberman Club (VDH) from South Germany. From 92 cases of deaths, 24 died of death by heart failure. The extensive statistics of death by heart failure in pedigreed dogs, by Calvert and Pickus (1982, 1989) from the USA, look like the situation in Germany. The Doberman by far leads the Great Dane, the Irish Wolf hound and the St. Bernard.
The majority of affected Dobermans die at the age 3 to 5 (van der Zwan 1987). Both in North America and in Europe there is an increasing reduction of the death age (Kollenberg 1998). In general, two progressive forms can be distinguished in the Doberman, dependent on the quickness of death and on other features (van der Zwan 1987, Schuler 1997). Type A: arrhythmia. With this most frequent type of death by heart failure the death occurs allegedly without external warning. All of a sudden the dog collapses and dies. There were few publications about the diagnosis of the dog's arrhythmia but in the long-term ECG it should be similar to that of a human being. Type B: heart muscle weakness. With this less frequent type of death by heart failure a lingering development for a prolonged period is diagnosed. The dog often coughs in the morning as a result of water accumulation in the lungs. Diagnostically, heart enlargements and vessel changes can be located long before the death occurs.
A partly X-chromosome polygenetic hereditary transmission can be assumed because, according to the statistics, approximately 3/4 of all Dobermans that died of heart failure, are males. The noticeable frequency of death cases over several generations (Fig. 1) can be identified in the German and American Dobermans' pedigrees. The heredity of sudden death by heart failure must be assessed as average to high. A complicated polygenetic hereditary process could exist because the symptom of death by heart failure is based on different heart defects and proceeding on the assumption that these defects were affected by certain environmental impacts. The cooperation between breeding clubs and genetic scientists is necessary for a better understanding of genetics. Calvert and Pickus recommend that the clubs utilize as many breeding animals as possible, along with their descendants, to take a standardized heart examination. A combination of several methods is useful, like for example, a long term ECG for diagnosis of function changes and fan ultrasound test for size recognition identification and x-ray.
The crossbreeding of another breeds as a breeding method may be less popular among dog breeders but it represents a frequently used standard method for most domestic animal breeds; e.g. - in horse breeding. In almost all warm blooded animals the performance and health tested elite studs of the breeds "English or Arabian Thoroughbred" are permanently interbred in dependence on this breeding strategy. For the Doberman it is thinkable to use the Beauceron, the German Shepherd Dog or other Shepherd Dog breeds, the Weimaraner or other Short-haired Pointers.by Dr. Reinhard Haberzettl
2002
ALWAYS SPEAK TO YOUR BOARD CERTIFIED CARDIOLOGIST VETERINARIAN FOR AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS !
Every Doberman puppy for sale at Unique Dobermans has been thoughtfully and carefully planned and considered long before the breeding has taken place. Your new Unique Doberman puppy (if you are so lucky to be chosen as one of our elite Doberman puppy owners) comes with a pedigree sporting German, Russian and European Dobermans full of world champion show dogs plus each one has been worked to at least a BH in Schutzhund, IPO, IGP, Family Personal Protection dogs, Therapy dogs, French Ring sports and competitions. What do all of these Doberman working titles and Doberman show titles actually mean to you as a "pet owner" that doesn't plan on showing or titling your Doberman puppy? EVERYTHING! Your new Doberman Puppy's parents have passed strict temperament testing, tracking trials to test their nose and scent capabilities and personal protection courage testing of their character and most importantly their nerves.
The genetics behind your Unique Doberman puppy shows that his genes are free of hip dysplasia, eye diseases, bad temperament and poor conformation.
A Doberman dog that cannot hold up to the extreme athleticism that is required to obtain working titles is a poorly conformed dog and will break down, a Doberman dog that is not readily and willing to immediately obey with a strong desire to please it's master is not a pleasant Doberman to live with inside the home and certainly will never be able to obtain these working titles.
If you have been looking for the best Doberman Family Guard Dogs, with a World Champion pedigree, Schutzhund, IPO, IGP, VPG and ZTP Working Titles in Personal Protection, Tracking, Obedience and Agility with Beauty and Brawn to match then give us a call, text, email or Facebook message.
The genetics behind your Unique Doberman puppy shows that his genes are free of hip dysplasia, eye diseases, bad temperament and poor conformation.
A Doberman dog that cannot hold up to the extreme athleticism that is required to obtain working titles is a poorly conformed dog and will break down, a Doberman dog that is not readily and willing to immediately obey with a strong desire to please it's master is not a pleasant Doberman to live with inside the home and certainly will never be able to obtain these working titles.
If you have been looking for the best Doberman Family Guard Dogs, with a World Champion pedigree, Schutzhund, IPO, IGP, VPG and ZTP Working Titles in Personal Protection, Tracking, Obedience and Agility with Beauty and Brawn to match then give us a call, text, email or Facebook message.
