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The Doberman is a proud looking dog that was first bred as a working and guard dog in Germany, but over the years they have become popular companion dogs as well as watch dogs the world over and for good reason. A Doberman is a loyal and courageous friend and one that will guard not only their territory, but the people they love too.
Like so many other pure breeds, the Doberman does suffer from quite a few health disorders, some of which are acquired whereas others are hereditary conditions passed down to puppies from parent dogs. One of the health issues that seems to plague the breed is a condition known as Cervical Disc Disease or Wobbler Syndrome as it is more commonly called.
The condition affects quite a few breeds that boast having larger and therefore heavier heads and longish necks. It is closely related to dogs that put on fast spurts of growth. Great Danes as well as Dobermans are affected by the condition which causes their spinal cord to compress. A dog suffers a lot of pain in their necks which as a result means they lose a lot of co-ordination in their back legs. In short, it is disease that affects a dog's spine which affects nerve signals between the dog's brain and their body.
Abnormalities in the Bone
Affected dogs have abnormal growth in the bones that make up their intervertebral discs which then rub up against their spinal cord. Over time the condition gets worse and this results in dogs becoming unstable on their feet, hence the term "wobbler syndrome".
A Genetic Disorder
Wobbler Syndrome is known to be a genetic disorder that affects Dobermans which is why if you are thinking about sharing your home with a puppy, it's really important to contact a well-established, reputable breeder who always has all their dogs screened for any hereditary or congenital health disorders before using them in a breeding programme. With this said, studies have also established that diet may also play a part in a dog developing the d |
