Dobermann: inherited diseases and health
The inherited conditions below have been documented in this breed in published research. That does not mean your dog has them or will get them – but it helps to know the names when you talk to a breeder or a vet.
Conditions this breed is prone to
Veterinary charities list this breed as more likely than others to get these conditions. Read the signs and what to do:
Hypothyroidism
Heart diseaseDobermann and chocolate: how much is dangerous?
Typical adult weight: 32–45 kg. Grams of chocolate at which signs can start (20 mg/kg) and at which severe signs are reported (40 mg/kg):
| Dog weight | Milk | Dark 70–85% | Baking / unsweetened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 kg | 320 g signs 640 g severe | 80 g signs 160 g severe | 46 g signs 91 g severe |
| 45 kg | 450 g signs 900 g severe | 112 g signs 225 g severe | 64 g signs 129 g severe |
Based on published doses: signs from about 20 mg/kg, severe signs from 40 mg/kg (US FDA, Cortinovis & Caloni 2016, Swedish Poison Information Centre). An estimate, not a diagnosis.
Inherited conditions documented in the breed
Conditions documented: 31
A gene variant is known for 15 of the conditions below, so a DNA test may exist. Ask your vet or the breed club.
| Condition | Body system | Inheritance | Gene variant known |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiomyopathy, dilated[1] | Cardiovascular system | Multifactorial | No |
| Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy[1] | Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth) | – | – |
| Cervical Vertebral Malformation Syndrome[2] | – | – | – |
| Ciliary dyskinesia, primary, generic[1] | Respiratory system | – | No |
| Coat colour, albinism, oculocutaneous type IV[1] | Pigmentation | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Coat colour, dilution, MLPH-related[1] | Pigmentation | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Craniomandibular osteopathy, generic[1] | Craniofacial | Multifactorial | No |
| Deafness, bilateral, and vestibular dysfunction, MYO7A-related[1] | Hearing / vestibular / ear | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Deafness, unilateral and vestibular dysfunction, PTPRQ-related'[1] | Hearing / vestibular / ear | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Degenerative myelopathy[1] | Nervous system | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Dermatosparaxis Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (dEDS), ADAMTS2-related[1] | Integument (skin) | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Dilated Cardiomyopathy[2] | – | – | – |
| Doberman Hepatitis[2] | – | – | – |
| Haemangiosarcoma[1] | Neoplasm | – | – |
| Haemophilia B[1] | Haematopoietic system | X-linked recessive | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism[2] | – | – | – |
| Ligneous membranitis[1] | Vision / eye | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Lymphoma, generic[1] | Neoplasm | Multifactorial | – |
| Malignant hyperthermia[1] | Homeostasis / metabolism | Autosomal dominant | Yes |
| Mannosidosis, alpha[1] | Lysosomal storage disease | Probably autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Mucopolysaccharidosis I[1] | Lysosomal storage disease | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Multiple ocular defects[1] | Vision / eye | – | – |
| Myelopathy, fibrocartilaginous embolic[1] | Nervous system | – | – |
| Narcolepsy[1] | Behaviour / neurological | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| Osteosarcoma[1] | Neoplasm | – | No |
| Polyglandular autoimmune syndrome, type II[1] | Endocrine / exocrine gland (incl mammary gland) | – | – |
| Tail, short[1] | Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth) | Autosomal dominant | Yes |
| Von Willebrand Disease[2] | – | – | – |
| Von Willebrand disease I[1] | Haematopoietic system | Autosomal | Yes |
| Wilson disease[1] | Liver/biliary system | Autosomal recessive | Yes |
| XX difference of sexual development, generic[1] | Reproductive system | Multifactorial | No |
What this list means
- “Documented in the breed” means at least one published case or study – it says nothing about how common the condition is.
- Many of these conditions are rare. A responsible breeder can tell you which health tests the parents have had.
- Where the gene variant is known, a DNA test may exist – ask your vet or the breed club.
- If your pet shows signs of illness, contact your vet. This page cannot tell you whether your pet is ill.
About the breed
- Origin
- Germany
- Height
- 63–72 cm
- Weight
- 32–45 kg
- FCI number
- 143
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Sources
How this page was made: the list is taken directly from the sources below; nothing on it was written by AI. Names of conditions may be machine-translated. It is information, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages