What Is A Doberman Pinscher?
Doberman Pinschers are strong and energetic dogs. The exact ancestor of Doberman Pinscher is unknown, but it is believed that they are a mixture of Rottweiler, German Pinscher, Black Terrier and Tan Terrier. Doberman Pinscher has sleek coats in black, red or blue. They are sensitive to cold weather and require a proper shelter in winter.
They are trustworthy, intelligent and beloved family companions. They like to live close to their family members. They are loyal to their owners and good with the children. Doberman Pinschers need early socialization, otherwise they become nervous if they are not properly socialized in the early age of their lives.
How Long Do Doberman Pinschers Live?
The average lifespan of Dobermann Pinscher is between 10 to 13 years. They need regular checkups because they are prone to many genetic diseases.
These diseases can cause early death of Doberman Pinscher. If you take good care of your Doberman Pinscher, it helps to increase the lifespan of your dog.
Common Health Problems That Reduce Doberman Pinscher Lifespan
Doberman Pinschers are healthy dogs but they are prone to some diseases. Here are some common health problems that can cause the early death of Doberman Pinscher.
Von Willebrand's Disease:
Von Willebrand's disease is an inherited blood disorder in which blood doesn't clot properly. The main symptom is excessive bleeding after injury. The other symptoms in Doberman Pinscher are:
- Bleeding gums
- Nose bleeding
- Bleeding in stomach
- Bleeding in intestine
It is a serious condition that can reduce the Doberman Pinscher's lifespan. There is no treatment available for this disease. Only blood transfusion from the normal dog is currently used in this disorder.
Wobbler Syndrome:
Wobbler syndrome is an inherited disease which is common in Doberman Pinscher. It causes cervical vertebral instability that can lead to spinal cord compression. The common symptoms of Wobbler syndrome are neck pain and paralysis of the leg. Surgery is the only option to treat this condition.
Cardiomyopathy:
This is the disease in which heart muscles become thin and weak. In cardiomyopathy, chambers of the heart dilate and lead to abnormally large hearts. The dog's heart muscle becomes weak and causes heart failure.
Many Doberman Pinschers die due to cardiomyopathy. The treatment includes fluid therapy, medication and oxygen that help by improving the heart function.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA):
Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disease that causes gradual deterioration of the retina. In the starting stage, the dogs become night blind. They lose their sight in severe cases.
Hypothyroidism:
Hypothyroidism is a hormonal disease in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroxine hormone. Dobermann Pinschers are prone to developing this disease. The common signs and symptoms of Hypothyroidism are:
Color Mutant Alopecia:
Color mutant alopecia occurs in Doberman Pinschers with blue coats. It most commonly affects blue but can also affect red Doberman Pinschers. The symptoms of color mutant alopecia start in 4 months to 3 years of age.
As dogs grow, they develop brittle hair with patchy hair loss. In this condition, only the blue patch of the dog is affected. There is no proper treatment available for color mutant alopecia, but there are some medicated shampoos that reduce the scaling and itching.
Tips To Help Your Doberman Pinscher Live Longer
There are some tips that can help your Doberman Pinscher to live longer.
Diet:
Good quality food plays an important role in increasing the life expectancy of the dog. Doberman Pinschers require a lot of proteins, so you have to find the food that contains all the insectary nutrients. It is also important to avoid those foods that contain grains and fillers in them. These products lack nutritional content that keeps them healthy.
Dental care:
You should brush your dog's teeth at least 2 to 3 times a week. It helps to remove tartar buildup and bacteria from the mouth. Otherwise, bacteria can multiply and lead to cavities and gum disease.
These gum diseases can turn into infections that can cause early death of your dog. So, it is important to brush your dog's teeth to prevent them from serious illness.
Ear hygiene:
You should check your Doberman Pinscher's ears once a week. Any redness and bad odor can cause infection, so you have to check it properly. You should use a gentle, pH balanced ear cleaner to clean the ears of your dog. It helps to prevent them from ear infections. Avoid inserting anything inside the ear canal, just clean the outer part of the ear.
Exercise:
Moderate exercise daily is also helpful for your Doberman Pinscher to increase life expectancy. Although all dogs need exercise, Doberman Pinschers are an energetic breed and require plenty of exercise.
You should take your dog for a long walk and also give him space to run. Exercise is very effective to make your dog healthy.
Regular checkups:
You should take your dog to the vet for regular checkups. The veterinarian can give your dog all the vaccines that can prevent them from many diseases. Your veterinarian also checks your dog's weight and growth. Alo, regular tests can be effective to diagnose underlying disease earlier. It helps to increase the lifespan of Doberman Pinscher.
Ticks and fleas carry diseases that can be dangerous for your dog. So, the veterinarian can also give some medication that prevents your dog from ticks and fleas.
Final Words on Doberman Pinscher Life Expectancy:
Doberman Pinscher is a famous dog breed that is strong and muscular. They are very loyal to their owners. They are energetic dogs but require a lot of exercise.
Doberman Pinscher makes a great bond with their owners and family members. So, it is the natural feeling to want your dog to live as long as possible. The average lifespan of Dobermann Pinschers is 10 to 13 years. They need high quality food, care and grooming that can increase the life expectancy of them. So, proper care and love help your Doberman Pinscher to live longer.
