While common, von Willebrand s Disease is by no means the only problems associated with the Doberman Pinscher. One of the main reasons it is appearing so often in Doberman s is because it normally doesn t show up until the dog is past its prime and through with its breeding career. The exact cause of CVI isn t known but researchers feel it is a combination of genetics and diet. Its symptoms can range from minimal rear leg incoordination to complete paralysis. In addition to the hair loss, there is a general lack of luster to the coat, scaliness in the skin and papule formation.
Papules are cystic hair follicles that develop into pustules.
After several years the dog will be virtually bald upon the body. For some reason the head, legs and tail are the least affected by the alopecia. This particular condition may be controllable but is not curable. Craniomandibular osteopathy is a disease that causes irregular ossifications of the mandible, tympanic bulbae and sometimes even on other bones that make up the head. Polystatic fibrous dysplasia is a cortical defect that causes cyst formation on the ulna and radius bones.