Page 147 - K9News_Issue12_July2020

(Isabella) only, with rust red markings. Markings Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points
to be sharply defined, appearing above each eye,
on muzzle, throat and forechest, on all legs and
feet and below tail. White markings of any kind
highly undesirable.
Size: Ideal height at withers: dogs: 69 cms (27
ins); bitches: 65 cms (251/2 ins). Considerable
deviation from this ideal undesirable.
Dobermann
Dobermann
HEAL
HEALTHTH
The Breed Health and Conservation Plan
(BHCP) project was initiated in 2016, with
an evidence base and plan developed for
the Dobermann in 2018. The purpose of the
BHCPs is to ensure that all health concerns are
identified through evidence-based criteria, and
that Breed Clubs and breeders are provided
with useful information and resources to
support them in making balanced breeding
decisions that make health a priority. The
BHCPs take a complete view of health with
consideration of the following issues: known
inherited conditions, complex conditions (i.e.
those involving many genes and environmental
effects such as nutrition or exercise levels, such
as hip dysplasia), conformational concerns
and population genetics. Prioritisation takes
into account a spectrum of evidence-based
measures, recognising the impact of individual
health concerns on welfare, and maximum
benefit for positive change to a breed. The
BHCPs are monitored and reviewed on a
regular basis, so that we can ensure ongoing
health needs are accommodated and reflect
progress and achievements.
Following a review of the available data for the
Dobermann, the Breed Club representatives
and the Kennel Club agreed the priorities
for the breed are Heart disease – Dilated
Cardiomyopathy (DCM), Cancer – various kinds,
but especially mammary tumours and lymphoma
(cancer of the lymph glands and Wobblers, also
known as cervical spondylomyelopathy. It was
also agreed DINGS (vestibular deafness) and
hypothyroidism would be kept at watch and
monitored.
K9 NEWS DIGITAL / JULY 2020
should be considered a fault and the seriousness
with which the fault should be regarded should
be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect
upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the
dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Note: Male animals should have two apparently
normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
As these conditions are all of a complex nature,
and as there are no formally recognised
screening schemes available at this time, both
sides have been looking at possible research
avenues and the potential to build on these
in order to develop useful tools breeders can
use in the future. This includes working with
universities and veterinary bodies to develop
scientific understanding of how DCM manifests
in the breed, and whether particular parameters
could be used in a breed-wide cardiac
screening.
The Kennel Club are also working with the
University of Nottingham to further research into
thyroid conditions, specifically hypothyroidism,
across a number of breeds, with the aim to try to
identify any underlying causes or preventative
actions dog breeders can take.
Other actions include improving on monitoring
of particular conditions, with the potential
of launching a breed health survey and
encouraging uptake in the longevity programme,
so that breeders can feed valuable information
into a database which could be used in the
future as part of new research projects. And
of course, monitoring any other appropriate
research which is relevant to the Dobermann.
Should you have a query regarding the process
and the Dobermann BHCP, please do not
hesitate to contact me, Hannah James
at health@thekennelclub.org.uk
or contact your Breed Health Coordinator,
Sue Thorn at suejthorn@yahoo.co.uk
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