Disease overview

Bilateral deafness with concurrent vestibular dysfunction is a disorder that affects Doberman Pinschers. It causes decreased or completely lost hearing ability in both ears (bilateral) as well as compromises an affected dog's balance and reflexes.

Gene name

MYO7A

Inheritance

Autosomal recessive

Signs and symptoms

Clinical signs are related to hearing impairment and typically present as puppies. This may present as failure to respond to sounds, difficulty to arouse from sleep, or excessive barking. Signs will present associated with balance abnormalities such as exaggerated side-to-side head/neck excursions, body falling, and head tilt. These signs may progress with age.

How is it diagnosed

A veterinarian will conduct a thorough exam, including a review of health history and any clinical signs. Neurological tests, including imaging, may be required for a definitive diagnosis. Genetic testing is necessary to determine an underlying genetic cause.

Breeds at higher risk

Citations

Webb AA, Ruhe AL, Neff MW. A missense mutation in MYO7A is associated with bilateral deafness and vestibular dysfunction in the Doberman pinscher breed. Can J Vet Res. 2019 Apr;83(2):142-148. PMID: 31097876; PMCID: PMC6450158.

Disclaimer

Disease diagnosis and treatment should always be performed by a veterinarian. The following information is for educational purposes only.