Disease overview

Deafness and vestibular dysfunction is an inherited disorder that affects Doberman Pinschers. This disease compromises balance and coordination and causes unilateral hearing loss.

Gene name

PTPRQ

Inheritance

Autosomal recessive

Signs and symptoms

Affected dogs typically present with clinical signs related to hearing impairment when they are puppies. These include failure to respond to sounds, difficulty arousing from sleep, or excessive barking. Balance abnormalities may be indicated by head tilt, circling, and ataxia, which is a neurological sign of defective motor coordination that can affect gait, balance, speech, and gaze. 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. A neurological exam and/or imaging may be indicated. Genetic testing is necessary to determine if there is an underlying genetic cause, which can assist veterinarians with diagnosis and help breeders identify affected and carrier dogs.

Breeds at higher risk

Citations

Guevar J, Olby NJ, Meurs KM, Yost O, Friedenberg SG. Deafness and vestibular dysfunction in a Doberman Pinscher puppy associated with a mutation in the PTPRQ gene. J Vet Intern Med. 2018 Mar;32(2):665-669. doi: 10.1111/jvim.15060. Epub 2018 Feb 20. PMID: 29460419; PMCID: PMC5866982.

Disclaimer

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