Dr. Joel Todd Leroy Prince, a veterinarian with the Elmhurst Animal Care Center in Illinois, applies a specialized expertise in the care of small animals. A practitioner for more than a quarter century, Dr. Joel Todd Leroy Prince enjoys spending free time with his family as well as his Doberman Pinscher and Boston Terrier dogs.

In general a healthy breed, the Doberman Pinscher does face a few particular health risks associated with its body structure and chemistry. Some Dobermans, for example, may inherit a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, which causes irregular heart activity. This may possibly have no ill effect on the dog, but it can also threaten his or her life and comfort. Certain medications may help relieve symptoms. 

Dobermans also are prone to a bleeding disorder known as von Willebrand disease, which affects the ability of the blood to clot. Hypothyroidism commonly affects Dobermans as well, although this condition is relatively easy to diagnose and treat. By contrast, Wobbler syndrome, also known as cervical vertebral instability (CVI), causes a genetic abnormality of the spine that cannot be easily detected. Some Dobermans may also suffer from other structural body abnormalities, such as hip dysplasia, but breeders can help to reduce risk by assessing the hips of breeding adults.