Copper Storage Disease aka Menkes and Wilson diseases are a hereditary metabolic disease in which the liver accumulates excess copper leading to progressive organ failure and neurological disease. This effects Dobermans and Doberman crosses. The disease is also called Doberman hepatitis.
Here is a breakdown from Embark Vet regarding the two genes Doberman Pinschers can inherit:
Here is a breakdown from Embark Vet regarding the two genes Doberman Pinschers can inherit:
- ATP7B (harmful/accumulating variant) in Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers. The mode of inheritance for ATP7B is incomplete dominance, meaning that one or two copies of this gene can increase the risk of Copper Toxicosis. However, it is incompletely penetrant, which means not all dogs with one or two copies of the variant will develop the disease. Dogs with one copy have a significantly lower disease risk than dogs with two copies.
- ATP7A (beneficial/attenuating variant) in Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers. The mode of inheritance for ATP7A is X-linked complex. This variant has been shown to decrease copper accumulation in dogs with one or two copies of the ATP7B variant. The ATP7A gene is most beneficial in males with one copy. Females with one copy likely have less benefit than females with two copies. It is not completely protective in either sex. Dogs with one or two copies of the ATP7A variant but no copies of ATP7B will not have copper levels low enough to pose any health risk.
| copper-toxicosis-press-release-ejw-edit.pdf |
https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/copper-toxicosis
"This study is the first to show the effect of prolonged exposure to different copper levels on oxidative stress and copper metabolism in canine livers. Our data supports that: (i) Doberman hepatitis is a new variant of primary copper toxicosis; (ii) there is a clear indication of a reduced copper excretion in the Doberman hepatitis group; (iii) there is a clear correlation between high copper levels and reduced protection against ROS; (iv) this Doberman hepatitis could be a good model to study copper toxicosis and its effects for several human copper storage diseases such as Indian childhood cirrhosis, non-Indian childhood cirrhosis, and idiopathic copper toxicosis, and provide the basis for possible future treatments in dog and even in man."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1079907/
"This study is the first to show the effect of prolonged exposure to different copper levels on oxidative stress and copper metabolism in canine livers. Our data supports that: (i) Doberman hepatitis is a new variant of primary copper toxicosis; (ii) there is a clear indication of a reduced copper excretion in the Doberman hepatitis group; (iii) there is a clear correlation between high copper levels and reduced protection against ROS; (iv) this Doberman hepatitis could be a good model to study copper toxicosis and its effects for several human copper storage diseases such as Indian childhood cirrhosis, non-Indian childhood cirrhosis, and idiopathic copper toxicosis, and provide the basis for possible future treatments in dog and even in man."
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1079907/
Treatment for Copper Storage Disease and Doberman Hepatitis is identical:
- Chelation Therapy: Medications like D-penicillamine can help remove excess copper from the body.
- Low-Copper Diet: Restricting dietary copper intake is crucial for managing the disease.
- Zinc Supplementation: Zinc can help reduce copper absorption in the intestines.
- Supportive Care: Medications and supplements can be used to support liver function.
- Regular Monitoring: Dogs with copper toxicosis require lifelong monitoring of liver function and copper levels.