Before you buy your miniature pinscher puppy make sure you see the puppy's parents and ask the breeder about the puppy's health including worming and flee treatment already administered, vaccinations (if bought after 9 weeks old) and veterinary history if you are not buying a puppy.

Do ask about testing for any disease ie (MPS) VI, a genetic disease which can be hereditary and cause miniature pinschers to get leg carve perth disease and spinal deformities.  This disease is relatively unknown but affects a number of miniature pinschers particularly chocolate & tan litters.  Responsible breeders can test for this and if both parents are tested clear the litter cannot have the disease.

MPS VI
The more awareness is raised about MPS VI the more breeders are likely to test and eradicate the disease from the breed so please do ask and if you are thinking about breeding yourself do your research and get your Miniature Pinscher testsed.

If every Miniature Pinscher breeder would test for this disease, it could be eliminated from the Miniature Pinscher breed completely, but sadly, few test for it.

What is Mucopolysaccharidosis Type 6?
It's not just a really big word, it's a serious disorder. Puppies born afflicted with this disorder rarely survive past the age of 2, and those who survive that long have a range of medical issues.

The Science
Mucopolysaccharides are chains of sugar molecules that the body uses to build connective tissue. The body is continually replacing old cells with new, and to do that, parts of the cells must be broken down and removed so that the new parts can be built properly. The old stuff has to be broken down to be disposed of.
When a dog has MPS-VI, it has a deficiency of arylsulfatase B, an enzyme that breaks up the mucopolysaccharides so the body can remove them from the cells. The mucopolysaccharides that should have been removed stay in the cells and cause damage over time, as they don't allow the proper formation of new cells.

The Symptoms
Newborn puppies may not show any sign of the disease right away, but as the cells become damaged from not being able to get rid of the old mucopolysaccharides, symptoms start to appear. It causes spinal and skeletal deformities that can result in cracked and deformed vertebrae, facial deformities and neurological issues.  It is also linked to Legge-calve Perthes disease.

Affected pups can die within a few weeks, or start to gradually deform over a few weeks/months of age.

Test Your Min Pins  (INFORMATION FOR BREEDERS)

Here is the link to the University of Pennsylvania who perform the DNA tests, they cost $75 and simple tissue samples (cheek swab) can be sent via mail, this doesn't cost the Earth, (may even add to the value of your litter) and most importantly of all will go a long way towards eliminating the disease from Miniature Pinschers.


Please help us raise awareness, there are a number of parents MPS VI heartbreaking stories online, I can't bring myself to write mine, please forward the link to breeders / owners you know or simply like us on Facebook to help today.

See the Useful Links Page for Links to Pages & Articles on Miniature Pinschers Health