How to prevent German Shepherd health problems. German Shepherds are generally healthy dogs., but like all breeds, they are prone to certain diseases and pathologies. Not all German Shepherds will get any or all of these diseases, but it’s important to be aware of them if you’re considering this breed for your next pet.
German Shepherd Health Problems
If you are determined to buy a puppy from the german shepherd. You should find a good breeder who can show you the health clearances for both parents of the puppy. These health clearances demonstrate that a dog has been checked and cleared of a particular condition (illness or pathology).
In the breed of German shepherds it is important to verify that the parents of the puppy are free of certain pathologies such as hip dysplasia), elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand disease, and who have good eye health, they have some of these German Shepherd health problems.
German Shepherd Common Health Problems
German Shepherd health problems below we list some of the most serious health problems that a German Shepherd can suffer from:
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is an inherited condition in which the femur does not fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. Hip dysplasia german shepherd can exist with or without clinical signs. Some dogs show pain and lameness in one or both hind legs. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop and cause great suffering to the animal.
Hip dysplasia can be detected from X-rays and dogs with hip dysplasia should be avoided as breeding dogs. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be bred. Ask the breeder to prove that the parents have been tested for hip dysplasia and are free of problems.
Elbow dysplasia
Elbow dysplasia is a hereditary condition that is quite common in large breed dogs, this is the most common German Shepherd health problems. Yes It is believed to be caused by different growth rates of the three bones that make up the dog’s elbow, causing joint laxity. This can lead to painful lameness. The vet may recommend surgery to correct the problem, or medication to control the pain.
Gastric dilatation
Commonly called stomach bloatingGastric dilatation is a life-threatening condition in large, broad-chested dogs such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Fila Basileiros and all molosser dogs.
This pathology is especially frequent if they are given a large meal a day, or if the dog tends to eat quickly or drink large volumes of water after eating or exercise vigorously after eating. For this it is very important take care of your german shepherd’s diet controlling the amounts of food and the times that it is supplied, as well as not allowing it to drink in abundance once eaten or to exercise a lot until some time has passed since the intake of food.
Bloating occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and then twists, it is common in German Shepherd health problems. The dog is unable to throw up or vomit to get rid of the excess air in its stomach, and the normal return of blood to the heart is impeded. Blood pressure drops and the dog goes into shock. Without immediate medical attention, the dog can die.
Some symptoms that can make you suspect that your dog suffers from this type of swelling is if it has a distended abdomen, is salivating excessively and tries to vomit without success. He may also be restless, depressed, lethargic, and weak with a rapid heart rate. In any of these cases it is important to take the dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease of the spinal cord, specifically the part of the spine that communicates the brain with the hind legs. Dogs with degenerative myelopathy act as if they don’t know where their hind legs are and can’t move them properly.
The disease progresses to the point where the dog cannot walk. Most of the time, there is no treatment and the dog is left paralyzed. However, in a few cases, the condition is related to a lack of vitamin 12 or vitamin E. If this is the case, vitamin supplements can stabilize the pathology.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a genetic disease of the pancreas in which the cells that produce digestive enzymes are destroyed. As a result, the dog can no longer digest and absorb food. The first signs of this disease are gastric gas, loss of appetite, weight loss, and change in stool. The dog loses weight and is very hungry. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is diagnosed with a simple blood test, and treatment is simple: pancreatic enzymes are added to the dog’s food. With proper medication supervision, most dogs do well.
Allergies
Some German Shepherds suffer from a wide variety of allergies, ranging from contact allergies to food allergies. Allergy symptoms in dogs are similar to those in people. If your German Shepherd scratches, licks his paws, or rubs his face a lot, suspect he has an allergy and get him checked out by your vet.
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