Health and Care

In general, German Shepherd Dogs are healthy, but like all breeds are prone to certain health conditions.  While not all German Shepherd Dogs will contract any of these medical conditions or diseases, it is important to be aware of them if you are considering adopting one.

Hip Dysplasia:  The most common cause of rear leg lameness in dogs, it is an inherited condition in which the femur doesn't fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint.  Due to the inherited nature of hip dysplasia, there are no products that can prevent its development   In addition to surgical option, a combination of healthy diet, weight management, exercise, massage, joint supplements and pain relieving medication can manage the condition. Some dogs exhibit pain and lameness on one or both rear legs. As the dog ages, arthritis can develop.

Elbow Dysplasia: As hip dyplasia affects the rear legs, elbow dysplasia causes front leg lameness. There are four types of elbow dysplasis: ununited anconeal process (UAP), fragmented coronoid process (FCP), osteochrondrosis dissecans (OCD) and “elbow incongruency.”  Many dogs can live active, normal lives without surgery through weight management, moderate exercise, rehabilitation therapy [such as swimming] and natural anti-inflammatory agents

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus:  Commonly called bloat, this is a life-threatening condition that affects large, deep-chested dogs.  Contributing factors are dogs who are fed one large meal a day, eat rapidly, drink large volumes of water after eating, and exercise vigorously after eating. Bloat occurs when the stomach is distended with gas or air and then twists. The dog is unable to rid itself 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. Suspect bloat if your dog has a distended abdomen, is salivating excessively and retching without throwing up. He also may be restless, depressed, lethargic, and weak with a rapid heart rate. It's important to get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

Degenerative Myelopathy:  Degenerative myelopathy [DM] is a devastating disease causing progressive paralysis, specifically the part of the cord that communicates information to the brain regarding the hind legs. The condition begins with ataxia, loss of coordination in the hind limbs.  Dogs with DM act as though they don't know where their back legs are, and cannot move them properly. The disease progresses to the point the dog cannot walk. However, in a few rare cases, the condition is related to a lack of vitamin-12 or vitamin E. If this is the case, vitamin supplements might stabilize the condition.  A key feature of DM is that this disease is not painful.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency:  This condition can develop at any time in a dog’s life. EPI 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 the condition are gas, loss of appetite, weight loss, and change in stools. The dog becomes very thin, and very hungry. EPI is diagnosed with a simple blood test, and life-long treatment is simple, too: pancreatic enzymes are added to the dog's food. With proper medication supervision, most dogs recover and live healthy, normal lives.

Allergies:  Some German Shepherd Dogs suffer from a variety of allergies, ranging from contact allergies to food allergies. Allergy symptoms in dogs are similar to those in people. If your German Shepherd is scratching, licking at his paws or rubbing his face a great deal, suspect that it has an allergy and have him checked by your vet.

Daily Exercise and Training: Most German Shepherd Dogs are built for action.  Daily exercise, jogging, long walks through the neighborhood, on a trail or even a treadmill, playing fetch, and swimming are all excellent activities. Training in the form of basic obedience, agility or tracking exercise your dog’s brain.

To prevent boredom and behavior problems exercise and training provide activities to give your dog the outlet for his energy and build a lasting bond with you.

Toys: German Shepherd Dogs like to chew, and their powerful jaws can destroy most materials.  Provide strong chew toys and bones to save both your belongings and your dog’s health, as some items can make him sick, choke or worse. Your dog should always be supervised when a new toy is introduced.

Grooming:   To prevent stripping the coat of oils, German Shepherd Dogs should not be bathed too often.  Even though German Shepherd Dogs shed, they are clean and odorless unless they are extremely active.

Nails should be trimmed monthly and their ears cleaned weekly to prevent infections and maintain that healthy pink color with no odor.

To fight tartar buildup, brush your dog’s teeth regularly and provide dental chew toys. Uncooked soup bones are an excellent natural way to prevent tarter and clean teeth.