German Shepherd Dog Health

submitted: Jun 21st 2008 | by: LeeDobbins. | Total views: 16 | Word Count: 376 | PDF View | Print Article

The German Shepherd breed is an excellent choice for a canine companion. However, just like many other popular breeds, there are certain health problems that you need to be aware of. Here are a few of the most prevalent German Shepherd dog health issues to look out for:

Developmental bone and joint disease is a problem common to many large dog breeds, affecting the younger animals. If your dog is affected, he may show no symptoms at all, or he may demonstrate pain or lameness, and seem cautious about movement. Hip dysplasia may cause leg muscles to actually waste.

German Shepherds can also be affected by hemangiosarcoma. Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer affecting the lining cells of the blood vessels. This mainly targets the skin, heart, liver and spleen. Symptoms may present as weakness, a distended abdomen, sudden collapse and pale gums.

Another German Shepherd dog health problem is weakness in the hind legs. This can also include wobbliness or a lack of coordination in the affected limbs. Multiple factors can cause this, including bone or spinal degeneration or possibly a slipped disc in the dog's back.

Insufficient thyroid hormone production or hypothyroidism can be a problem in some of the dogs. Hair loss, obesity, lethargy, cold intolerance and skin infections are some of the symptoms of this disease of the thyroid gland.

Eye problems are another health issue with German Shepherds. If you observe any eye irritations or growths ranging from pink to black in color, this could be a condition called Pannus, corneal inflammation which could damage the dogs eyesight.

A bacterial infection of the skin, sometimes accompanied by puss, is known as Pyoderma and can be a problem in German Shepherds. It is unknown what causes this condition, but it may be due to an immune deficiency. Your dog may have this if he displays pimples or sores, hair loss, redness or other abnormal skin conditions. Some dogs also become lethargic, or lose their interest in food.

A first step to avoiding these German Shepherd dog health issues is to make sure that your dog does not come from a breeder where other dogs had these issues. Watch your dog carefully, and be sure to consult your Vet if your dog displays any symptoms, or behavior out of the ordinary.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

About the Author

For more on German Shepherd dog health, please visit http://www.germanshepherddoghealth.com.


Comments

No comments posted.

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.



If you like using Dog Article Directory please consider linking to us

Dog Article Directory
A free general article submission site that is human edited, offering Rss feeds by category, printer friendly and Html versions of articles and free content.

Our Top Authors...

Authors

Categories



More articles in this Category

1: Dog Bite Safety
Keeping a dog as a pet has bee

2: Don't Think Just Because Your Dog Has Fur That You Can Leave Him Out In The Cold
A common misconception among dog owners is that just because their dogs have a coat of fur; it's ok to let them spend the winter outside. While it is OK to let your dogs out in the winter, there are important precautions to take.

3: German Shepherd Dog Health
The German Shepherd breed is an excellent choice for a canine companion. However, just like many other popular breeds, there are certain health problems that you need to be aware of. Here are a few of the most prevalent German Shepherd dog health issues to look out for:

4: General History of Dogs
There is no incongruity in the idea that in the very earliest period of man's habitation of this world he made a friend and companion of some sort of aboriginal representative of our modern dog, and that in return for its aid in protecting him from wilder animals, and in guarding his sheep and goats, he gave it a share of his food, a corner in his dwelling, and grew to trust it and care for it. Probably the animal was originally little else than an unusually gentle jackal, or an ailing wolf driven by its companions from the wild marauding pack to seek shelter in alien surroundings. One can well conceive the possibility of the partnership beginning in the circumstance of some helpless whelps being brought home by the early hunters to be tended and reared by the women and children. Dogs introduced into the home as playthings for the children would grow to regard themselves, and be regarded, as members of the family

5: How To Increase Your Dog's Confidence
Introduction