Oh, they’re mighty and strong! German Shepherds MUST be boasting with health! They’re definitely the healthiest dogs in the world, right?
Well…
I hate to burst your bubble, but you’re definitely not right.
German Shepherds might not be the healthiest, but they’re not the sickest either. They’re just in between – a breed with certain health problems that mustn’t be ignored.
When I first got my German Shepherd, I was warned about a lot of things, including a list of major health issues that could strike him.
Of course, I was in shock. But, I gathered my thoughts quickly and decided to do everything I could to give my dog a healthy life and prevent health problems from occurring.
Here are the top 5 health facts about German Shepherds that blew my mind! I’m sure yours will be blown, too.
1. They’re Highly Prone To A Condition Called BLOAT
BLOAT is a condition that occurs when a dog’s stomach twists after gulping too much air. You may wonder: how does a dog swallow that much air?
Well, it’s really simple for big dogs like German Shepherds to develop this. When a dog is a bit gluttonous and eats fast, he swallows a lot of air, too.
Also, when you let your dog drink too much water after exercising, or even let him have his meal after a workout, that could lead to BLOAT.
BLOAT (or Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus) is a life-threatening condition, and the symptoms are pretty obvious if you monitor your dog closely. Of course, the biggest symptom is an enlarged tummy, but whining, lethargy, refusing to walk, and stretching with legs up in the air are also red flags. |1|
If prevention fails, what can you do to help your GSD with BLOAT?
First and foremost, rush him to your vet! Your dog will receive lots of intravenous fluids, and the vet will have him on certain medications. In addition, they will also try to stimulate digestion to help pass the swallowed gas.
To stop this from ever happening again, your vet might suggest you do some surgery. It’s called gastropexy, and it permanently attaches your dog’s stomach to the inside body wall. As you can see, this is how your GSD’s tummy is prevented from twisting again.
2. Mobility Issues Are A Huge Deal
As large dogs, with usually more than 100 pounds of weight, German Shepherds are destined to have mobility problems. I mean, how could they not? They’re big, super active, and come with fragile bones and joints.
Mobility problems like hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are often congenital. But, sometimes, thanks to excessive and strenuous exercise and poor life quality, they can occur with dogs that don’t carry the gene.
The problems get even worse when a GSD gets both elbow and hip dysplasia. This means he’s having dysplasia of both the front and hind limbs.
It’s pretty easy to spot a mobility issue like dysplasia with a breed like the German Shepherd. A sudden change in their activity says it all. When you see a GSD limping or refusing to step on one of his feet, that could definitely mean he has dysplasia. |2|
Sure, diagnosing dysplasia is the easy part. How about the treatment?
Unfortunately, there is no cure for hip dysplasia. If your dog has it, he will have it forever. Things can become worse, but they can also become a bit better with treatment. Of course, your dog will need to take medications for the rest of his life.
But, meds aren’t the only thing that should help your GSD. If you don’t change his diet, introduce joint supplements, and reduce his activity level, you’ve got nothing!
3. Senior GSDs Often Get Cancer
Sadly, senior German Shepherds are often susceptible to developing all kinds of cancer. That’s just how this breed is.
While canine cancer can happen at any life stage, with the German Shepherd breed, it normally occurs in their senior years.
Sometimes, it’s curable, so your GSD could go through surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, but sometimes, it’s terminal and the dog just has to live with it.
The first warning signs for every GSD owner are sudden changes. The dog starts to feel less energetic and becomes lethargic. He loses interest in food and his daily activities. Soon enough, you’ll notice that he starts losing weight and he’s vomiting or having diarrhea too often.
The most common form of cancer for German Shepherds is hemangiosarcoma |3|, followed by lung, bone, and intestinal cancer.
4. German Shepherds Can Be Allergic
… but not to dog hair!
Allergies are actually quite common with dogs of all breeds, including our GSD buddies. They can be caused by certain foods, plants in the environment, scents, insects, mold, dust, etc.
In a lot of cases, German Shepherds have food allergies, precisely to meat or grains.
Symptoms of canine allergies are quite obvious, and it shouldn’t take you long to notice that something is bothering your dog. Usually, they will start as skin reactions. Your GSD’s skin will become too dry and it will itch. Soon enough, excessive hair loss will follow.
Besides skin irritations and infections, your GSD could also get ear infections and digestive problems. Unfortunately, digestive problems are highly common, but they’re also a clear sign that something’s going on with your dog.
Did you notice diarrhea? Maybe vomiting? Is your dog losing weight all of a sudden?
Consult your vet immediately! They should run blood tests as well as other diagnostic methods.
The good news is that allergies aren’t really life-threatening. In most cases, dogs will avoid them by avoiding allergy triggers, i.e., some foods. If that’s not possible, then the vet will prescribe a dietary change and medications.
5. They Have A Sensitive Heart
So, don’t go breaking their heart…
Just kidding… there’s really nothing funny with this fact. One of the biggest health concerns is related to their heart. German Shepherds are quite prone to all kinds of health conditions. Some of them are congenital while some are developed during their lifetime.
Unfortunately, a lot of these conditions are not curable. However, they are manageable, and dogs usually end up on medications for the rest of their life.
But, without a change in their diet and overall lifestyle, functioning with these heart conditions wouldn’t be quite possible.
Most German Shepherds suffer from:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy |4|
- Heart murmurs
- Valvular disease
Although there might be some symptoms like excessive coughing or sudden lack of energy, the best way to diagnose any heart condition with a GSD is to have the vet listen to the dog’s heart, and do some chest X-rays.
When a German Shepherd is diagnosed with a heart condition, he should not engage in any strenuous activity and his daily exercise routine should be brief and light-paced.
Sources:
|1| Claire R. Sharp, BSc, BVMS (Hons), MS, DACVECC, The Genetics of Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (Bloat) in Dogs: What Do We Know and Where Are We Going?, 2015, DOI
|2| H. K. James, F. McDonnell, and Thomas W. Lewis, Effectiveness of Canine Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia Improvement Programs in Six UK Pedigree Breeds, 2020, DOI
|3| Brown NO , Patnaik AK , MacEwen EG, Canine hemangiosarcoma: retrospective analysis of 104 cases. 1985, DOI
|4| A Tidholm; L Jonsson, A retrospective study of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (189 cases), 1997, DOI
