Let’s start by stating the obvious: the German Shepherd is a beautiful breed of dog with multiple virtues.
This is an intelligent, obedient, and disciplined breed. These virtues have made it an animal that can be both a companion and involved in rescue or security work. A remarkable creature.
But within dogs, it also ranks high in a negative category: it is one of the breeds with the most diseases.
Ironically, it is believed that the main cause of this, indirectly, has been its popularity. Being so beloved, many inexperienced breeders joined the trend to sell specimens of the animal, conducting the breeding improperly.
The result has been genetic defects that have been carried over generation after generation.
Another sad detail about this is that it goes against the original idea of the breed. Max von Stephanitz, the founder of this breed, was a passionate dog enthusiast but believed that they should be bred for work. It sounds harsh, but he was a committed person with leadership qualities, without whom the German Shepherd breed would never have emerged.
At a dog show, he found what would become the father of all German Shepherds, who won his heart with his strength, intelligence, beauty, and loyalty.
One of his principles was strict breeding control to quickly eliminate emerging defects. With him and his breeding and crossing methods, many of the current problems of German Shepherds would not exist.
This does not mean that all German Shepherds will certainly suffer from these pathologies, nor that all individuals are at the same risk, but the breed as a whole has a greater predisposition to suffer from the following problems:
Hip Dysplasia
One of the most common pathologies in large breeds and a classic in German Shepherds. When you fear that your German Shepherd has a hip or hind leg disease, it is the number one suspect.
It is a hereditary congenital and polygenic disease, where environmental factors also play a role.
An animal with obesity, lack of calcium and minerals in its diet, or that practices constant and intense sports is putting itself at greater risk. Therefore, when suspected, the dog is put on a diet and its activity is restricted.
Being hereditary, the biggest clue to know if your dog is at risk of hip dysplasia is to observe its parents. If its parents have suffered from the pathology, it is likely that your pet will develop it, but it is not certain. There are cases where the animal gets lucky and dodges that genetic bullet.
The disease causes a malformation in the hip and femur, which worsens over time. Joint instability can lead to a dislocation of the femoral head, accelerating bone deformities, with cartilage loss and scar tissue formation. It is a bone condition in german shepherds.
Hip dysplasia can appear as early as 6 months of age, and the risk increases as the animal ages.
The symptoms are similar to those of a grandparent with hip pain: difficulty moving, aversion to stairs, slow and different walking from usual.
The treatment depends on the severity. Changes in lifestyle, anti-inflammatory drugs, and supplements may be sufficient. Or surgery and prosthetics may be required. The sooner it is detected, the better.
Glaucoma
Let’s change to a different body area and discuss the eye disease in German Shepherds: glaucoma.
Also hereditary, the first symptoms appear at 2-3 years of age, with the dog rubbing and pressing its eye. The pupil appears dilated and opaque.
It is due to increased intraocular pressure. The eye contains aqueous humor, a clear and transparent liquid with various functions. The problem is that this liquid is constantly produced, so it needs to be drained to prevent accumulation.
If not reduced, it can lead to permanent damage to the optic nerve and retina. It is the leading cause of blindness in dogs in general, and of course, in German Shepherds in particular.
This irreversible damage can occur over weeks or in hours, making glaucoma a very serious condition requiring urgent treatment. In the worst case, it results in permanent blindness.
The primary treatment is as simple as eye drops. Other options include surgeries, different depending on the cause of the fluid accumulation problem.
Skin Diseases
Let’s now discuss a bit about skin diseases and problems in German Shepherds.
They are a breed at high risk of suffering from skin allergies, primarily canine atopic dermatitis, which manifests with inflammation and itching. Over time, alopecia, salivary staining from licking, wounds from rubbing, and skin infections due to skin weakening also appear.
The trigger is environmental allergens, and you can easily notice it in your dog’s behavior, as they will be scratching and biting themselves frequently and unusually furiously.
Since allergies are chronic, treatments are also chronic. Most are topical treatments, which can be combined with anti-inflammatories and immunomodulators in particular cases.
Gastrointestinal Issues
German Shepherds not only have a high risk of skin allergies. They also have the misfortune of having a high risk of food allergies or hypersensitivities.
Both types of allergies have an immunological basis, so they are often related and appear together in the animal. Thus, we combine intense scratching with diarrhea in the German Shepherd.
Sometimes, what seem to be skin problems are actually symptoms of food hypersensitivity.
These allergies can be to different food components, and it is recommended to conduct tests to discover the cause. They are usually not serious problems.
Other Pathologies
In addition to those mentioned, German Shepherds can suffer from other problems.
Among monogenic diseases, we have hemophilias, Von Willebrand’s disease, and mucopolysaccharidosis VII. Notably, degenerative myelopathy due to the SOD1 gene; a study found that 38% of German Shepherds were carriers of the mutation.
The eyes, in addition to the discussed glaucoma, are at risk of keratitis (corneal inflammation).
All of these are genetic pathologies, an extensive list that we could continue with.
In summary, the German Shepherd is a breed with an imposing appearance but fragile health among dogs. They need to be taken care of in the manner they deserve.
We can help you with their care with our Koko genetic tests.