Are You Aware Of These German Shepherd Dog Health Concerns? | Dogs

By LeeDobbins.
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The German Shepherd is one of the most admired dog breeds and an excellent companion. However, like most pure bred dogs, German Shepherds can be prone to some diseases. Below are some of the German Shepherd dog health concerns.

Developmental bone and joint disease is a common problem prevalent in young large breed dogs like German Shepherds. Dogs may not exhibit any symptom or may show pain, lameness and reluctance to exercise. Hip dysphasia is characterized by wasting of hind limb muscle.

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, which manifests itself through a lack of coordination, or by a general shakiness of movement. This can be caused by a slipped disc, or by a breakdown of the bones of the spine, or even of the spinal cord itself.

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.

Keep a keen eye on the eyes of your German Shepherd, especially if you notice apparent squinting, excess tearing or discharge, redness, or rubbing of the eyes. You should also be alert for any growths over the eye, regardless of the color. A condition called Pannus, an inflammation of the dog's cornea, could cause any of these problems and be detrimental to your dog's optical health.

Pyoderma is a commonly found bacterial infection of the skin. Most often there can be pus in the affected area. The basic cause of this is believed to be a deficiency in the immune system. Symptoms such as scratching, skin redness, pimples, sores, scabs and hair loss. This causes lot of pain and the pet may become tired and lose their desire for food.

If you want to avoid these German Shepherd dog health issues, then the best thing to do is screen the health of the dog's parents to ensure that they don't have thee medical issues. Also closely monitor your dog for signs indicating problems. See a veterinarian promptly if you spot any issues.

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