German Shepherds remain one of the most popular animals to keep as pets. They are not only beautiful and graceful, but also incredibly loyal and devoted companions. However, like many other purebred dog breeds, German Shepherds are known to suffer from certain genetically inherited diseases, as well as some acquired ones.
The average lifespan of a German Shepherd is between 10 and 13 years, and if you are thinking of getting one, then you better be aware of some of the health problems as well as some of the initial symptoms of illnesses that your dog may develop. If you are thinking about a puppy, then it is important that you go to an organized and reliable breeder who has a well-planned breeding program and reduces the risk of passing on any hereditary disorders.
The following is a list of the most common health problems in German Shepherds that are either hereditary or acquired:
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia, caused by abnormal development of the hip joint, is a common condition in German Shepherds that occurs while the dog is still growing and developing. Shepherds with dysplasia typically develop severe lameness and, in severe cases, arthritis and debilitating pain when moving. If you suspect your dog has hip dysplasia, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible, as with early diagnosis, your pet will receive timely treatment and feel much more comfortable.
Other diseases
Otitis is dangerous for dogs: inflammation of the ears due to infection, improper care, or ticks. A sick dog often shakes its head and scratches its sore ear. It feels hot to the touch, often with swelling or a foul-smelling discharge. If crusts and ulcers also appear on it, most often these are signs of mite infestation. If you have any ear disease, your dog should be taken to the vet immediately.
Shepherd dogs (especially puppies) can suffer from diarrhea. The cause may be a sudden change in diet, spoiled food, infection, parasites, etc. In a German Shepherd puppy, diarrhea may be associated with teething.
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If the diarrhea is mild (the temperature is normal, there is no blood in the stool), the diarrhea is stopped with the help of an absorbent, such as activated charcoal. If your dog experiences nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, fever, or blood in the stool, you should immediately call a veterinarian. He will prescribe medications (usually antibiotics) to stop the diarrhea. At this time, the dog cannot be fed, but you need to give it plenty of water.
Frequent diarrhea in a German Shepherd puppy may be associated with pancreatic disease. Toxocariasis is also dangerous - infection with Toxocara parasites. In addition to indigestion, it causes exhaustion, dulling of the coat, mental disorders, and convulsions. Without treatment, the animal dies due to rupture of the intestines by parasites. Toxocariasis is also dangerous for humans. If these symptoms appear, the animal must be urgently shown to a veterinarian to prescribe anthelmintics.
Allergies are common in shepherds. In this case, otitis media, untimely shedding, itching, rash and irritation are possible. The source of the allergy should be determined and the dog should be taken to a veterinarian to prescribe antihistamines.
Pay attention to your dog's skin when shedding: there should be no bald spots, pimples or rashes. Otherwise, you should contact a specialist.
Possible eye diseases: conjunctivitis, cataracts (usually after 8 years), corneal dystrophy.
Plague is deadly. It is expressed by a depressed state, discharge from the eyes and nose, mild indigestion, and photophobia. If you suspect distemper, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.
conclusions
German Shepherds are extremely loyal dogs, and if they have been well socialized at an early age, they make very enjoyable pets and true members of the family, which is why they have remained popular pets for so long. However, although they appear to be strong and happy dogs, and in many ways they are, the breed does have a tendency to suffer from some hereditary diseases. Both potential German Shepherd owners and those who already have them should be aware of these diseases in advance in order to identify their initial symptoms. This is important due to the fact that in medicine, as a rule, the earlier the diagnosis is made and treatment started, the better the prognosis. In addition, the dog will not only receive the correct and appropriate therapy, but will also feel more comfortable.
Vaccination and prevention
Diseases in German Shepherd puppies can be prevented with proper care and timely vaccinations.
For a German Shepherd, 2 months is the age when vaccinations begin. Until then, they can cause harm to health. Two weeks before the procedure, puppies must be dewormed. At the time of vaccination, the baby must be absolutely healthy, otherwise it is postponed until he recovers.
The first vaccination of puppies takes place in two stages with a break of 1–2 weeks. The second - after the change of milk teeth, then at 1 year and then annually. Bitches are vaccinated a month before estrus or expected mating.
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If you bought an older “German”, the breeder must issue a vaccination sheet, which will indicate which vaccinations have already been given and which ones you need to take care of. The puppy should not be taken outside until it is vaccinated.
The dog's medical history should be recorded; in the future, this will help the veterinarian make the correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Taking proper care of dogs (balanced diet, regular ear and eye cleaning, etc.) helps prevent many diseases.
Knowing the characteristic diseases and their symptoms in a German Shepherd will help the owner to identify the problem at the very beginning and take timely measures.
Allergies in German Shepherds: types, symptoms, signs, treatment
An allergy is a reaction of the immune system caused by an allergen. Allergens include: food, as well as proteins from plants, animals and insects.
The immune system's reaction can have a detrimental effect on your German Shepherd's body. Over the course of several years or months, periodically the allergen can increase sensitivity and cause an overreaction of the immune system. Most often, the body protects the animal from infections, but the reaction of the immune system will have a devastating effect on it. Allergic reactions are quite difficult to tolerate. Allergen molecules combine with antibodies in the blood and then attach to mast cells. These cells are found throughout the body in animal tissues. The reaction of antibodies and antigens with mast cells causes a substance that has a very strong effect on the body. For example, histamines, they cause inflammation in the form of itching, swelling and redness of the pet's skin. Such inflammation leads to signs of an allergic reaction.
The symptoms of a German Shepherd vary, for example:
- Your pet's face, lips, nose, eyelids, ears, or earmolds may become swollen. Possible itching in the ears, eyes, nose. Sometimes sneezing and coughing in a dog is a sign of an allergic reaction. Another symptom is a disease of the digestive tract, a sign of which is diarrhea and vomiting. There may be hives or red, inflamed skin.
- In German Shepherds, skin itching is most common, either in one area (localized) or over the entire body (generalized). Sometimes the symptom is accompanied by wheezing, sneezing, or a completely disrupted respiratory system. Allergies can affect the digestive system, in such cases diarrhea and vomiting are observed. There may also be discharge (liquid) from the nose and eyes.
Allergies are quite common in dogs, regardless of breed and origin. This happens due to the fact that there are a very large number of substances that act as allergens. Most often, allergies appear in dogs that are six months old or affect pets older than one or two years.
Allergens that cause allergies in animals:
There are a huge number of substances that at first glance are completely harmless, but in fact cause allergies in a German shepherd and act as an allergen. Allergies can be caused by small chemical molecules or proteins of animal, plant, or insect origin.
Examples of allergens:
Allergies can be caused by pollen or mold spores. Dust mites are also an allergen. Skin cells that cause the same reaction as allergies in humans to animals. The allergen can be insect proteins, most often flea saliva. Sometimes certain medications act as an allergen and cause allergies in a German Shepherd.
Treatment of demodicosis in dogs
Treatment is best carried out under the supervision of a specialist. Typically, agents are used that are administered subcutaneously. Additionally, topical preparations are used, which allows you to get rid of colonies of microscopic arthropods. The most popular drugs can be considered “Ivermectin”, “Amitrazine”, “Ivomec”. As for ointments, the product “Cycloferon” is highly effective.
It is worth considering that in German Shepherd dogs, the generalized form of the disease is more difficult to treat, and the drugs used do not always give the expected result. Completely ignoring the problem has a negative impact on the condition of the pet. In a severe case, not only the skin is affected, many internal organs are also affected - the heart, stomach, liver, spleen, lymph nodes. And these places are hit first.
During treatment, you need to review your dog's diet. It is better to completely exclude fatty meat from the menu, replacing it with turkey. Many owners give their dogs dry food. It must be limited during the treatment period by keeping the pet on a diet for some time. This will relieve the liver and help speed up recovery.
The most common diseases of German Shepherd dogs
A predisposition to a disease does not mean that every German Shepherd will get it. Closely monitor your pet's condition and activity. If you see something wrong in your pet's behavior, it is best to contact a veterinarian.
The following diseases are not common in the breed, but they can occur:
- Hip dysplasia. This is an inherited condition in which the hip bone does not fit tightly into the hip joint. In some dogs it causes pain and lameness in one or both back legs, but in other dogs it may not cause any discomfort. X-rays are the most accurate way to diagnose the problem.
- Elbow dysplasia. It is thought to be caused by abnormal growth and development, resulting in a weakened joint. The disease varies in severity: the dog may develop arthritis or become lame. Treatment includes surgery, weight control, medical supervision, and anti-inflammatory medications.
- Gastric volvulus. This is a life-threatening condition that can affect large dogs with large chests. But small dogs are no exception. This is especially true if they eat one large meal a day, eat quickly, drink large volumes of water after meals, and exercise vigorously after meals. Bloat is more common in older dogs. The stomach is distended by gas or air and then twisted. The dog cannot burp or vomit to get rid of the excess air in the stomach, and the normal return of blood to the heart is difficult. Blood pressure drops and the dog goes into shock. Without immediate medical attention, the dog may die. Suspect bloat if your dog has a distended abdomen and is vomiting without vomiting.
- Degenerative myelopathy. This is a progressive disease of the spinal cord, especially the part that transmits information to the brain about the hind legs. Dogs act as if they don't know where their back legs are and can't move them correctly. The disease progresses to the point that the dog cannot walk. In most cases, no treatment is given and the dog is euthanized. However, in a few rare cases, the condition is associated with a deficiency of vitamin-12 or vitamin E. If this is the case, vitamin supplements may stabilize the condition.
- Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. This is a genetic disease of the pancreas that destroys the cells that produce digestive enzymes. As a result, the dog can no longer digest and absorb food. The first signs of the condition are loss of appetite, weight loss and changes in bowel movements. The dog becomes very thin and very hungry. Diagnosed with a simple blood test, the treatment is also simple: pancreatic enzymes are added to dog food. With proper treatment supervision, most dogs recover.
- Allergy. Allergies are a common disease in dogs. There are three main types of allergies: food allergies, which are treated by eliminating certain foods from the dog's diet; contact allergies, which are caused by reactions to substances such as bedding, fleas, dog shampoos and other chemicals; and inhalant allergies, which are caused by airborne allergens such as pollen, dust and mold. Treatment varies depending on the cause and may include dietary restrictions, medications, and environmental changes.
Glycogenosis
Glycogenosis is a pathology from the group of autosomal recessive diseases, characterized by impaired glycogen metabolism.
It is known that the monosaccharide glucose is the main source of energy for life. Excess glucose is converted into glycogen polysaccharide granules, which are “energy stores” and deposited in the cytoplasm of liver and muscle cells.
Accordingly, when blood glucose levels drop, glycogen is again broken down into its components. If such a complex process of sugar transformation, triggered by several enzymes, is distorted, then excessive accumulation of glycogen occurs in the form of abnormal granules and disruption of the constancy of glucose levels in the blood.
The symptoms of glycogenosis are different and manifest themselves depending on the deficiency of a particular enzyme. German shepherds are characterized by breed-specific type III of the disease, characterized by a deficiency of the glycogen debranching enzyme. Experts call this pathology “Measles disease.”
The condition of young animals is not impaired, but by adulthood, glycogen reserves are increasingly replenished, manifested by muscle pain, decreased activity, lethargy, exercise intolerance and reduced blood glucose levels. Some older German Shepherds develop skeletal myopathy, cardiomyopathy, and cirrhosis of the liver.
