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German Shepherd Dog Health Issues

by: LeeDobbins
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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 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.

Many German Shepherds also suffer from Hemangiosarcoma, a cancer of the cells of the interior lining of the blood vessels. This condition can affect the skin, heart, liver, and spleen, as well as other organs. If you dog has Hemangiosarcoma, he may display weakness, light-colored gums, a distended abdomen, or even physical collapse.

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.

If your dogs seems lethargic, sensitive to cold, susceptible to skin infections, or is becoming obese or losing hair, be sure to get his thyroid evaluated. Diseased thyroid glands can cause inadequate or excess thyroid production, conditions known as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

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.

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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German Shepherd Dog Health Issues

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