Health Issues
There are several common health problems that
affect the German Shepherd Dog. Unethical breeding of German
Shepherds that are not sound, have contributed to many of these
health issues. Zwinger vom Heidelberger Schloss uses only top
quality Dogs from Imported German Lines to minimize health concerns
and to make sure that each puppy born will most likely be free from
any of these defects. The most common health issues that arise are
Hip Dysplsia, Bloat, Gastric Disorders, Panosteitis, Spinal
Paralysis, and Eye Diseases.
Hip Dysplasia is a condition which is
cause by a problem in the structure of the hip joint. The head of
the thigh bone no longer fits firmly in the "cup" provided by the
hip socket. It is mainly seen in larger dogs and is the main cause
of rear lameness in dogs.
Bloat
is a very serious health condition that many owners know very little
about. It can occur in a variety of breeds, such as German
Shepherds, Great Danes and Dobermans. It is often times related to
swallowed air, but food and fluid can also be present. It usually
occurs when an abnormal accumulation of air and fluid is in the
stomach. While the actual cause is not entirely known, it is thought
that stress is a significant contributing factor. Bloat can occur
with or without twisting of the stomach. As the stomach swells, it
can rotate, causing air, food and water to become trapped in the
stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, which
leads to low blood pressure, shock and damage to internal organs.
The combines effects can quickly kill a dog. If you suspect
bloat, take your dog to the Vet immediately, as death can occur in
as little as an hour.
Gastric Disorders
are also related to bloat and have similar symptoms. The
disorder can occur quickly, even in apparently healthy dogs. If you
see any of the following symptoms, call your Vet immediately.
- Your dog seems restless or unable to
get comfortable.
- Your dog makes repeated unsuccessful
attempts to gag, belch, or vomit.
- Your dog’s abdomen suddenly becomes
enlarged or unusually firm.
Panosteitis is a bone disease
characterized by spontaneous lameness that typically occurs in
larger breeds. German Shepherds are on of the breeds that are prone
to this problem. Typically signs occur between 5 to 14 months of age
and show up more often in males than females. In most cases an
apparent lameness seems to shift from leg to leg. Periods of
improvement followed by worsening symptoms make it difficult to
diagnose and can last from periods of 1 month to 1 year. Pain
medication can be acquired from your Vet to relieve severe symptoms.
The condition is self correcting and will eventually disappear with
or without treatment. X-Rays from your Vet will be able to determine
if the lameness is occurring due to "Pano" or if it is the result of
a fracture or dysplasia.
Spinal Paralysis occurs in many
different breeds of dogs. Fibrocartilaginous embolism is a type of
paralsys that occurs when a piece of disc material breaks off and
becomes lodged in a spinal artery. Nerves served by the artery
become deprived of blood and die off. This deterioration of nerves
in the spinal cord id referred to as degenerative myelpathy.
Eventually the hind legs become useless and the dog exhibits fecal
and urinary incontinence.
Eye Disease - Pannus is a chronic
inflammation of the corneal surface.
This article by Dr. W. Newmann gives an in depth explanation of
the disease as well as symptoms, causes and treatment.
These health concerns are listed for your
information. If you are concerned about the health of your dog, you
should call your Vet immediately to seek treatment.
