Common German Shepherd Health Problems

You can expect health issues with pretty much any pet you bring home and while a small percentage of pets ever do develop health problems you should still know how to recognize the signs of German Shepherd health problems if you are a German Shepherd owner. Your vet and your breeder will give you the information you need to figure out if you are dealing with normal German Shepherd behavior or potential health problems. It is always important to be able to recognize the warning signs.

German Shepherds can get quite large and one of the types of diseases they are very open to are skeletal conditions that result in a displaced hip or elbow joint for what appears to be no reason at all. These conditions develop over time and can make any movement for your dog extremely painful. So if you notice your dog having difficulty moving around or favoring one leg or the other then you may want to get them to a vet right away.

There is nothing more terrifying than watching your pet having a seizure but sometimes it happens and when it does you need to be there for your pet and make sure they get through it okay. Another common German Shepherd health problem is epilepsy and it can lead to seizures and convulsions and potentially death if not treated. Luckily you and your vet should be able to come up with a plan that includes diet changes and medication that can help to deal with this terrible condition.

Your German Shepherd can also develop eye problems. Sometimes they can get cataracts, which are easily removed with surgery just like with humans. In other cases the eyelids may not develop properly or eyelashes may start growing too close to the eyes and this can cause an irritation and infection in the eye. These conditions are all fixed with surgery. So if you notice your German Shepherd having difficulty seeing where it is going contact your vet immediately.

Some dogs can be struck with a blood disease called Von Willebrand’s Disease or VWD abbreviated. VWD is a disease that affects the blood and can make it difficult for the dog’s blood to clot, which can lead to excessive bleeding.

It is similar to the human condition of hemophilia. In some cases you may notice bleeding from the gums or nose bleeds for no apparent reason. If you notice these symptoms get your dog to the vet right away.

Any pet is going to have its share of health problems and it is up to you as a responsible owner to make sure that you keep in constant contact with your vet and your breeder so that you know what some of the symptoms are of the more common German Shepherd health problems and you can make sure your pet gets the care it needs when it needs it.

You can never call your vet too many times when it comes to concerns about your pet’s health.

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