German Shepherd Health Problems To Be Aware Of
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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 grow to be pretty big dogs and the bigger breeds of dogs can sometimes experience what is known as elbow or hip dysplasia. This is a condition where the bones do not develop correctly and do not fit together like they are supposed to and this causes tremendous pain for your dog. If you notice your dog having difficulty moving then get it to the vet immediately.
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.
German Shepherds can also develop conditions with their eyes that may need a vet’s attention as well. Sometimes they can get cataracts, which just like with humans, can be treated very successfully with surgery. In other cases your German Shepherd may developed problems with their eyelids or eyelashes that grow too close to the eyes and cause infection. These conditions are also treated with surgery.
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.
This is one of the more serious German Shepherd health problems and if you notice your pet with nose bleeds for no apparent reason or if you begin to notice your German Shepherd’s gums bleeding then it could be VWD and you need to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible for evaluation and treatment.
A pet is a huge responsibility and it is up to you to find out what types of health issues you may expect when you own a large active dog like a German Shepherd. Sometimes these conditions are developed over time and in other cases they may come on suddenly but if you stay in touch with your breeder and your vet then you can learn to recognize the symptoms of common German Shepherd health problems.
Your pet looks to you for its care and health and if you begin to notice health issues with your German Shepherd then you need to make an appointment to get your dog checked out by the vet as soon as possible.
