German Shepherds like any other breed can come with health concerns. Any Larger breeds you hear more about joint issues (hip dysplasia, arthritis etc.) but now there is becoming higher incidences of cancers, allergies and various other issues. While we test all our dogs through board certified orthopedic specialists for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia that doesn’t completely guarantee that the offspring of these dogs cannot get it. They still are fast growing, large breed/large joint dogs. Keeping puppies and adult dogs from jumping in and out of cars, on and off furniture etc. is important in joint health along with reducing extensive activity while puppy is growing. High quality large breed geared foods are also important. Your vet may recommend taking puppy off puppy food earlier than 1 year due to growing pains, too fast of growth as well.
Allergies – while we ourselves choose to not breed dogs with food or environmental allergies, it does not mean it is non existent. Many, MANY dogs can have allergies. If your dog excessively itches, has issues with digestion etc. It’s important to rule out allergies as a whole with your veterinarian. We find environmental can play a big role in itching. Cold winter months = dry air, dry itchy skin! But it’s always a good idea to check with your vet if there is something you need to check out. Lots of good supplements are out there that can help also. Limit bathing is a good idea too!
Hereditary conditions– Almost every disease and health issue can have some sort of hereditary component. While we again choose to avoid these issues by not breeding dogs with known health concerns. We understand that it can and does happen. We appreciate knowing if anything is wrong with your dog or puppy so we can track any potential issues in the future.
Hernias – Occasionally we will have a pup or puppies with umbilical hernias. We have found more of it being related to mom and her care of the puppies than genetics. Though research does show it can have a genetic component. We ALWAYS have our veterinarian inspect each puppy and we have never had a puppy that required an immediate hernia surgery based on our vet and his interpretation. Often times if you want the hernia fixed, it is done during spay or neuter and does not need to be done sooner as they are deemed too small to be an issue. Our puppy buyers are made aware of any of these issues prior to purchase.
Retained testicles – We don’t get this very often but we have on occasion. Often times the testicles might not be descended at a young age but can descend later on. We do not guarantee at pick up that the testicles will be descended as some do take longer. Once in a while you can have one or both testicles that don’t descend by neutering. The vet will then locate the testicles and remove during neuter. Often it is more like a “spay” in a female dog where they have to go in near their abdomen and remove.
Ears! Shepherd ears. Oh goodness. SO many messages of “when will my pups ears go up, why is one ear up, one down etc.” Just google it and you’ll get a million answers that are the same. IT’S A GERMAN SHEPHERD! Get used to it. One day the ears will be perfect and you won’t have to worry. Lots of chew bones, good quality food and time will help. IF for some reason your pup’s ears are not yet standing by that 6-7 month mark, message me and I’ll give you some advice on how to help. But typically you won’t need to. So try not to stress and enjoy your funky ear stages!
My puppy/dog walks funny – almost always this is a growing German Shepherd. They are gawky, their legs are everywhere and they just don’t look right! Now if the pup no longer wants to play, jump up, and appears in pain, it’s time to speak with your vet. But don’t worry about the teenage gawky stage, they all do it. Sometimes they will even trip themselves!
My Puppy looks skinny – Yes, often times no matter how much you feed them, their big time of growing they can get long and lean. It’s nerve wracking because you feel something is wrong. Often times nothing is wrong, they just turned into that teenager that sprouted up and is all waste!
My puppy is in pain with his/her joints/legs. – Yes the biggest fear everyone thinks about his hip dysplasia. Just because the pup is sore doesn’t mean it’s HD. It could be PANO. Pano is basically growing pains in fast growing young dogs. It can also be related to over exertion, injury etc. The only way of knowing if your pup truly has HD is by having an orthopedic specialist confirm through xrays. Some veterinarians are able to, some are not. Consult your veterinarian if you are concerned.
All in all, know that we STRIVE to produce the best quality, healthiest puppy for you! German Shepherds are amazing animals that are willing to give all their love and loyalty to the ones they love.