German Shepherd

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German Shepherd
Many disease problems are genetic or inherited. Certain
breeds are at risk for certain diseases. A few genetic problems
are evident from the start or by the time a client usually acquires a
puppy. Many, however, develop or become evident as a puppy grows. Some of them can be
tested for, enabling earlier diagnosis and intervention. Some simply require awareness on the part
of the owner as to what to watch for and when to call the veterinarian.
• Eye Disorders ...
There are several genetic disorders of the eye. Some lead to
problems at a young age, others do not manifest themselves until the dog is older. For some
there is no preventative, specific test or effective treatment. Those for which we have specific
recommendations are covered here.
Cataracts are usually a disease of older or diabetic pets but there are several breeds in which
juvenile cataracts occur. These puppies may have an abnormal lens that is visible as soon as the
eyes open or the problem may become evident as the puppy grows. These cataracts may be
small and not very problematic or they may be more severe and lead to blindness. Recommendation: Have your new puppy examined as soon as you obtain it, and regularly thereafter. If
problems are detected you will be referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist for an evaluation and
possible surgery.
Collie eye anomaly causes abnormal development of the eye, and occurs in Collies, Shetland
Sheepdogs and Australian Shepherds. Mild cases may
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have mild problems but severe cases lead to blindness. Recommendation: Be sure if you buy a
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puppy of one of these breeds that the parent
dogs and the puppies have been screened
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by a veterinary ophthalmologist who has
certified that the eyes are normal.
CORNEA
PUPIL
Another common eye problem occurs in
breeds that have bulging eyes – the brachyIRIS
cephalic breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs,
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Boxers, Pekingese and Boston Terriers, or in any
dog that happens to have very prominent eyeballs. These dogs have eyes that are more exposed
and thus more easily injured. The result is higher risk for
corneal ulcers. The cornea is the transparent front of the eyeball. An ulcer may occur from a
scratch, abrasion or puncture of the cornea, which then can become infected.
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Corneal ulcers are painful, as you can relate to if you have ever had this
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type of injury yourself. They can also lead to serious complications, including blindness. Boxers are especially at risk since corneal ulcers in this breed
often heal poorly and require surgery. Recommendation: Watch for symptoms, which include squinting, rubbing at the eye or a watery, reddened
or cloudy looking eye. Seek treatment promptly for this painful condition. Don’t let your dog ride with
its head out the window. If your dog has an itchy face from allergy or mites that is causing him or her
to rub the eye have this treated promptly too, before it leads to a corneal abrasion.
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• Gastric Dilatation & Volvulus (GDV) ... GDV is also known as
“bloat,” and usually occurs in dogs with deep, narrow chests – Greyhounds, collies, Great Danes,
German shepherds & many other breeds. When a dog bloats, the stomach twists on itself and fills
with gas. The twisting cuts off blood supply to the stomach, and sometimes the spleen. Left
untreated, the disease is quickly fatal, sometimes in as little as 30 minutes. Signs include retching
or dry heaving (but no vomit is produced since it cannot get past the twist); abdominal pain –
grunting, laying in a “prayer position” with the front legs down and the back legs standing up,
restlessness or distress; or a bulging out of the abdomen behind the ribs on the left side of the
body. Recommendation: know what to watch for. If symptoms develop, rush your pet to Animal
Emergency Center. They have a 90% success rate for surgically repairing this problem, but you
must act quickly. Surgery is expensive, often $3000-7000, and one of the best reasons to have pet
insurance. Don’t let your dog exercise strenuously after meals, and feed 2-3 smaller meals per
day vs. one large one. A preventative surgery in which the stomach is “tacked” down, or sutured
in place so it cannot twist, can be done when a pet is young, such as at the time of spaying or
neutering. It can also be done laparoscopically.
•Gastrointestinal Disorders... Several breeds are prone to gastrointestinal
diseases that lead to chronic loose stools or vomiting. Many of these dogs have more than one
thing wrong. They may have vomiting or diarrhea constantly or it may flare up suddenly and then
improve again for a time. Stress, diet change or intestinal parasites may make it worse. This cluster
of problems includes: food allergy; Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), where there are
increased numbers of bacteria in the upper intestine; Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in which
the intestinal lining becomes overrun with immune system cells called lymphocytes and plasmocytes; malabsorption of cobalamin (Vit. B12); and Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), in which
the pancreas no longer makes enough enzymes to digest food properly. Recommendation: If
your dog has diarrhea or digestive upsets that are not explained by the more common reasons,
such as parasites or Clostridium bacterial infection, an array of diagnostic tests will be needed to
sort out the causes affecting your pet. Lifetime medications and special diets are usually required
to keep problems under control. Pet insurance is a great idea for at risk breeds, as diagnosis and
treatment can both be expensive.
• Hemophilia ... There are several types of inherited bleeding disorders, or coagulopathies, that occur in dogs. They range in severity from very mild to very severe. Many times a
pet seems normal until a serious injury occurs or surgery is performed, and then severe bleeding
can result. Recommendation: For at risk breeds (or pets with liver disease, because liver disorders
can also lead to abnormal blood clotting), diagnostic testing for clotting time is recommended
before surgery is performed.
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• Hemangioma and Hemangiosarcoma ... These are two of the more common tumors of older
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large breed dogs. The hemangioma is the non-cancerous form,
about 30% of cases, and hemangiosarcoma is the cancerous kind.
They are tumors that arise from blood vessels and usually occur in organs with lots of blood
supply – the spleen is especially common, and the liver, kidneys, heart or skin may be other sites.
These tumors fill with blood and then will break open and bleed. Since they usually occur internally, you cannot see the bleeding from the outside. You will see a dog that becomes pale &
weak over a 6-24 hour period of time. He may become unable to walk or get up, and breathing
may become labored. You can also see a large or distended abdomen if the tumor is large –
and some can be volleyball size or larger before the dog becomes ill. Look at the color of the
gums, tongue or inner eyelids if your dog shows these symptoms. If these places look pale or
white your dog probably needs emergency blood transfusions, & surgery to remove the tumor. If
the tumor is benign, and in a location where it can be removed, surgery will be curative. If it is
cancerous, the surgery will buy you time with your pet. Recommendation: Know what to watch
for and seek help if signs appear. We often find clues that one of these tumors is present on
senior wellness testing, so have your senior dog’s blood tested at least annually.
• Hepatitis ... Hepatitis, or liver disease, is more common in certain breeds. There are
several different diseases that can occur. Some are correctable with surgery, others require
medication. The surgically correctable kind (a liver shunt) is caused by improper development of
the blood vessels that nourish the liver, and occurs in young pets. Hepatitis (inflammation of the
liver) in middle aged pets is usually diagnosed with blood testing and liver biopsy, and is treated
with medication and special diets. Signs of liver disease do not usually occur until most of the
liver is already damaged or destroyed. Early detection and intervention with routine blood
screening allows us to detect this problem at an earlier, more treatable stage. Recommendation:
annual blood testing.
• Hip Dysplasia ... Most pet owners have heard of this inherited disease. It causes
malformation of the hip joints and subsequent arthritis. Severely affected dogs may be lame by 6
months of age. Surgical correction can cost thousands of dollars. Many large and giant breeds
of dogs are affected, although good breeding programs have reduced the incidence of this
disease significantly. Other related conditions occur in the elbow joint. Recommendations: If you
are purchasing a purebred puppy, make sure the parent dogs’ hips have been x-rayed and
certified by the Orthopedic Foundation of America, or OFA. X-rays of the hips should be taken
when your dog is young to identify the disease early. At the time of spaying, neutering or dental
cleaning is a good time, as good hip X-rays require that the dog be anesthetized.
We have a myriad or treatments available for arthritis, and the earlier treatment is begun the
more active and comfortable your dog will be as he or she gets older. Do not let your dog
become overweight, this puts a huge strain on the joints. In fact, 75% of the dogs evaluated for
hip replacement surgery no longer need surgery once they lose weight, and overweight dogs
develop arthritis two years sooner than normal weight pets. Good nutrition and proper exercise
are also very important to help reduce orthopedic problems as a pet gets older.
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• Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia
(IMHA), also known as Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA); and Immune
Mediated Throbocytopenia (IMTP) ...
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Most pet owners have never heard of these diseases, but if you have a pet of a susceptible
breed you should be aware of the symptoms. The disease can occur in any breed but some are
more prone to it, and tend to have a more severe form of the disease. These diseases occur
when the immune system goes haywire, and starts attacking the pet’s own red blood cells
and/or platelets. “Heme” refers to blood, “lysis” refers to rupturing of a cell, so the word “hemolysis” means destruction of red blood cells. Thrombocytes are platelets, “penia” means not
enough, so “thrombocytopenia” means lack of platelets in the blood. When the immune system
attacks and destroys red blood cells the pet will quickly become anemic. When there aren’t
enough platelets, blood won’t clot properly and the pet will show bruises or abnormal bleeding.
Most of the time, the trigger for the abnormal immune system is not known, but in some cases of
the disease it seems to start after a pet has received a medication or vaccination. No one knows
why the disease occurs and there is as yet no genetic test to tell if a dog is susceptible or not.
If the pet is becoming anemic, he or she will get weak and lethargic. The gums will look whitish or
yellow instead of the normal bright pink color. If the pet has thrombocytopenia you may see
small pinpoint bruises on the gums, or larger bruises on the ears, belly or other hairless areas of
skin. The disease can progress slowly or rapidly. Sometimes it requires emergency transfusions of
red blood cells or platelets. Steroids and other immune-suppressive drugs are given to slow or
stop the immune system destruction of cells. Recovery takes weeks to months. About 1/3 of
patients with one of these diseases will die despite intensive treatment. Cocker spaniels are
especially prone to a severe form of the disease. Recommendation: Always be aware of your
pet’s behavior and pay attention to the color of the gums. The lining of the mouth is always one
of the first places we look when presented with a sick pet, because it tells us so much about
health, dehydration and blood circulation. Pet insurance is recommended for susceptible
breeds; this disease can be very expensive to treat when blood transfusions and intensive care
may be needed over several days.
• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) ... This condition is common in
dogs with long backs and short legs, though it can occur in other breeds as well. It commonly
affects the neck or lower back, causing pain and sometimes paralysis. Dachshunds are the most
likely to need emergency surgery for this condition. The disease is caused when the jelly-like
cushion between one or more vertebrae slips or ruptures, pressing on the spinal cord. If your dog
suddenly is unable or unwilling to jump up or go up stairs, back pain is likely. He may be reluctant
to move around, have a hunched back, or refuse to eat or go potty – it may be very painful to
squat to urinate or defecate. As with people, back pain can be very severe, leaving some dogs
screaming in pain. They often cry when picked up or, with neck pain, if they try to turn or lower
their head. They may drag the back feet or be suddenly paralyzed and be unable to get up or
use the back legs. If the slipped disc is in the neck, all four legs may be affected. Surgery is often
required with paralysis, or the paralysis may be permanent. A myelogram, CT or MRI will be done
to identify which discs have ruptured and then those are surgically removed. For the best prognosis, surgery must be done within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. In milder cases, where the
disc is swollen or not protruding out of place very far, rest and medication may resolve the
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problem. Recommendation: Because this disease is so painful, call
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immediately if your dog shows any symptoms. Pain medications will be
given ASAP and then, if surgery is not indicated, a program prescribed
for rest and gradual return to exercise. As with so many other diseases,
weight control helps to prevent IVDD. Ramps or steps should be used
from puppyhood on so that susceptible dogs don’t spend a lifetime stressing their backs jumping
up and down on and off the furniture. Digging and going up and down stairs also cause stress on
the back and should be avoided.
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• Lymphoma, also known as Lymphosarcoma ... is a
common form of cancer in dogs. In this disease, the body forms abnormal lymphocytes, which
are a type of white blood cell. Because white blood cells can be found throughout the body,
this cancer can show up almost anywhere. In golden retrievers it is often found in the skin,
appearing as nodules that look similar to those seen with skin infections. It can also present as
swollen lymph nodes, an enlarged spleen or liver, intestinal disease, or as weight loss and a fever
that doesn’t get better with anti-inflammatory medications or antibiotics. Occasionally it shows
up in the eyes, brain or spinal cord, the kidneys, the lungs or elsewhere. The lung form is very
common in ferrets, and the intestinal form is very common in cats. Lymphoma is a very treatable
form of cancer, with an 80% success rate in dogs receiving chemotherapy. Treatment can be
expensive, however, and it is life long. Recommendation: Blood testing at least twice a year may
allow an early diagnosis, as lymphoma is one of the few types of cancer that can sometimes be
found with a complete blood count. (Hemangiosarcoma, also common in golden retrievers, is
another of them.) Watch for swollen glands, panting or labored breathing and weight loss, and
call us if any signs appear.
• Orthopedic Conditions ... There are a lot of orthopedic problems – ones
involving the bones or joints – that can occur. Most are prevalent in large breeds that grow
quickly. These include not only the more familiar Hip Dysplasia but also Osteochondritis
Dessicans/Osteochondrosis, or OCD, which causes abnormal development of the cartilage lining
the joints; Ununited Anconeal Process, UAP, where a piece of bone doesn’t fuse properly within
the elbow joint; and Cervical Vertebral Instability, called Wobbler’s Disease, where the spine in the
neck forms abnormally and leads to compression of the spinal cord. Recommendation: The
severity and occurrence of these problems is influenced greatly by nutrition in the growing puppy.
The current fad is to breed big, leggy, fast-growing Golden and Labrador Retrievers. Feeding a
high quality brand of puppy food specifically made for large breeds will provide good nutrition
but slow the growth rate enough for the bones and joints to keep up with the rest of the puppy.
We strongly recommend these diets. A sensible exercise program is needed as well. Be careful of
who you purchase your puppy from and, as always, pet insurance is a good idea. If lameness
occurs, x-rays are used to diagnose the problem and corrective surgery is usually needed. In the
case of Wobbler’s disease, surgery is difficult, not always successful and very expensive, so we
often go with rehab, medication and special neck braces instead.
• Otitis - Severe or Recurrent ... Ear infections are common in breeds of
dogs with ears that are pendulous, or hang down. In these animals it is always dark and damp
inside the ear, creating the perfect environment for infection. Dogs and cats with upright ears
have better air circulation to the ear canals and so are less at risk for infection. Other risks for
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infection are allergies, swimming, hair growth inside the ear or excesBREED RISKS
sive earwax production, which is especially common in Basset Hounds.
Signs of ear infection include scratching the ears, shaking the head or
pain when the ears are rubbed. There may be a foul or yeasty odor
and the ears often look red and sore, or may even bleed. In the larger
breeds of dogs the infection is usually caused by yeast organisms and in smaller dogs bacterial
infections are more common. To diagnose the particular infection a pet has requires that a
smear of the exudate from the ear be stained and examined under the microscope. If yeast is
seen, we treat with an antifungal ointment. If bacteria are seen we treat with antibiotics, via
ointment, oral medication or both. Sometimes both yeast and bacteria are infecting the pet at
the same time, and sometimes it is neither problem, it’s allergy, debris or hair down in the ears, or
ear mites. Recommendations: Get your puppy used to regular ear cleanings, so he or she will be
easy to medicate if otitis occurs. Continue to clean the ears weekly throughout the pet’s life, and
use an ear drying solution after your pet has been in the water. If your dog has hair in the ear
canals, they will need the ears to be plucked regularly – this is usually done by your pet’s
groomer. Schedule an appointment for an ear exam if symptoms occur, and don’t wait long –
ear infections are painful and can become rapidly worse without treatment.
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• Pododermatitis ... This painful condition causes blisters or ulcers between the
dog’s toes. These are especially common in pets with allergies. The blisters frequently are
infected and require antibiotic therapy. Recommendation: check for these if ever your dog is
licking at its feet or limping, and have them treated promptly.
• Seborrhea ... This common skin disease can cause dry, flaky skin or greasy, oily skin.
The dry form is known as seborrhea sicca and the oily form as seborrhea oleosa. Both forms can
lead to an itchy, uncomfortable pet and they make skin infection more likely. They are among the
most annoying of diseases to pet owners because they often render the pet smelly and unattractive. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels) can lead to seborrhea, as can allergies, Cushings
disease and other problems. Recommendation: A good diet rich in fatty acids helps prevent
problems, and fatty acid supplements are usually part of the treatment once disease is present.
Bathing with special shampoos and rinses is helpful, and any underlying problems such as allergies
should be treated as well. The earlier you call to have skin problems checked out, the less likely you
will end up with an itchy, bald, smelly dog to take care of.
• Zinc-responsive dermatosis ... There are two syndromes of this genetic
condition. One occurs in dogs eating a diet that have enough zinc in it, and appears to be a
defect in the absorption of zinc from the food. These dogs develop red, hairless, crusting, scaling
or oozing skin around the mouth, chin, eyes and ears. The other syndrome occurs when pets
don’t receive enough zinc in their diets, leading to lesions on the foot pads and the nose. In both
types of the disease, zinc supplements are needed. Recommendation: As always, feed a high
quality diet recommended by us, and supplement zinc if symptoms develop. Zinc tastes bitter, so
human zinc supplements are often not accepted by the pet. We have products
made for pets that taste good to them. Zinc is also very toxic when overdosed,
so be sure to consult with us for the proper amount to give your pet.
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2082 Cheyenne Court, Grafton, WI 53024 • phone: 262-375-0 I 30 • fax: 262-375-4 I 96 • www.bestfriendsvet.com
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