Any breed of dog is going to have its share of health problems and a German Shepherd is no different. Before you bring your new German Shepherd pup home you should discuss potential German Shepherd health problems with your vet and your breeder so that you know what symptoms to look for. You also need to know when certain behaviors are normal for a German Shepherd and when other behaviors may mean it is time to get emergency care for your German Shepherd.
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.
In some cases there are dog breeds that can develop the blood condition known as Von Willebrand's Disease or VWD. VWD is like hemophilia in humans, in that the dog's blood does not clot as it should and the dog will bleed profusely even with the smallest injury.
This is one of the common German Shepherd health problems that you need to keep and eye out for. Some of the warning signs of VWD like nose bleeds for no apparent reason or bleeding gums. If you notice that your dog bleeds when injured and you cannot stop the bleeding then it is time to get your dog to the vet.
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 help your dog stay healthy and know when it is time to get your dog to the vet for a check up or emergency care.
About the Author:
About the author: Jan Ryan is an avid lover of the German Shepherd and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved German Shepherd. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about German Shepherd Health Problems plus a whole lot more.
No comments:
Post a Comment