5 Health Issues That Plague German Shepherds
German shepherds can suffer from a host of health issues caused by selective breeding. While thousands of dogs across the UK are in shelters, waiting to find their permanent home, humans continue to breed “pedigree” dogs for specific traits they consider attractive – fuelling the homeless-animal crisis and leading to painful and debilitating health conditions in German shepherds. Read on to find out what these ailments are and why you should never buy a German shepherd – or any other dog.
1. German Shepherds Can Suffer From Spinal Issues
German shepherds are selectively bred to exaggerate specific genetic traits. This practice is related to serious inherited health conditions that are prevalent in these dogs. One such problem is degenerative myelopathy (DM) – a fatal, incurable spinal cord disease that causes dogs to lose coordination in their legs. Those with the disease become increasingly weak over time and can eventually become paralysed.
A second spinal issue associated with the German shepherd is degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. This condition is strongly correlated with German shepherds who have sloped backs – an aesthetic that breeders favour. A German shepherd with this condition experiences pain and weakness in the lower back, hind legs, and tail. They can also suffer from incontinence, stiffness, and difficulty sitting, standing up, jumping, or climbing.
2. German Shepherds Commonly Experience Hip Dysplasia
Because humans breed German shepherds to inherit sloped backs, hip dysplasia is another common issue for the breed. A sloped back forces a German shepherd to move asymmetrically by placing more weight on their front legs. Over time, a lack of muscle balance leads to misalignment of the hip socket and the ball of the femur. The result of this is that walking, running, and playing can become severely painful for German shepherds, and some dogs may even require intensive surgeries to relieve symptoms. No physical trait is worth this suffering.
3. Elbow Dysplasia Is Likely to Affect German Shepherds
A third health condition that German shepherds may suffer from is humeral condylar osteochondrosis (HCO), also known as “elbow dysplasia”. This is commonly seen in German shepherds whose elbow cartilage fails to develop normally. HCO can start at as young as 6 months of age and lead to a lifetime of chronic pain and disability. It’s suspected that HCO in German shepherds is a hereditary condition, perpetuated by breeding.
4. German Shepherds Are at Risk of Bloat
Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is an extremely painful, life-threatening condition experienced by German shepherds and many other large, deep-chested dogs. Bloat causes a dog’s stomach to fill with gas and flip on its axis. This cuts off the passage of gas, water, food, and circulation through the stomach and intestines. Dogs can die within two hours of first showing signs of GDV, and emergency surgery is the most effective treatment. While the causes of GDV are not clear, it’s suspected to be a genetic condition related to selectively breeding dogs with larger and deeper chests. Dogs should not suffer from a painful, debilitating illness because of human vanity.
5. German Shepherds Could Develop Von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand disease is yet another hereditary health condition that can affect a German shepherd or other pedigree dog. This disorder affects the blood’s ability to clot and can lead to severe and uncontrollable bleeding. Dogs with this condition may experience spontaneous bleeding from the nose, mouth, genitals, or urinary tract – symptoms that are painful and distressing.
Never Buy a German Shepherd – Or Any Other Dog
Rather than buying a dog from a breeder or online dealer, please always adopt from a reputable shelter or rescue group. Every time someone buys from a breeder, one of the many dogs in shelters across the country loses their chance at finding a loving home. No matter what the industry might claim, while thousands of animals sit in shelters, there is no such thing as a responsible breeder – the industry is exploitative and needs to be shut down. The only way to do this is to stop buying pedigree dogs. Find out more about the homeless-animal crisis and share this blog with your friends to urge them to adopt, never shop:
Big Dog, Bigger Commitment
If you are considering adopting a dog, be sure you have the resources required to take care of them. The most common reason that animals are dumped at shelters is because people are under-prepared and don’t appreciate that they’re making a commitment to another living, feeling being for the rest of his or her life.
How You Can Help
Crufts, an event run by The Kennel Club, is a celebration of everything that’s wrong with the dog-breeding industry. The BBC has stopped airing Crufts, but Channel 4 continues to broadcast this grotesque charade. Please, take action today by sending a message urging Channel 4 to stop televising the show:
