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A favorite breed of dog is the German Shepherd. Unfortunately, German Shepherds tend to suffer from certain health problems the way other purebred dogs do. In the following article, we’ll cover some common German Shepherd dog health problems.

Developmental bone and joint disease is a problem that affects predominantly young, large-breed dogs like German Shepherds. There may be muscle wasting in the hind legs with hip dysplasia. Dogs may show lameness, pain, and be reluctant to exercise or may even not show any pain at all.

Another problem that may affect German Shepherds is Hemangiosarcoma. It is basically a cancer of the cells lining the inside of blood vessels. Weakness, a distended abdomen, sudden collapse and pale gums are the symptoms associated with this disease. Skin, heart, liver and spleen are the affected areas.

A common German Shepherd dog health problem is hind limb weakness. It may be caused by a slipped disc, degeneration of the bones of the spine and degeneration of the spinal cord. Weakness and sometimes a lack of coordination or wobbliness affects the rear limbs in these cases.

Insufficient thyroid hormone production or hypothyroidism can be a problem in some of the dogs. Hair loss, obesity, lethargy, cold intolerance and skin infections are some of the symptoms of this disease of the thyroid gland.

Your German Shepherd may also have health concerns with the eyes. Pannus which is an inflammation of the cornea and can affect the dogs vision, can be diagnosed by observing – pink to black growths over the front of the eye, squinting, excessive tearing or eye discharge, eye redness, rubbing or pawing at the eyes.

Pyoderma literally means “pus in the skin” is is most commonly referred as bacterial infection of skin that is recurring in nature. Usually there will be pus in the area. The immune system deficiency is thought to be the principal cause. Signs and symptoms of pyoderma include scratching, skin redness, pimples, sores, scaps and alopecia in the area. There may pain in the area and some pets may be sluggish and lose their appetites.

If you want to avoid these German Shepherd dog health issues, then the best thing to do is screen the health of the dog’s parents to ensure that they don’t have thee medical issues. Also closely monitor your dog for signs indicating problems. See a veterinarian promptly if you spot any issues.