Title: German Shepherd Health Problems That Are Common
Author: Jan A Ryan
You can expect health issues with pretty much any pet you bring
home and while a small percentage of pets ever do develop health
problems you should still know how to recognize the signs of
German Shepherd health problems if you are a German Shepherd
owner. Your vet and your breeder will give you the information
you need to figure out if you are dealing with normal German
Shepherd behavior or potential health problems. It is always
important to be able to recognize the warning signs.
One of the common health issues of larger dogs like German
Shepherds is a dysplasia of the hip or the elbow joint that can
result in severe pain and difficulty walking for your pet. If
you notice that your German Shepherd is starting to have
difficulty moving around then it may be time to get them to the
vet for a check up.
Another common German Shepherd health problem is epilepsy.
Basically the brain goes into a spasm for several reasons and
your dog will go into convulsions and seizures. This can usually
start around the age of one year and can be taken care of in
conjunction with your vet through diet and medication. It is
terrifying to see your pet go through a seizure so make sure you
contact the vet immediately if this happens and for your sake
and the animal's sake do not panic because even in a state of
seizure a dog needs you to be there for it.
German Shepherds can sometimes develop eye problems as well,
ranging from cataracts to eyelid issues. The eyelids may develop
incorrectly or eyelashes may start forming too close to the eye
causing irritation. Any of these eye conditions can be corrected
with surgery so if your pet is developing eye problems make sure
you take them to the vet.
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 more serious German Shepherd
health problems and if you notice your pet with nose bleeds for
no apparent reason or if you begin to notice your German
Shepherd's gums bleeding then it could be VWD and you need to
get your pet to the vet as soon as possible for evaluation and
treatment.
As a responsible pet owner it is up to you to make sure that
you keep track of your pet's health and that you stay in contact
with your vet and your breeder so that you will be able to tell
when symptoms may arise. Your pet looks to you for its care and
health and if you begin to notice health issues with your German
Shepherd then you need to make an appointment to get your dog
checked out by the vet as soon as possible.
About The Author: Jan Ryan participates in charitable functions
for local animal rescue groups and volunteers at local animal
clinics. This article is another great resource for
http://www.official
German Shepherd care information. This article will tell you
when you may need to get
http://www.official
emergency care for your German Shepherd.
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