German shepherd health problems

The German shepherd is an incredibly intelligent dog capable of turning their paw to any activity, sport, or role!

Whether they’re a much-loved member of the family or supporting those who are visually impaired, German shepherds form strong bonds with the humans they love. In addition to their devotion and loyalty to people, German shepherds adore any opportunity to embark on new adventures, too.

In general, German shepherds have a double coat that requires daily brushing to stay in tip top condition. They’re also known to moult, a lot – so having a powerful vacuum cleaner is a must if you’re owned by a German shepherd.

Explore our German shepherd breed guide for more information about this glorious breed!

Potential health conditions linked to the German shepherd breed

Please remember that while the following health concerns are frequently seen in the German shepherd breed, each dog is a unique individual. So, your canine companion isn’t necessarily going to suffer from any of the health conditions commonly experienced by German shepherds. But, if you’re considering pet insurance, you could read our guide to insuring your German shepherd for more information.  

Always speak to your vet if you’re concerned about your dog’s health.   

Don’t forget to visit our dog first aid guides to discover the basics of canine first aid.

Hip dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia is a genetic condition (something a dog is born with) that impacts their hip joints. ‘Dysplasia’ is a word linked to abnormal development, so, hip dysplasia describes abnormalities within a dog’s hip joint.

For German shepherds with hip dysplasia, either one or both of their hip joints are unstable and can cause them to experience pain, swelling, and stiffness – resulting in lameness. Eventually, hip dysplasia can cause German shepherds to develop arthritis.

Treatments for hip dysplasia in German shepherds could include weight management, anti-inflammatory medication, and surgery.

Elbow dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia in dogs is a condition that impacts the elbow joints of their front legs. There are a number of causes of elbow dysplasia, with genetics, diet, growth rate, and exercise levels affecting the disease outcome and severity. Unfortunately, elbow dysplasia is sometimes seen in dogs of the German shepherd breed.

The word ‘dysplasia’ means ‘abnormality of development’. So, a dog with elbow dysplasia has an elbow joint that doesn’t quite fit together properly, which causes an uneven distribution of pressure on that joint.

A vet can diagnose elbow dysplasia through a combination of physical examinations and diagnostic imaging, like x-rays and MRI scans. 

Symptoms of elbow dysplasia include pain, swelling, and a decreased range of motion, as well as limping and a reluctance to exercise. Eventually, elbow dysplasia can lead to arthritis and may even cause small fractures over time.

There are several treatment options for canine elbow dysplasia in German shepherds, including:

• Pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication.
• Weight control (to prevent additional strain on their joints).
• Gentle exercise routine.
• Physiotherapy and/or hydrotherapy.
• Surgery.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy describes a condition that causes dogs to experience recurrent seizures.

German shepherds are known to be prone to epilepsy. Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, usually resulting in uncontrolled body movements and seemingly odd behaviour, including:

• Wobbliness.
• Uncontrollable muscle activity or tremors.
• Lack of co-ordination, e.g. falling to one side.
• Lack of awareness about what’s happening around them.
• Body twitching.
• Paddling or jerking of their limbs.
• Drooling.
• Foaming at the mouth.
• Loss of bladder control (peeing uncontrollably).
• Loss of bowel control (unaware they’re pooing).
• Loss of consciousness.

Important: If your German shepherd has a seizure, they’ll need to recover in a calm environment that’s cool, dark, and free from hazards (e.g. sharp-edged furniture), while you call the vet.

Pituitary dwarfism

Pituitary dwarfism is a genetic condition, meaning a German shepherd could inherit it from their parents.

The pituitary gland is located underneath a dog’s brain and is responsible for producing growth hormones. In dogs with pituitary dwarfism, a benign (non-harmful) tumour or cyst develops in the pituitary gland area before birth. This pituitary gland tumour/cyst causes a dog to grow at a much slower rate than those without pituitary dwarfism.

Symptoms of pituitary dwarfism in German shepherds include:

• A miniature body.
• Slight overbite.
• Keeping their puppy coat as they age.
• Hair loss on both sides of their body.
• Neurological issues, e.g. a tilted head.
• Skin infections.
• Hypothyroidism.

Diagnosing pituitary dwarfism usually involves an assessment of your German shepherd’s clinical history and physical condition, alongside blood tests, hormone analysis, and imaging studies.

To treat pituitary dwarfism, a German shepherd might be prescribed hormone replacement – though this won’t allow them to grow normally, it should help their body to function properly. Other symptoms of pituitary dwarfism, like hypothyroidism or skin infections, will also need to be treated accordingly.

Canine Degenerative Myelopathy

Canine degenerative myelopathy used to be called ‘chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy’ (CDRM). This condition is caused by a genetic abnormality, which means that dogs can inherit degenerative myelopathy from their parents.

It’s considered a ‘degenerative’ disease because there’s loss of normal nerve fibres in the spinal cord over time, instead of being caused by something like inflammation or infection, for example.

Degenerative myelopathy is a non-painful yet progressive disease, which means that symptoms gradually worsen as a dog ages. Eventually, dogs who suffer from degenerative myelopathy tend to experience hind limb paralysis (an inability to move their back legs), weakness, and incontinence.  

Some of the symptoms seen in German shepherds who have canine degenerative myelopathy include:

• Crossing their hind legs while walking.
• Dragging their paws as they walk.
• Falling over when moving around corners.
• Difficulty jumping onto furniture or into the car.
• Urinary incontinence (unable to control when they pee).

It can be challenging for vets to diagnose degenerative myelopathy in its early stages, since the condition is easily mistaken for other health concerns. So, your vet will want to rule out other health issues first, before they’re able to offer a degenerative myelopathy diagnosis.

If your German shepherd is more than five years old and showing signs of canine degenerative myelopathy, your vet might perform the following diagnostic tests:

• Blood tests.
• MRI (under general anaesthetic).
• Taking a sample of spinal cord fluid (under general anaesthetic).

Sadly, there’s no cure for canine degenerative myelopathy, which means the condition is usually managed instead of treated. Appropriate management of degenerative myelopathy could improve your dog’s quality of life through gentle physiotherapy, making sure surfaces around your home are non-slip, and providing a wipe-clean padded bed.