Content
- German Shepherd's Most Common Diseases and Origins
- Diseases of genetic origin
- Viral diseases
- Diseases of bacterial origin
- Diseases of parasitic origin
- Most Common German Shepherd Diseases: Prevention
the german shepherd is an extraordinary dog and this is considered to be one of the smartest breeds in the canine universe. However, such magnificence comes at a price. And the price that this breed has paid is very high: massive breeding by inexperienced breeders who only seek profit and not purity and successive improvement of the breed. For this same reason, there are serious diseases of genetic origin, as a consequence of mediocre breeding lines.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we show the most common diseases of the german shepherd. Make a note of and visit your veterinarian regularly to prevent these illnesses from developing.
German Shepherd's Most Common Diseases and Origins
There are several types of diseases and inflammations that affect the German Shepherd, they are disorders that they can have:
- Genetic origin: diseases produced by genetic alterations.
- Viral origin: inflammation where the cause is found in viruses.
- Bacterial origin: diseases whose origin is bacteria.
- Parasitic origin: inflammation caused by parasites.
Diseases of genetic origin
Diseases of genetic origin that affect the race of german shepherd dog are:
- Hip dysplasia: A common disease among German Shepherds, it is characterized by inflammation and pain in the dog's joints and femur. It produces decalcification and makes the dog lame, it is a congenital hereditary disease. To fight the disease, it is important to control your diet and restrict your exercise.
- Glaucoma: this disease if detects between 2 and 3 years of age. The German Shepherd starts to feel pain in the eyes and starts to rub the paw or any other surface against the eyes, the intraocular pressure increases and produces pain. An opaque, dilated pupil is the most well-known symptom of this disease and is treated with surgery.
Viral diseases
The main diseases of viral origin that affect the German Shepherd dog are:
- Canine Parvovirus: it is an infection that produces vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding. Puppies must be vaccinated against the disease to prevent it, otherwise it can be lethal to the puppy.
- Distemper in dogs: it is a contagious disease that produces cough, dyspnea, mucus, conjunctivitis, fever and other symptoms are triggered. There are vaccines against this disease, if you want to know more about the dog vaccination schedule see this article from PeritoAnimal.
Diseases of bacterial origin
Among the most common diseases of the German Shepherd dog breed are bacterial diseases, they are:
- Leptospirosis: it is a disease caused by drinking water contaminated by rat urine (puddles, standing water, etc.). Symptoms of this disease are fever, vomiting, muscle pain and respiratory problems. There are preventive vaccines for leptospirosis.
- Canine Brucellosis: disease produced by ingesting infectious waste is also transmitted venereally. In males it produces testicular inflammation and sterility and in females it produces abortion. Treatment is with antibiotics.
- Mastitis: this disease affects females and consists of inflammation of the mammary glands.
- Piometer: extremely serious infection suffered by bitches by the accumulation of pus in the uterine cavity, treatment consists of taking antibiotics before surgery.
Diseases of parasitic origin
The German Shepherd, like other dog breeds, is exposed to attack by parasites, the most frequent are:
- Pododermatitis: parasitic disease that causes herpes, pus, pain when walking and so on. Excess moisture causes inflammation that should be treated as soon as possible by a trusted veterinarian.
- Demodectic mange: inflammation caused by a mite called Demodex canis. It causes hair loss, itching, inflammation and redness in the epidermis, requires veterinary treatment and is not contagious to humans.
- Sarcoptic mange: produced by the parasite Sarcoptes scabiei, symptoms are shedding of hair, inflammation and redness in the dermis. It needs veterinary treatment and requires deep disinfection in the dog's usual places, being contagious to humans.
Most Common German Shepherd Diseases: Prevention
Visiting a veterinarian every six months is the best way to detect a disease when it appears. Don't forget that most of the diseases we've mentioned have a good diagnosis if caught early enough. On the other hand, following the dog vaccination schedule is the main way to protect your pet from a possible bacterial or viral infection. Also, don't forget about the dog deworming plan, a routine that must be maintained externally once a month and internally every three months.
Also watch our video on YouTube about care and characteristics of the German Shepherd:
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.