Keeping your SD Happy and Healthy

[Lori]

I have  a 12 week old white German shepherd her name is Zaya! I was wondering what do you do to make sure your dog says happy and health do you give the supplements to keep their joints working well since being a SD is a higher demanding job! Also all the health problems that German Shepherds are prone to do you elevate their food so what food and supplements do you feed your SD

[Kirsten]

GSDs aren't prone to health problems, they are prone to bad breeders, because the breed is so popular.

A well bred GSD is unlikely to experience significant health problems during his working life because his parents, grandparents and great grandparents will have certificates on things like hips, elbows, thyroid, CERF, etc.  GSDs are meant to be very versatile working dogs who can go out in the fields and literally trot all day long, day after day, without breaking down.  A dog with health problems is no good to a herdsman or the police.

My future pup's breeder does the following health clearances on all her stock:
OFA:  hips, elbows, DM, cardiac, patellas
CERF

She doesn't do thyroid, but I do, so I'll have that done on my pup as well.  I've never done patellas, but I suppose I'll start now.  I don't think you can have too many clearances and if this breeder is seeing patella problems within the breed and intentionally selecting against it, then it's something I want to select against too.  I didn't know there was screening now for DM (degenerative myelitis) and think that is an awesome clearance to have for a GSD.

People talk about mixed breed vigor, but they overlook the fact that 75% of shelter dogs will fail an OFA screening for hip dysplasia, whereas only 20% of well bred GSDs do. That 20% is about typical across the board for large breed dogs.  Cole scored in the top 3% nationwide in hip structure.  He's never had a lick of trouble from them, but he does have spondylosis (a type of arthritis in the spine), which his breeder did disclose was present in her bloodline.  That's why he takes Dasaquin. 

There are no supplements necessary if the dog is fed a high quality, balanced diet.  After about age 10 I could see the Dasaquin making a difference for Cole but before then none of them seem to notice at all.  I do give Dasaquin as a sort of preventive to my other dogs because I know spondylosis is in their gene pool.  Dasaquin is a glucosamine supplement often given to dogs with hip dysplasia, but it can be used for any join issue.

Do not feed from elevated food bowls.  The research on bloat is split 50/50 on whether elevated feeding is good or can actually increase the risk of bloat.  They are designed to eat on the ground, so that's where my dogs eat.  A tendency to bloat is largely genetic.  A good breeder will know the tendency within her own bloodline and will be selecting against it.  Cole's breeder hasn't seen bloat in her line in over 40 years.

Other factors in bloat are common sense things like not working the dog on a full stomach and not giving the dog a full feed when hot from work.  So you feed your dog and let him hang around the house for an hour to digest before you do any serious work (or play) and when you return from work (or play), you have a chill down period of about an hour before any meals.

You also don't let your dog gulp a large quantity of water when hot.  You let him lap about 15 seconds, then make him take a break for 5 minutes.  Then 15 seconds of drinking (if he's still thirsty) and rest for 5 minutes.  Just repeat until he's not thirsty any more.  If he's not hot, I just let him drink whatever he wants whenever he wants. 

What shepherds do need is a solid exercise plan.  They need vigorous exercise every single day, rain or shine.  They need more than just walks.  They need something to make them run.  They also need mental stimulation every single day because when they get bored, they get destructive or become escape artists. 

A genetically sound GSD feed a high quality diet, exercised properly and given sufficient mental stimulation is unlikely to experience break down except due to injury.

[Cera]

For a puppy you need to make sure they aren't jumping off of things or flying in ways that will cause injury. Their bones and joints are still developing and though its not a genetic thing, its pretty common to have a puppy injury catch up to them later in life. No jumps or anything weight bearing until they are fully grown.

Of course make sure you have a good relationship with a great vet. A great vet is one that will allow you to ask all those silly questions and give you as much education as you need.

[Roxie]

Kirsten said it all for me!

Is this your first dog?

[Kirsten]

I'm with hopesclan on restricting puppy activity.  My youngsters are not allowed to jump on, off or over things higher than their elbows until after they've had their OFA x-rays at age 2.  That's overkill.  A year is probably long enough, but I'm cautious.  My pups don't carry any weight until they are two either.  I want those growth plates closed and the cartilaginous bones ossified before I ask for any weight bearing.

[Lori]

Roxie this is my first SD and my First White German Shepherd I have three other dogs at home Bongo a 2 year old male pit Bull a 14 year old border collie mix and 2 year old English setter greyhound Catahoula Leopard Dog and a 5 year old shar Pei lab mix! I just was  just curious if I need to do anything different with her since she is going to be more than a pet! I agree with hopesclan I do  not allow Zaya  to jump on, off or over things higher than her elbows I am very careful not making sure she is not over exercised but she does have solid exercise plan that we do everyday!

[Ilghaus]

Hi I was just reading your intro post and was just curious ...

You said your pup was White King German Shepherd. Do you mean your pup is a King Shepherd or a King Shepherd X German Shepherd? Just asking as that may effect some of the answers to questions that you ask. A German Shepherd is usually considered a large dog (90+ is very upper limits) while a King Shepherd would be more of a giant dog size (90-150). I'm also not versed on the health issues of a King other then that which would have come from the German input.

Also, was there a reason that you got your dog at 6 weeks of age? It is good that she went into a multi-dog home such as yours so she can learn proper dog manners.

 

[Lori]

A King Shepherd resembles a large German Shepherd Dog.Generally, when full grown, a male King Shepherd can range from 27 to over 32 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 110 to over 140 pounds.  Females are slightly smaller ranging from 25 to 30 inches at the shoulder and weighing from 90 to over 120 pounds. Zaya father was 120 pounds and her Mother was 115!

[Ilghaus]

Yes, I was just wondering because in one post you referred to your girl as a King German Shepherd and elsewhere as a German Shepherd. I was curious if she was a King Shepherd, a German Shepherd, or a King backcrossed with a German Shepherd.

Doesn't matter as like I said I was just curious.