German Shepherd: health conditions to watch
German Shepherds are intelligent, loyal working dogs whose main health watch-points are the joints and the digestive system. Awareness of a few breed-linked conditions goes a long way.
What to watch in a German Shepherd
A predisposition is a “worth knowing”, not a diagnosis. Most German Shepherds never develop these — but knowing the early signs means you can act early.
Hip Dysplasia
Learn about Hip Dysplasia →A classic breed risk; hip-scored parents lower the odds, and early signs (bunny-hopping, stiffness) are worth acting on.
Osteoarthritis
Learn about Osteoarthritis →Arthritis often follows joint disease as they age; early, subtle stiffness is the thing to catch.
Join the Osteoarthritis community →Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
Learn about Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) →EPI (the pancreas not making enough digestive enzymes) is notably more common in the breed; ravenous appetite with weight loss and pale, greasy stools is the picture.
Join the Digestive Health community →Start here
My Puppy Has Just Been Diagnosed With Hip Dysplasia: What Happens Now
Hip dysplasia is one of the commonest orthopaedic conditions in large breeds, and a diagnosis in a young dog is far more manageable than it sounds in the moment. Most of these dogs go on to live full, happy, active lives. Here is what it means and the calm, practical steps to take next.
Is My Large-Breed Puppy at Risk of Hip Dysplasia? Early Signs and Prevention
A large or giant-breed puppy comes with a fair question attached: how worried should you be about hip dysplasia? Genetics set the baseline, but how you feed, exercise and grow your puppy really shifts the odds. This guide explains who is most at risk, the early signs to watch for between roughly four and twelve...
Conservative Management for a Young Dog With Hip Dysplasia
A diagnosis of hip dysplasia in a young dog does not force a choice of surgery. For many dogs, especially milder cases, a carefully managed non-surgical path is a sensible first approach, and a good number do well on it for years. This guide explains what that path involves, when it suits a growing dog,...
Hip Scoring and Buying From a Responsible Breeder: OFA, PennHIP and the BVA/KC Scheme
Hip dysplasia is substantially inherited, so the single most powerful thing you can do for a large-breed puppy happens before you ever bring it home: choosing parents whose hips have been screened. No scheme guarantees perfect hips, but breeding from low-scoring dogs measurably lowers the odds. This guide walks through the three main screening schemes...
FHO or Total Hip Replacement: How Vets Choose Between Them
Once a young dog has moved past the windows for preventive hip surgery, or has already developed arthritis in the joint, two surgical routes usually remain on the table: total hip replacement and femoral head ostectomy. They sound like two answers to the same problem, but they aim at quite different goals, and this guide...
Hip Dysplasia Surgery by Age: Which Options Are Open at Your Dog’s Stage
For a young large-breed dog with hip dysplasia, the surgical options on offer depend heavily on age. Some of the most useful procedures can only be done in puppyhood, and those doors close early. This guide maps which options fit which stage, so you know what is still on the table.
Looking after a German Shepherd
- Buy from hip- and elbow-scored parents
- Take persistent digestive upset seriously — it is not "just a sensitive tummy" in this breed
- Keep them lean and well-muscled
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