Did you know that German Shepherds are different than other breeds of dog? As strong, hard-working, and loyal as German Shepherds are, they are a lot of upkeep. They are susceptible to a wide number of genetic problems, such as joint problems and allergies.
It gives German Shepherd owners a lot to worry about, but if you can handle it, it is well worth it. Fortunately, there are simple principles that will go a long way to help strengthen your German Shepherd’s health.
Read below for more important information on improving your German Shepherd’s health.
1. Keep Your German Shepherd in Shape
One of the biggest problems German Shepherds face is hip and joint problems, especially later on in life. These problems are easier to prevent than to treat. One of the easiest ways to prevent future joint problems is to keep your German Shepherd at a healthy weight.
By keeping your German Shepherd in shape, you are making it much less likely for them to have joint problems down the line. The more a dog weighs, the more stress on a dog’s joints. Often times, joint problems are genetic, so the access weight really just makes the problem worse.
Plus, active joints that are kept in motion are less likely to have problems. If your German Shepherd already has known hip issues, you should talk to his vet before starting an exercise to ensure the exercise isn’t overly strenuous.
2. Keep Your German Shepherd Occupied
German Shepherds are known for being police/military dogs, and that’s for a good reason. They are a breed that strives by having a purpose. German Shepherds love to work, and if you keep them busy, you’ll keep them healthy.
If you allow your German Shepherd to become too bored, he may become lazy and this could cause health problems down the line, such as weight gain. Don’t start filling out job applications for your Shepherd, all you have to do is try to keep him occupied.
Sports are a great way to keep a German Shepherd busy. It makes them feel like they have something to do, and also allows them to exercise and exert all that excess energy. If not sports, you could do something as simple as regularly teaching new tricks, such as turning on a light switch. German Shepherds are smart dogs, you will be surprised by what they’re capable of learning.
3. Feed Your German Shepherd Multiple, Smaller Meals per Day
Another problem with German Shepherds is they are especially susceptible to bloat. Bloat, a condition caused by air, fluid, or foam in the stomach, is potentially fatal. To repair it, your German Shepherd would need to go through a risky, expensive surgery. Unfortunately, vets still don’t know the exact cause of bloat.
However, they do know that eating too much food in one sitting can put your German Shepherd at a higher risk. They should also not exercise immediately after eating. To lower your dog’s chance of bloat, feed him multiple, smaller meals per day.
Doing this doesn’t just prevent bloat, it also prevents your dog from forming unhealthy eating habits. If you don’t want to or have the time to feed your German Shepherd multiple smaller meals, you could try using an automatic feeder that will dispense a set amount of food every so often.
4. Avoid Heavy Joint Impact Until Your German Shepherd is Older
German Shepherds are at such a high risk for joint problems that you should take steps to prevent them throughout their entire lives, even when they’re still a puppy. They mature slower than smaller breeds of dogs, so their joints can’t handle as much when they’re still young.
You want to entirely avoid heavy work and impact to your German Shepherd’s hips and joints until they’re at least one or two years old. By putting too much on their joints when they’re still young, you’re greatly increasing their risk for hip and joint problems, such as hip dysplasia, as they get older.
5. Exercise With Your German Shepherd Regularly
Of course, all dogs need regular exercise. However, German Shepherds are a large breed that especially are in need of some steady exercise. Regular exercise will keep your German Shepherd in shape, which is something that will help him throughout his life.
Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the easiest ways for a German Shepherd to avoid potential health problems. They are susceptible to joint problems, which is why it’s ideal for the least amount of weight possible to be put on the joints.
A healthy weight isn’t the only benefit of exercise. German Shepherds are working dogs, they thrive off being occupied. Exercise simply gives your dog a way to be occupied, which will lead to a healthier, happier German Shepherd. And don’t forget, exercising with your German Shepherd also gives you a chance to burn some calories.
6. Socialize Your German Shepherd With Other Dogs
A happy German Shepherd is not a German Shepherd who sits alone, indoors all the time. That is a sure-fire way to not have a happy German Shepherd on your hands. Instead, you should work on socializing your German Shepherd.
Socialization helps your dog stay at ease around other non-threatening dogs. It gives your dog the chance he needs to get along well with other dogs, animals, and people. Most bad dog behaviors can be linked back to not being properly socialized, which is why we along with many other experts stress that socialization is important.
The earlier you socialize your German Shepherd, the easier it will be. If your German Shepherd isn’t a puppy, don’t worry! It is still possible to socialize your German Shepherd, it will just take more time and patience.
7. If Possible, Adopt Your German Shepherd From a Reputable Breeder
If you are adopting a German Shepherd rather than rescuing one, you must go to a reputable breeder. Puppy mills are unethical, and poor conditions often cause their dogs to have lots of health problems. German Shepherds can be especially susceptible to many hereditary diseases, and certain kinds of breeders decide not to disclose on this.
They might not disclose potential health problems because they don’t want your decision to be influenced by a hereditary problem, but this is just wrong. The sooner you know about a hereditary problem in your German Shepherd, the sooner you can take action to prevent a disease from happening.
A reputable German Shepherd breeder will always disclose any potential help problems, regardless of the circumstance.
8. Regularly Take Your German Shepherd to the Vet
This one should be a no-brainer, but it’s so important that we felt the need to stress it once again. Take your German Shepherd to the vet! Don’t wait until something is noticeably wrong, regular check-ups can catch things you wouldn’t be able to.
Every dog needs to see a vet regularly, but this is just so important with German Shepherd due to all the hip and GI tract issues they are prone to. Symptoms of these problems could be caught by a vet way before they would show visible signs.
Make sure to get regular x-rays done as well, as they make it easier to catch a problem before it really becomes a problem. By catching health problems early, you are highly increasing the chances of your German Shepherd living a long, comfortable life. You can take control before the hip problems do.
9. Keep Your German Shepherd Cool in the Summer
Remember, dogs naturally have a higher body temperature than humans. Combine that with a German Shepherd’s thick, heavy coat and dark shades, and you have a dog at risk for overheating. In the summer months, German Shepherds are especially prone to overheating. If possible, you should avoid taking your dog out during the warmest months.
This isn’t always possible, but there are still ways you can help protect your German Shepherd. If your German Shepherd must be outside, offer lots of water, shade, and rest. Don’t make your German Shepherd over-exert themselves in high heat.
Your German Shepherd should be outside for the shortest amount of time possible. We can not recommend leaving your German Shepherd outside alone for long periods of time, but if you must, provide somewhere outside with plenty of shade. cool air, and water.
10. Most Importantly, Love Your German Shepherd!
What’s the number one principle to strengthen your German Shepherd’s health? As cheesy as it sounds, love your German Shepherd! Dogs are pack animals and want to feel like they have a good, strong leader. That leader is you! When you take the extra time to love your German Shepherd, you are giving them what they need to live a happy and healthy life.
Everytime you feed, exercise, or even pet your German Shepherd, you are reminding them that they have a leader that loves them. If you don’t have a German Shepherd yet and you’re reading this, please reconsider bringing a German Shepherd into your life if you don’t have the time and resources that it will need. If you do, it will be all so rewarding.
