Some of the most popular breeds of Shepherd dogs in the United States are the German Shepherd, Anatolian Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Miniature American Shepherd, and Pyrenean Shepherd. For each of these breeds, we have compiled lists of potential health issues that you can find below.
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Do German Shepherds Have Health Issues?
The German Shepherd is the second most popular breed in America. These are strong athletic dogs, but like most other breeds, they are susceptible to certain health issues.
Below is a list of potential health issues that can occur in these dogs. This doesn’t mean that these health issues will surely occur in your pet, nor that he cannot develop a disease that is not mentioned on this list.
The health issues that German Shepherds are prone to more than other dog breeds are the following:
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, degenerative disc disease, panosteitis, osteoarthritis, hypertrophic osteodystrophy
- Heart diseases: cardiomyopathy, subaortic stenosis (SAS)
- Problems related to the nervous system: epilepsy, degenerative myelopathy,
- Eye problems: cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, corneal dystrophy
- Cancer: lymphoma, osteosarcoma, melanoma, hemangiosarcoma, leiomyosarcomas/adenocarcinomas
- Dental health issues: gum infections
- Perianal fistula
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE)
- Von Willebrand’s Disease
- Megaesophagus
- Bloat or Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)
- Hemophilia
- Diabetes
- Skin allergies
- Endocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Bladder stones
- Urinary tract infections
- Nose infections
German Shepherds need to be regularly examined by veterinarians in order to detect and treat potential health problems in time. These dogs are active and need a lot of physical activity, but it’s important to find balance and not overdo it because they have slightly more sensitive joints.
Do Anatolian Shepherds Have Health Issues?
Although the Anatolian Shepherd is known as a strong and hardy breed, this, unfortunately, doesn’t mean that dogs of this breed cannot have certain health problems.
The health issues that Anatolian Shepherds are prone to are the following:
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis, elbow dysplasia, panosteitis, anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACL), arthritis, patellar luxation, carpal laxity syndrome
- Skin disorders: mange/demodicosis, lick granuloma
- Allergies: food and medicine allergies, atopy, flea allergies
- Cancer: osteosarcoma, mast cell tumors, lymphosarcoma, mammary cancer
- Eye problems: entropion
- Heart diseases: cardiomyopathy
- Ear infections (otitis externa)
- Gastrointestinal syndrome (bloat)
- Ankyloglossia
- Hypothyroidism
- Dental issues: malocclusion
- Epilepsy
Please note that this doesn’t mean that all or most of these diseases will occur in your pet, but that these health issues have been reported in this breed over the years.
Anatolian Shepherds are also known to be sensitive to anesthesia, so it’s necessary to approach its use with caution and monitor the dog all the time while under because there is a risk of an allergic reaction.
Do Australian Shepherds Have Health Issues?
Australian Shepherds are among the breeds that don’t have major health issues. However, as with all other breeds, they also have certain health problems that you should be aware of if you own an Australian Shepherd or are planning to get one.
The health issues that Australian Shepherds are prone to more than other dog breeds are the following:
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia, osteochondrosis (OCD), elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation
- Eye problems: cataracts, collie eye anomaly (CEA), colobomas, progressive retinal atrophy, persistent pupillary membrane (PPM), distichiasis
- Cancer: lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma
- Multi-Drug Resistance 1 (MDR1)
- Nasal dermatitis
- Hypothyroidism
- Epilepsy
- Inherited deafness
- Heart disease: patent duct arteriosus (PDA)
- Chronic allergies
- Hemophilia
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Dental problems: malocclusion, missing teeth
- Umbilical Hernia
- Demodectic mange
- Ear infections
This list includes diseases whose occurrence has been reported in Australian Shepherds over the years. This doesn’t mean that these health issues will necessarily occur in your pet, nor that he cannot get ill from some disease that is not mentioned in this list.
Do Miniature American Shepherds Have Health Issues?
The Miniature American Shepherd looks very similar to its predecessor, the larger Australian Shepherd. In addition to a number of physical traits, what these two breeds also have in common are certain health problems.
The health issues that Miniature American Shepherds are prone to are the following:
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, elbow dysplasia, osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD)
- Eye problems: progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), iris coloboma, Collie eye anomaly (CEA), cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichiasis, retinal dysplasia, microphthalmia
- Multi-Drug Resistance 1 (MDR1)
- Degenerative myelopathy
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Deafness
- Heart disease: patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
- Nasal solar dermatitis
- Hypothyroidism
- Cancer
- Epilepsy
This list has been compiled with the aim of letting Australian Shepherd owners know what are the potential problems their pets may face during their lifetime. This doesn’t mean that the mentioned diseases will certainly occur in all dogs of this breed, nor that there is no chance that some disease that we didn’t mention on the list will appear. To minimize the risk, always get puppies exclusively from verified breeders and take them to veterinary checkups regularly.
Do Pyrenean Shepherds Have Health Issues?
Pyrenean Shepherds are quite healthy dogs with a fairly long life expectancy; about 15 years, but there are still a few health problems that can occur in this breed.
The health issues that Pyrenean Shepherds are prone to more than other dog breeds are the following:
- Orthopedic issues: hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, elbow dysplasia
- Heart disease: patent ductus arteriosus
- Eye problems: progressive retinal atrophy, choroidal hypoplasia, Collie eye anomaly
- Epilepsy
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Ataxia
This list is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily mean that your pet will certainly develop any of the diseases we have listed. To maintain the health of your Pyrenean Shepherd, take him to the vet regularly, provide him with a sufficient amount of activity, and make sure that the food he eats is in accordance with his needs.