![]() Genome-wide association studies for multiple diseases of the German Shepherd Dog.Tsai KL Noorai RE, Starr-Moss AN, Quignon P, Rinz CJ, Ostrander EA, Steiner JM, Murphy KE, Clark LA. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2008 Nov-Dec 44(6):302-7.Long-term evaluation of canine perianal fistula disease treated with exclusive fish and potato diet and surgical excision.Compend Contin Educ Vet. 2011 Sep 33(9):E4.Perianal fistulas.If you have a Shepherd, embrace her beauty and intelligence, but keep an eye out for what you can do to head off problems and maintain quality of life for your fearless and loyal friend. While humans were selecting for the most admirable traits, we inadvertently may have bred for some other less desirable issues. Over 50 genetic diseases are seen in the German Shepherd Dog. The prognosis for this cause of neurologic signs is not favorable, but it is important to see your vet in case the symptoms are caused by another more treatable disorder. He didn’t fall ill until I was in vet school, but once the symptoms began, they progressed rapidly and I lost my first love to this disorder. Smiling Skip would hear the school bus before it arrived and be waiting eagerly for me to get home. Thinking about this disorder makes me especially wistful since my childhood dog, Skip, was suspected to have succumbed to DM. Many times owners do not really notice and think that their dog is just “slowing down”, but ask your vet because I have had miraculous improvements in quality of life for my older Shepherd patients suffering from OA with appropriate treatment. The pain may be evidenced by an obvious lameness, but can also be present in the spine and have less obvious manifestations. Osteoarthritis can be secondary to injury or just normal wear and tear for these large and active dogs. Many middle aged and older Shepherds are affected with this common disorder. Not all cases of osteoarthritis that I see in German Shepherds are because of hip dysplasia. Her chapter is called Faith Under Pressure and I am proud to have been a witness to her story. She was a brave and fearless blessing to all who knew her. Her hips were quite possibly the worst I have ever seen, but there was no indication of pain until she was an older dog. ![]() She went on to show signs of hip dysplasia and I will never forget her radiographs. If any of you have read my first book, Tennessee Tails: Pets and Their People, the story of Faith is about a German Shepherd Dog who saved her human children from a venomous snake. The signs in affected dogs can be reduced and managed, but most cases require lifelong management. There is a strong genetic correlation for hip dysplasia in German Shepherds and some other breeds, but a recent study in New Zealand found that only the German Shepherd Dog has shown statistical improvement in the breed for the prevalence of dysplasia despite breeding programs designed to reduce its prevalence in all affected breeds.⁴ Because this is a painful disorder that is genetic in origin, testing and responsible breeding practices are our only way to reduce the occurrence in these and other dogs. There can be abnormalities in the either the ball or the socket (or both) and the chronic laxity causes abnormal wear and leads to osteoarthritis. ![]() The hip joint is a ball and socket joint and hip dysplasia causes malformation of the components leading to instability. Most people by now know about hip dysplasia. He and his family faced his disability with both and just thinking about him makes me smile. His life is a testimony to love and perseverance. Megaesophagus always makes me remember one patient long ago named Charlie. Management is lifelong and usually involves liquid diets and elevated feedings, but can differ depending on the individual patient. ![]() They usually appear malnourished and may be the “runt” of a litter. The type of megaesophagus that we see in German Shepherds is a congenital problem that a recent study found to correlate to chromosome 12.³ Affected dogs often begin to show signs, vomiting and regurgitation when they are weaned to a solid diet. Megaesophagus (from the Greek Mega meaning large) is a condition in which the esophagus (tube that carries food to the stomach when we swallow) becomes limp and is not able to normally pass the food on its way to be digested. She is an example of what attentive compliance to veterinary instructions can achieve. To date, Sachi’s disease has not significantly progressed and her quality of life is excellent. Her owners have been sensitive to her issues in this area from early on and have followed all of my recommendations. Sachi is my favorite patient currently dealing with this issue.
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