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Cancers in dogs can take on many different forms and can arrive at anytime in a dogs life. It can affect the old and the young, and almost every kind of cancer will be found in all breeds just as it is in humans. Some cancers do seem to have a genetic bases. The most common tumors found in dogs are sebaceous adenomas ( tumors of the sebaceous glands are those what lubricate the hair follicles ) and then there is the benign mammary tumors too, which grow around and deep inside the mammary glands this is the point where the young pups feed from, always check that area by running your fingers and hand over the stomach area if there is any lumps or bumps you will feel them.

Looking at bone cancers and studies done in this area, the most cancers where found in the (humerus, femur and the lumbar vertebrae) these were the most affected areas in all cancer studies done on bone cancers in dogs.

Cryptorchids in dogs is a well established cancer risk, and it as also been found that dogs with unilaterally retained testicles are of twice a higher risk of the cancer forming in this area of the dog.

This defect is a incomplete closure of the dogs palate which for those that don't know, is the roof of a dogs mouth. The incomplete closure happens at the embryonic stage of the dogs life and the results can be fatal. Puppies are unable to suckle their mothers milk and this can be a cause for some fading puppies, this defect can also be associated with hare lips in dogs.

Diaphragmatic hernias are generally caused by trauma and is not thought to be genetic, dogs who need surgery after diaphragmatic hernias their general out look is low for the dog.

Umbilical hernias are protruding organs poking themselves through an opening in the cavity wall of the abdomen which would normally close after birth.

Inguinal hernias are the same as scrotal hernias they are failures of the inguinal canal, that is where the testicles passes and drops down through the inguinal canal, bitches may also be affected but it is usually the males that it is found in,bitches may sometimes pass the horn of the uterus through the canal.

O.C.D. Is localized fractures of the articulate cartilage its degeneration of bone and cartilage but it mainly affects the cartilage rather than bone, cartilage may form into a flap with lameness, the humerus is usually affected but so can be the femur, and some other bones.

Haemophilia A is a blood clotting disorder caused by a mutation of the factor VIII gene, leading to a deficiency in Factor VIII. It is the most common haemophilia. Inheritance is X-linked recessive; hence, males are affected while females are carriers.

Severe haemophiliacs suffer from spontaneous haemorrhage and rarely reach adult life. Major injury, surgical trauma and fighting can be life threatening. If an affected male is allowed to be used at stud all his female progeny will carry the affected X chromosome. If these females are used for breeding they in turn will pass on the disease to half of their offspring. Half of the sons from a carrier female will suffer from Haemophila A and half of the daughters will be carriers.

It is possible to screen dog puppys as early as five weeks old, a simple blood test will determine if the dog is Clear or has abnormal levels. Testing female puppies is less accurate.

The German Shepherd Dog Breed Council Survey Scheme insists that all dogs are tested for Haemophilia A.

This disease is usually found in the age groups of 5 and above you will usually see increasing loss of mobility in the hind legs of the dog it is a progressive disease although at some point it may seem to stabilize, where as the dog seems not to degenerate, but it is rarely permanent. The general out come of this disease, without alarming anyone is very poor most dogs loose total power of the hind legs and then become incontinent and eventually to be kind to the dog they are given sleep.

This is a most distressing complaint, not all convulsions are hereditary of course, they can be caused by blow to the head, brain tumors and the after affects of distemper, and here are a few more things which lead to epilepsy ( hypoglycemia ) reduction of blood sugar level. ( hypoxia.) Reduction of oxygen supply to the brain.( Liver disease)( poisoning by strychnine or lead etc.)(brain inflammation, often virus induced.)Or (excessive fluid in the cranial cavity). When convulsions start the dog becomes rigid, and they start shaking there heads, and rolling of the eyes occurs, they champ the jaw producing lots of white frothy saliva. It will then fall on its side, with its legs making galloping actions and they often lose control of the bladder and the bowels. The shaking will gradually slow down and it will get back on its feet but look rather wobbly and dazed. The attack will be over in about 3 minutes but can last longer. G.S.D's should be left alone when recovering as some can be very aggressive and are best left alone until 20 minutes or so has elapsed. Others will be shaken and frightened and may act out of character to what he or she would normally be like. Only a vet can tell you whether you have ( hereditary ) epilepsy or not. A full brain examination and a reading with a encephalographic will tell him this. Epilepsy can be controlled by anti-convulsant drugs though some treatment can be expensive.

Ununited anconeal process is commonly referred to as elbow dysplasia or nonfusion of the elbow joint. It is a condition caused by a faulty union of the anconeal process( one of the elbow bones ) with the ulna. The loose fragment of bone sets up irritation in the elbow joint. This first becomes noticeable at about five to six months of age. The dog will display intermittent lameness and you will notice a thickening on the out side of one or both elbow joints and the feet and the pastern will turn outwards. This can only be diagnosed by a x- ray been taken of the elbow joint. The most effective treatment is surgical removal of the loose piece of bone. This condition is believed to be hereditary but not very common.

Gastric torsion is a frequent killer of the g.s.d though it is not just the g.s.d that suffers. All larger deep chested dogs are at risk. The symptoms are rapid distention of food, fluids and especially gas either as swallowed air or as fermentation products. The consequences are twisting of the stomach leading to rapid death as the stomach is rotated. Some dogs may recover if caught early on, some may go on to have more attacks later, some may not recover at all. Some theories exist for this. It is understood that feeding dry food can be a cause but dogs also eating soft meats have suffered too, then there is exercising too near or after food, and there is also an excessive water intake to be taken into consideration. Young male dogs are the most commonly affected. Dogs that vomit up their food during an attack may have a better chance of survival. There are genetic implications.

Hip dysplasia is a condition that frightens many owners although in truth most dogs can live a normal, productive and otherwise healthy life - even with quite severe hip disease present. There is evidence to show that the severity of the changes in the hips (as seen on an x-ray) is NOT directly related to the amount of pain shown by an animal. Nevertheless, hip dysplasia can be a debilitating disease and there is a strong hereditary influence - so responsible breeders should have their animals screened by their veterinarian and scored by the BVA/KC Scheme and avoid breeding from the worst affected individuals.

If HD was caused by a single factor then it would have been fully understood and largely overcome by now. It is known that two factors determine whether HD is to occur and if so, how bad it will be - inheritance and what is termed 'environment'. The former relates to the genetic code passed to the offspring by both parents and the latter to all the outside influences which alter and mould the growth and functions of the bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and muscles of the body. It is argued that dogs are not born with hips affected by dysplasia (unlike humans). Hip modelling, otherwise termed development can worsen with the passing of time, most particularly during the rapid growth phase between 14 and 26 weeks of age.

In simplistic terms the genetic code is rather like the architect's building blue prints and, the environment, the builders and their materials. In HD the architect gets things wrong to a greater or lesser extent but the builders have the greater influence on how things look and function in the final analysis.

To understand hip dysplasia we must have a basic understanding of the joint that is being affected. The hip joint forms the attachment of the hind leg to the body and is a ball and socket joint. The ball portion is the head of the femur while the socket (acetabulum) is located on the pelvis. In a normal joint the ball rotates freely within the socket. To facilitate movement the bones are shaped to perfectly match each other; with the socket surrounding the ball. To strengthen the joint, the two bones are held together by a strong ligament. The ligament attaches the femoral head directly to the acetabulum. Also, the joint capsule, which is a very strong band of connective tissue, encircles the two bones adding further stability. The area where the bones actually touch each other is called the articular surface. It is perfectly smooth and cushioned with a layer of spongy cartilage. In addition, the joint contains a highly viscous fluid that lubricates the articular surfaces. In a dog with normal hips, all of these factors work together to cause the joint to function smoothly and with stability.

Bloat is a medical condition in which the stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content. It is also commonly referred to as torsion, gastric torsion and gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV) when the stomach is also twisted. The word BLOAT is often used as a general term to cover gas distension of the stomach with or without twisting.

The condition occurs most commonly in domesticated animals, deep chested breeds are especially at risk.

Bloat in dogs is likely caused by a multitude of factors, but in all cases the immediate prerequisite is a dysfunction of the sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach and an obstruction of outflow through the pylorus. Some of the more widely acknowledged factors for developing bloat include increased age, breed, having a deep and narrow chest, stress, eating foods such as kibble that expand in the stomach, overfeeding, and other causes of gastrointestinal disease and distress. Studies have indicated that the risk of bloat in dogs perceived as happy by their owners is decreased, and increased in dogs perceived as fearful. This may be due to the physiological effects of the dog's personality on the function and motility of the gastrointestinal system. Dogs with inflammatory bowel disease may be at an increased risk for bloat.

One common recommendation in the past has been to raise the food bowl of the dog when it eats. However, studies have shown that this may actually increase the risk of bloat. Eating only once daily and eating food consisting of particles less than 30 mm in size also may increase the risk of bloat. One study looking at the ingredients of dry dog food found that while neither increased grains, soy, or animal proteins increased risk of bloat, foods containing an increased amount of added oils or fats do increase the risk, possibly due to delayed emptying of the stomach.

The stomach twists around the longitudinal axis of the digestive tract, also known as volvulus. Gas distension may occur prior to or after the stomach twists. The most common direction for rotation is clockwise, viewing the animal from behind. The stomach can rotate up to 360° in this direction and 90° counter-clockwise. If the volvulus is greater than 180°, the oesophagus is closed off, thereby preventing the animal from relieving the condition by belching or vomiting. The results of this distortion of normal anatomy and gas distension include low blood pressure, decreased return of blood to the heart, ischemia (loss of blood supply) of the stomach, and shock. Pressure on the portal vein decreases blood flow to liver and decreases the ability of that organ to remove toxins and absorbed bacteria from the blood. At the other end of the stomach, the spleen may be damaged if the twisting interrupts its blood supply. If not quickly treated, bloat can lead to blood poisoning, peritonitis and death by toxic shock.

Signs of bloat include a distended rigid abdomen, indications of vomiting with no results and inability to belch or pass gas. This is an immediate health concern where the dog should be taken to the vet immediately. DO NOT ATTEMPT HOME TREATMENT - delay of veterinary care will prove fatal.

• Feed your dog smaller portions, multiple times a day. Avoid large portions served once a day.
• Always keep plenty of fresh water available for your dog
• Do not allow high activity directly before or after eating

Hemophilia is a failure of the blood to clot normally. Essentially it arises because there is impairment of the formation of substance in the blood. These substances are usually produced by the action of enzymes. These enzymes are themselves the result of various other reactions and interactions involving a whole series of substances. Interference with the cycle at any point will produce failure or impairment of the whole reaction and affect the clotting process of the blood. The commonest problem in factor V111 where there are two genetic problems involved -one being von willebrands disease (vwd) and the other, more common, classic Hemophilia A. Other bleeding diseases exist in dogs but only VWD and Hemophilia A have been reported in the G.S.D. Hemophilia A is also to be found in all dogs to some degree or other. This disease can be mild severe or moderate depending on the factor, mildly affect dogs may only bleed after injury or surgery, whereas severely affected dog bleed into the joints, muscles, and body cavities. Puppies affected may bleed from the umbilicus at birth or from the gums during teething. Male hemophiliac can survive to adulthood without detection which is why the problem exists. Some kennel dogs will have less chance of injuring themselves than house dogs, that's mainly why its undetected. Only males are affected but the females are the carriers, so if your female produces any hemophiliac immediately discard her and any offspring from your breeding programs.

The pancreas is a large gland situated in the dorsal part of the abdomen. It has endocrine and exocrine portions, the former secreting hormones directly into the bloodstream while the latter secrets products via the bile duct onto an epithelial surface. The pancreas is close to, and under the influence of hormones secreted by, the duodenum. One of these hormones is secretin which controls bicarbonate concentration of the pancreatic juice. The other is pancreozymin which controls the enzyme content of the pancreatic juice. This pancreatic juice is rich in sodium carbonate and bicarbonate which controls stomach acidity, but it also contains digestive enzymes, including amylase, chymotripsin, lipase and trypsin. Since the pancreas is involved in insulin production and digestion any abnormal functioning of the gland could lead to adverse effects on either process. A dog with pancreatic problems may have sudden abdominal pains and vomiting but this may not be immediately apparent and may only occur after months or years of insufficiency. Affected dogs will have bad digestion, clay colored and foul - smelling stools. The g.s.d. Can be affected from the age of 6 months to 2 years and most by the age of 4 with very few developing it later on.

Panosteitis is excessive production of bone along the long bones which is termed panosteitis. It can be called bone inflammation. The cause is unknown but usually affects dogs between the ages of 5 and 12 months of age and can give rise to lameness and pain if the affected limb is squeezed. The condition appears to be self-limiting by around the age of 20 months old. Diagnosis is by radiography and pain killers are used to alleviate the symptoms.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) is the inability to properly digest food due to a lack of digestive enzymes made by the pancreas. This disease is found frequently in dogs. EPI is caused by a progressive loss of the pancreatic cells that make digestive enzymes. Most commonly in dogs, this is caused by pancreatic acinar atrophy. The atrophy in turn can be caused by previous infections, a blocked pancreatic duct, or genetics. Loss of digestive enzymes leads to maldigestion and malabsorption of nutrients.

EPI is life threatening without treatment since a dog with EPI is unable to digest their food they will basically starve to death despite eating large amounts of food. Symptoms include a yellow coloured diarrhoea, vomiting, flatulence, rapid weight loss, depression and lack of coat lustre.

If you suspect your dog as EPI you should contact your vet as soon as possible who will be able to take a blood sample to be examined by laboratory. The results will confirm EPI, enzyme replacements will be prescribed by the vet for the rest of the dogs natural life. Besides tablets and powders you can also treat the condition by adding Pig Pancreas to the dogs diet. Pig Pancreas can be purchased from registered slaughterhouses, the Pig Pancreas is then liquidized into a milkshake consistency and added to the dogs low fat diet. The effect is that once your dog has eaten his/her food the Pig Pancreas enzymes will begin a chemical reaction breaking down the food just like the dogs own pancreas should do.

This is a serious condition requiring constant medication and special dietary requirements.

Although first reported as far back as 1913 this disease was not named until the 1950s when it was known as Uberreiter's Syndrome or chronic superficial keratitis.The term corneal pannus derived from the latin word pannus which means a cloth and and studies in (1984), aptly describes the lesion.Pannus is an infiltration of the cornea of the eye by vascular or fibrovascular tissue. It is a bilateral, though not symmetrical, non-ulcerative, non-suppurative keratitis (inflammation). It usually appears in the lower outer corner of the eye and is then selt-limiting so that it rarely covers more than one-quarter to one-third of the eye.Very occasionally it can cover the whole surface leading to blindness. The condition occurs in both sexes and can occur over a wide age range from 1 to 10 years but usually in excess of 5.There appear to be 2 forms.One form is pigmented and onset is from 4 to 10 years; the other form is unpigmented and the onset ranges from 1 to 7 years. Although it can be treated there is usually a recurrence. It is well established that the GSD is the most commonly affected breed but the etiology is unknown. There is some suggestion that the problem may be an autoimmune reaction.Studies found that affected corneal tissue reacted with anti-igG and anti-igM sera, while some studies found affected dogs had an increased number of mast cells in the conjuctiva.These findings tend to support autoimmune theories.Few breeders seem aware of the disease despite veterinary anxiety but as yet no genetic explanation has been forthcoming.Pedigrees of affected dogs showed a wide variety of lines.

Dwarfism in the dog is well established though most kinds are of achondroplastic or chondrodysplastic type with abnormalities of the long bone. Dwarfs appear to be more or less normal in there size at birth but as they get older they show a markedly reduced size when compared to their litter mates. By the time they are 8 weeks old they are very much smaller than others in the litter, the hair coat is shorter and there are no guard hairs. The puppy coat of secondary hairs is kept until around 12 months of age after that the coat is usually lost, initially around the throat and the thighs then over the whole body. Hair is kept in tufts around there feet and on the ears. After this state of alopecia the skin tends to become scaly, wrinkly and then goes from gray to black in color, and the muzzle often appears shorter.

Skin disease's are probably among the most difficult problems to deal with. Many are, acquired disease of bacterial, viral, and fungal or parasitic origin. It is important to appreciate that particular infectious disease might have a genetic basis not for the casual agent but in the sense that a specific genetic make-up renders a dog or breed particularly susceptible to infection from that source.( ANAL FURUNCULOSIS ) some g.s.d. Breeders will have seen or know someone who as experienced anal furunculosis, evidence suggests that it affects the g.s.d more than any other breed. Essentially it is known as a pyoderma and it is established that these generally have a multifactorial etiology,' py' means pus, so pyodermas are pus filled infections of the skin. Anal furunculosis are boils occurring around the dogs anus which can turn into the most nastiest thing you can imagine which takes skilled surgery to correct, and then it is only of varying success.( ATOPIC DISEASE ) Hypersensitivity to pollens, or other inhaled particles and to a series of other influences is known in the dog. Allergies of this kind are frequently called atopic disease. There is involvement of antibodies and strong hereditary tendencies.( GERMAN SHEPHERD PYODERMA )(G.S.P.) Is deep pyodermas around the dorso- lumboscral region and extending to other parts of the body like the head and neck regions, these lesions were associated with coagulase-positive staphylococci but because the G.S.D crosses of this breed were implicated the studies considered a genetic predisposition might exist.

Perianal fistulas are chronic and progressive lesions that occur around the anus in dogs. Deep and draining ulcers form, which are painful. The disease may also be referred to as "anal furunculosis."

The exact cause of these fistulas is not known, but is thought to start as an inflammation of the sweat and sebaceous (oil) glands in and around the anus, followed by infection of the area. Abscesses form, open, and then drain. The warm, moist area around the anus and under the tail, and the large numbers of bacteria in the area, make an excellent environment for bacteria to multiply.

Perianal fistulas most commonly occur in middle-aged (5-8 years old) male dogs, but can occur in dogs as young as 1 year and as old as 14 years. German Shepherds are particularly prone to this disease, and in one study accounted for 84% of the dogs diagnosed. This may be due to the larger number of glands in the perianal area when compared to other breeds, or the way the tail is set and carried. German Shepherds are also more prone to immune-mediated diseases, which may be a component of this condition.

A dog with perianal fistulas will often chew or lick the perianal area more frequently, or may scoot his anal area across the floor or ground. A dog with this disease may be constipated, have diarrhoea, or pass stools more frequently. The dog may also have difficulty or show pain on passing stool, strain, have fecal incontinence (cannot control the bowel movements), or have blood in the stool.

Ulcers and bleeding may be seen around the anal area, as well as foul-smelling discharge. The ulcers may be very small, or over several inches in diameter, and may extend up the tail. The anal glands and rectal tissue may also be involved. Some dogs will become lethargic, lose their appetites, and start to lose weight. Because of the discomfort and pain, owners may notice a change in behaviour of the dog. Even lifting the tail may cause extreme pain. The area around the anus may become darker in colour as the chronically inflamed skin develops more pigment.

Surgical treatment of perianal fistulas can be difficult because of the many nerves and blood vessels in the area. In addition, some of the ulcers are very deep. Surgical treatments including removal of the affected tissue, cryosurgery (freezing the tissue), laser surgery, cautery, and even tail amputation have been used. Complications after surgery include fecal incontinence and anal stenosis (scarring of the anal area, making it difficult to pass stool).

Regardless of the treatment used, the earlier the condition is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcome. In most cases the prognosis is guarded to fair, understanding that recurrence is common. In more severe cases, and those involving surgery, fecal incontinence is a major concern.

The G.S.D is not a breed in which inherited eye disease is a major problem,certainly not in comparison to some breeds, but studies showed two forms of cataract have been reported. The term cataract refers to opacity of the lens. There are many kinds, not all of which are inherited. Acquired cataracts can be due to trauma,exposure to great heat or to radiation. Sometimes cataracts are secondary to some other inherited disease(e.g.generalised progressive retinal atrophy).Even inherited forms may differ in their mode of inheritance and the location on the lens as well as in relation to age at onset. If cataract is not related to other disease then it is usually known as primary cataract. Both forms seen in G.S.D. Are primary cataracts.

Disease of the vestibule system are concerns with problems in the region of the middle ear. Problems of the vestibule system are usually characterized by loss of balance, head tilting, leaning, circling, rolling and spontaneous jerking of the eyeballs. Frequently, disease of this region are acquired, especially with relation to canine distemper virus. Its seen in the first stages at around about 3 to four weeks of age, affected pups can carry their heads either tilted to the left or right or even backwards, and with the sideways tilt the pup tends to circle in the direction of the tilt, but there is effectively no loss too the hearing. Recovery rate is unclear at this time.

The inward turning of the eyelids is a painful condition in the dog and is seen in a variety of breeds. Although widely believed to be inherited, evidence to support this is not readily found The problem is rare in the G.S.D. Although the success of operations may make incidence appear less.

The esophageal is a muscular tube lined with mucous membrane running from the pharynx to the stomach. Peristaltic movement causes the food to be propelled down towards the stomach and the same movement in the opposite direction results in vomiting. Problems can occur with the right aortic arch, which tends to encircle and constrict the oesophagus and cause vomiting. ( MEGAOESOPHAGUS ) Enlargement of the esophagus is sometimes seen in connection with GAN and can be associated with myasthenia gravis, but is also known in circumstances that suggest genetic involvement. This is believed to be true of the great dane and the G.S.D. It is identifiable early in life and should not be confused with cleft palate. Affected pups can develop inhalation pneumonia and either die or recover by 9 weeks of age. Non recovery cases continue to vomit after eating and are predisposed to gastroesophageal intussusception which is the telescoping of a part of the intestine into the lumen of an adjacent part. Affected animals are best discarded from breeding, even if they recover.

The ductus arteriosus is a foretell blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the ascending arch of the aorta. It is normally 'lost' after birth but can persist. This result in recalculation of arterial blood from the aorta through the lungs. It can lead to cardiac insufficiency and left side heart failure. The condition is congenital and inherited. It can occur in mild forms when the blood vessel is partially closed. This condition is known in the G.S.D. But is not a breed in which PDA is regarded as other than rare.

Hip dysplasia is by far the most common condition. This is caused by the malformed femur head ( thigh bone ) failing to fit into a shallow acetabulum ( hip socket ) thus causing partial or complete dislocation. In severe cases the dog will have great difficulty in walking and getting up he may also 'bunny hop' or gallop in preference to trotting. A dog may also show changes in his or her temperament. A dog who was previously even-tempered may become bad tempered even a biter. And then on the other hand there could be a badly dysplastic dog in x-ray terms but to the trained eye show no sign. Then there is the dog that can move soundly and even jump and show no signs of been dysplastic can be x-rayed and have bad hips, there's just no way of telling unless they are radiographed by the veterinarian. There are many degrees of this complaint and a G.S.D. With minor or moderate HD is perfectly capable of leading a normal life. As this is a hereditary complaint, no dog can be described as being 'free' or 'clear' as it is impossible to know what its genetic make-up is. On no account should a badly dysplastic shepherd be used in a breeding program. In bad cases of dysplasia surgical removal of the femur head has been reasonably successful, also an operation called pectineal nyotomy which involves cutting the pectineal muscle on one or both sides of the inner thigh. Hip replacement is another alternative but can be very expensive, but it has been successful.


Good hips with nicely shaped femoral heads,fitting well into nicely shaped sockets	Bad hips with poor femoral heads both side have extra bone growth and very poor sockets


Also Good hips with nicely shaped femoral heads,fitting well into nicely shaped sockets	And again Bad hips with poor shaped femoral heads both side and very poor sockets

HIP DYSPLASIA EXPLAINED....