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I have a German Shepherd Dog, one of the most popular breeds for both purebred and mixes according to AKC. Her name is Sherrie. I love the breed for many different reasons, but the breed is prone to many different ailments, both genetic and environmental.

One of Sherrie’s biggest genetic issues is hip dysplasia. We noticed that whenever she’d overexerted herself while playing, she started to “bunny hop” and limp. Luckily we noticed and brought her in early enough that we’re able to help her out in a number of ways.

First, we give her glucosamine/chondroitin. This helps with joint health by making the hips themselves stronger. We also give her fish oils, which helps to lube the joints up so they’re not so stiff. We take her swimming instead of running and lift her in the car. We’ll take her in later this year to get follow-up x-rays to the ones that were taken when she was 8 months old that diagnosed the condition.

At two years, the growth plates close and you know how the joints formed, so it’s easier to treat the condition and you know what to expect. What we’re doing may not make a difference now, but eventually it may prolong the time before she needs total hip replacements.

One of the easiest things to do to prolong your German Shepherds life is to clean your German Shepherds teeth annually. Just like with humans, when bacteria get into the bloodstream it can break down organs more quickly.