The Most Common Health Issues in German Shepherds!

German Shepherd owners, as well as the owners of
most large-breed dogs, are concerned that their
companions are affected by various unique health
issues. Of the many issues that afflict German
Shepherds in particular, the two most prominent
would be musculoskeletal issues such as hip
dysplasia, and skin problems perceived as
"allergies".

The German Shepherd breed is a very popular
breed. Their stunning good looks, ruggedness,
and intelligence make them quite desirable as
pets and for home protection. This aspect has
led to over breeding, many times by less than
reputable breeders who profit from their sales.
Over breeding leads to deficiencies, that are
then passed on to the next generation and the
next and so on. In addition, the "breed
standard" calls for the top line to be slanted
slightly downward, applying more pressure on the
hip structure. This is a point of some
controversy among fanciers of the breed. The
purpose of this article is not to take sides,
only to point out factors involved in joint
related issues.

Affecting many dogs, is a condition known as Hip
Dysplasia, which is a developmental malformation
or subluxation of the hip joints, eventually
resulting in Arthritic issues. Quite often, dog
hip dysplasia is a genetically inherited
musculoskeletal disorder. With hip dysplasia
being a developmental condition, the primary
cause can usually be attributed to muscle laxity
during the early months of growth and
development. In this 'puppy' timeframe, if
muscle tone is inadequate, or if bone growth
rate exceeds that of muscle development, the
femoral head pulls away from the socket, a
process known as subluxation. Subluxation then
leads to abnormal wear and erosion, or 'Hip
Dysplasia', which usually results in mild to
severe arthritic issues for the animal.

How Proper Nutrition and/or Supplements can help
your German Shepherd with Hip Dysplasia or other
Joint Related Issues

There are a multitude of success stories
revealing that pets with these issues find help
and restored mobility by using all-natural
supplements, such as Antioxidant Treats or
Sprouted Granules, which are designed to support
the body's ability to provide proper and
well-functioning lubrication (synovial fluid)
for healthy joint function, and thereby greater
comfort. This supplemental nutrition is utilized
by the body to support the manufacture of a
diverse series of metabolic and antioxidant
enzymes which, it turn, support the body's
proper levels, cleanliness, and viscosity of
synovial fluid. Obviously, using a nutritional
supplement is not going to revert a misshapen
joint back to a perfect state. That would
require surgery which is both risky, and pricey,
and requires a long convalescence. Instead, the
'Live Food Enzymes' they contain provide the
body with a resource for the production of
Antioxidant Enzymes. These enzymes, such as
Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, and Glutithione
Peroxidase are nature's agents involved in
ridding the body of toxins. This in turn affects
the processes of inflammation, restoring of
Synovial fluid (joint lubricant), and in greater
release of energy. As a result, many dysplastic
dogs can resume a normal range of motion and
activity.

"Allergy" troubles in German Shepherds.

German Shepherds are not the only breed to have
troubles in this area, but many are afflicted
all the same. Symptoms of itching, biting,
scratching, chewing, hair loss, odor, blackening
skin, elephant skin, weeping sores, chewing paws,
ear infections, eye infections, UTI's or more can
all be a part of this issue. Vets often address
these problems by administering antibiotics and
steroids to help calm the surface symptoms. Even
though this approach often works in the short
term, as soon as these medications wear off, the
symptoms will often return with a vengeance. This
may be attributed to the fact that these issues
are not caused by allergies at all. Did you ever
consider that the Antibiotics, though killing off
bad bacteria on the surface were at the same time
killing off friendly bacteria in the GI tract?
Did you ever consider that the steroid's
deadening of the immune system, lowering
inflammation, also lowers the body's ability to
fight infection?

What has been described above is the perfect
scenario for a Systemic Yeast Infection. What is
that, exactly? It is a condition brought about by
the diminishing of the good, friendly bacteria
found in the GI tract allowing for the expansion
of fungal yeast (already present), creating an
imbalance. As the yeast expands and grows, it
puts out toxic by-products that leak into the
bloodstream and are carried to the extremities
to be filtered out at the surface.

You might be asking how your dog got this way to
start with. There are many contributing factors,
with the following being the most frequent:

1. Pet foods and snacks. Many of your big name
brands are loaded with preservatives, additives
and artificial colorings. These all have a
negative impact on the friendly bacterial flora.
At the same time, these foods are grain-based
instead of meat based. Since yeast loves starch,
this is a recipe for disaster.

2. Over vaccination. We are led to believe that
vaccines are good for us, and that they are
protecting us from harm, but often that is not
the case. When we hear of a young dog with this
problem, we can almost always trace the origins
to the time of vaccination. This is not to say
that a dog should not ever receive vaccines, but
certainly not a 3-in-1 or a 5-in-1 shot. This can
cause tremendous insult to the immune system,
creating massive die-off of good bacteria.

3. Flea treatments and heartworm medications.
Even though these products are usually effective
against these critters, they are a poison, and
can even contribute to neurological issues. We
suggest finding natural alternatives where
possible.

4. Chlorinated water. They put chlorine in the
water to kill bacteria. We recommend filtered
water for your pet.

5. Antibiotics. This goes without saying. There
are many instances where antibiotics are
necessary. If so, it is paramount that you
supplement with a probiotic to help lessen the
damage to good bacteria.

If your dog does have an SYI, what can you do to
reverse it? To do reverse this involves a
comprehensive approach designed to kill off the
overgrowth of yeast, support the body for
healing, repair and detoxification, and rebuild
the good bacteria. The rest is a matter of time.
This is NOT a quick-fix. It can take some months
to get things turned around, but you can take
comfort in knowing that you are getting to the
ROOT of the problem, not just patching things
up.


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Submitted by Tim Delaney. Fore more information
on Hip Dysplasia, please visit
http://www.nzymes.com/articles/hip_dysplasia_in_dogs.htm

For more information regarding "skin allergies"
please visit:
http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/allergies-in-dogs_the-real-truth.htm


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