German Shepherd Dog
German Shepherds were originally developed in the 20th century, and are one of the most well recognized breeds in the world. GDS are medium to large sized dogs, and can weigh up to 95 lbs. They have a long muzzle, and a strong jaw and nose, and a long, bushy tail. Their coat comes in long and short haired variants. They are extremely confident, courageous, and intelligent. They are often put in working roles such as K-9 units, search and rescue, and as service dogs.
Common Health Conditions
- Because of their large size and their tendency to overeat if they can get the food, diabetes is fairly common in German Shepherds. Like with humans, the symptoms are fatigue, dry mouth, excessive drinking, excessive urinating, and swelling in the feet
- Like all large animals, humans included, German Shepherds can have serious problems with their spines, especially as they age. Some lines of GSDs are more likely to have this issue than others, which are likely to manifest when the dog is still young.
- Subaortic stenosis is a congenital heart condition has been found in German Shepherd Dogs. Ranging from heart murmurs to fatal, this condition covers a wide array of symptoms.