Caring for your German Shepherd

Generally the German Shepherd is a healthy breed that can live an average of 12 to 16 years. If you have a well-bred German Shepherd then it likely won't have any major problems. However, even an excellent German Shepherd is still susceptible to Canine Hip Dysphasia or CHD, which is a developmental skeletal problem in which the femur of the dog doesn't sit correctly within the hip socket.

Other minor German Shepherd health problems include Von Willebrand's Disease, which is a blood disease that weakens the dog's ability to form blood clots. If you do not care for your dog or bathe them regularly then they can also develop skin allergies.

When caring for your German Shepherd you need to make sure you feed them a balanced diet. For a long happy life they need fresh food such as turkey, chicken and beef. Although some vegetables, rice and eggs need to be added to the mix for a balanced diet.

To keep your German Shepherd healthy you should maintain a good and healthy diet, brush the teeth as often as you can, groom regularly and provide them with plenty of exercise and attention. Performing a weekly health exam at home can help you to spot any common German Shepherd health conditions before them become a serious. These home health exams will also help you to detect any changes that can occur due to injury, disease or dog related emergencies since you will be aware of your dogs body.

The best way to care for your German Shepherd is by taking them to your veterinarian on a regular basis. Your dog should be current on all their vaccinations and have a regular physical and health exam. It is good to have a veterinarian that is familiar with German Shepherd health problems and one that can deal with the specific hereditary diseases that affect the breed.

Diet plays an important part in maintaining good German Shepherd health. Each month an adult German Shepherd will easily eat about forty pounds of dry food. Although the metabolism of the individual dog and their activity level can change this amount.

Most owners choose to feed a high quality commercial food and then supplement it two to three times a week with a little bit of meat. Again the amount of food you feed depends on the dog's activity level but most will take two cups of food a day and you should take away any uneaten portions after thirty minutes.

You want a food that will be high in protein so it should focus on lamb, fish or chicken rather than wheat, rice or corn. Meat based foods will benefit your German Shepherd in the long run even though they are more expensive.

Even though meat based foods are more expensive they will benefit your German Shepherd's health in the long run. You should also avoid feeding your dog any food that contains additives if possible.