Internal diseases that the German shepherd has been reported to experience with more frequency than the general dog population include bladder stones, epilepsy, von Willebrand's disease (vWD), a bleeding disorder, and liver disease.

Both epilepsy and vWD have a genetic basis for the shep-herd, which means that dogs with these diseases should not be bred. Bladder stones, or urolithiasis, can have a genetic basis in some instances. German shepherds almost exclusively form silicate stones, or uroliths. Liver disease can develop in German shepherds that are unable to assimilate copper and accumulate this metal in the liver. It is thought that this, too, is an inherited defect.

Fortunately, these diseases are fairly rare and uncommonly seen in canines. However, when these diseases do appear, they appear in the German shepherd at a significantly higher rate than other breeds.

Bloat

The causes of gastric dilation-volvulus syndrome (GDV), commonly known as bloat, are not thoroughly understood. Extensive research and reviews of clinical cases have not produced definitive reasons why this often-fatal condition develops in some dogs and not in others. GDV occurs when the stomach fills with gas (gastric dilation), twists (volvulus), and effectively halts the flow of blood from the stomach into the intestines. This in turn cuts off blood flow to the liver, pancreas, and spleen.

Symptoms of bloat include:

Drooling

Rapid, shallow breathing

Restlessness

Pale, deep red, or blue gums

If your shepherd shows one or more of these symptoms, treat this as an emergency. Your shepherd's chance of survival depends on how quickly you can get to veterinary care.

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)

EPI is the atrophying of the part of the pancreas that produces certain digestive enzymes. Without these enzymes, the shepherd cannot metabolize his food, which means he can't pull the necessary nutrients out of his food during digestion. The German shepherd is the only breed in which EPI has been recognized as being hereditary.

Symptoms of the disease include loose, foul-smelling stools or diarrhea, and a huge appetite coupled with weight loss. Fortunately, this is one disease that is usually easy to treat. Powdered pancreatic enzyme extracts are added to the shepherd's food. If the shepherd doesn't respond well to this therapy, antibiotics may be necessary, as well as vitamin supplementation and a change in diet — all under the careful supervision of a veterinarian.