At one time, the words “German shepherd” immediately brought the words “hip dysplasia” to mind. Even today, the German shepherd is still plagued with this horrendous hip condition. According to some estimates, the German shepherd is more than twice as likely to suffer form hip dysplasia than any other member of the general dog population.

Part of the situation is blamed on the poor hip-muscle development in German shepherds, which can be substantially less than that seen in other breeds. The primary cause of this disease is joint laxity, or the looseness of the joint fit. If the ball end of the femur can move around in the receiving socket of the pelvis, it is more apt to be damaged and heal roughly than in the tight-fitting joint.

Hip dysplasia causes inflammation, pain, and lameness. If severe enough, the shepherd may require surgery to replace the hip joint. It's all very expensive, as well as heart-wrenching for the owner who has to go through this with her shepherd. With as many as one in five shepherds suffering from the disease (ranging from mild cases to severe), canine hip dysplasia is definitely something to watch out for in your dog, not to mention a reason to keep him in good shape. You'll want to develop his hindquarter muscles and keep him at a healthy weight to prevent stress on his hips.

Elbow Dysplasia

This disease is not one that is commonly tested for in the German shepherd; however, many shepherds do suffer from it. Though soreness in the elbow can have a variety of causes, this condition is generally the result of osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD).

OCD is a disease affecting the cartilage in a joint. Over time, fissures in the cartilage cause flaps to form, and these are exposed to the bones of the joint. This causes inflammation, pain, lameness in the affected leg, and arthritis.

Additional Joint and Bone Problems

German shepherds have the unfortunate status of being one of four primary breeds that are affected by a disease called hypertrophic osteodystrophy. The most unfortunate part is that not much is known about this disease. What is known is that it comes and goes, and when the disease is active, it causes inflammation and lameness in the wrist areas of the dog's front and/ or rear legs. Additionally, dogs affected with this disease may become anorexic, feverish, and depressed and may lose significant amounts of weight.

Sadly, there's more. The German shepherd is the breed that is most affected by panosteitus, another condition that affects the leg bones, causing the marrow cavity to become more dense in affected legs. A dog with panosteitus will suddenly appear lame, but the lameness can shift from leg to leg. There's no treatment for this disease other than providing anti-inflammatory treatments and pain medications to make the shepherd more comfortable. Fortunately, though, panosteitus appears to be self-limiting, in that it does not completely degenerate the leg bones.

Osteoarthritis is perhaps the disease most often seen in elderly shepherds, or those aged ten years and older. Cartilage provides a cushion between bones in joints. When this cartilage wears thin, the result is pain, stiffness, and inflammation. It is a natural process of aging. Keeping your shepherd light and fit will aid in warding off this degenerative disease. Additionally, supplements such as glucosamine and chondroiton sulfate have shown promise in slowing the process and easing joint pain.