I’ve talked to a few people over time and on more than one occasion a person has told me they decided against getting a German Shepherd because of the potential for hip dysplasia. I’ve had other people tell me they will only own a mixed bred dog so they can avoid this genetic disease. There is no evidence to indicate a mixed breed dog has a lower incidence of hip dysplasia than a purebred dog (see the AKC website for more data). It is a fallacy. If a parent carried the gene a mixed breed dog is as likely to have problems as a purebred dog. Additionally, ethical breeders are very careful to monitor their programs and remove breeding stock found to produce puppies with genetic problems, something that is very unlikely in a mixed breed dog.
If you go to the OFA, Orthopedic Foundation for Animalshttp://www.offa.org/index.html you will find the following table (we copied the top 100 breeds, we suggest you go to the site for the full, most up to date list). You are going to have to scroll down to number 40 on the list to find German Shepherds. That’s right, 39 other breeds are more prone to hip dysplasia than German Shepherds. The column headings are “breed of dog”, “rank”, “number of evaluations”,”percent excellent”, and “percent dysplastic”. Take a close look almost 98,000 German Shepherds were tested to get the statistics in the table.
| BULLDOG | 1 | 467 | 0.2 | 73.2 |
| PUG | 2 | 390 | 0.0 | 63.8 |
| DOGUE DE BORDEAUX | 3 | 341 | 0.6 | 56.0 |
| OTTERHOUND | 4 | 349 | 0.3 | 52.1 |
| NEAPOLITAN MASTIFF | 5 | 149 | 2.0 | 48.3 |
| ST. BERNARD | 6 | 2036 | 4.2 | 46.7 |
| CLUMBER SPANIEL | 7 | 777 | 2.4 | 45.7 |
| BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER | 8 | 323 | 3.4 | 43.0 |
| SUSSEX SPANIEL | 9 | 241 | 0.8 | 41.5 |
| CANE CORSO | 10 | 589 | 6.6 | 40.6 |
| ARGENTINE DOGO | 11 | 178 | 3.4 | 39.3 |
| BASSET HOUND | 12 | 195 | 0.0 | 37.4 |
| BOYKIN SPANIEL | 13 | 2531 | 1.8 | 34.8 |
| NORFOLK TERRIER | 14 | 234 | 0.0 | 34.2 |
| PERRO DE PRESA CANARIO | 15 | 160 | 4.4 | 33.8 |
| AMERICAN BULLDOG | 16 | 1598 | 4.9 | 33.1 |
| FRENCH BULLDOG | 17 | 691 | 1.3 | 32.6 |
| GLEN OF IMAAL TERRIER | 18 | 120 | 0.8 | 30.0 |
| FILA BRASILEIRO | 19 | 588 | 7.5 | 29.6 |
| BLOODHOUND | 20 | 2649 | 2.6 | 26.1 |
| AMERICAN STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIER | 21 | 2708 | 2.3 | 25.7 |
| NEWFOUNDLAND | 22 | 13955 | 8.0 | 25.3 |
| BULLMASTIFF | 23 | 5065 | 3.8 | 24.5 |
| MAINE COON CAT | 24 | 1024 | 4.2 | 24.1 |
| ENGLISH SHEPHERD | 25 | 268 | 8.2 | 23.9 |
| AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER | 26 | 663 | 5.6 | 23.5 |
| LOUISIANA CATAHOULA LEOPARD | 27 | 469 | 9.6 | 23.0 |
| CHESAPEAKE BAY RETRIEVER | 28 | 11786 | 12.0 | 20.8 |
| SHILOH SHEPHERD | 29 | 570 | 8.6 | 20.4 |
| ROTTWEILER | 30 | 90125 | 8.1 | 20.3 |
| HYBRID | 31 | 872 | 8.3 | 20.1 |
| GOLDEN RETRIEVER | 32 | 124251 | 3.9 | 19.9 |
| CHOW CHOW | 33 | 5070 | 7.0 | 19.6 |
| GORDON SETTER | 34 | 5732 | 8.3 | 19.5 |
| NORWEGIAN ELKHOUND | 35 | 3625 | 7.1 | 19.5 |
| MASTIFF | 36 | 9893 | 7.8 | 19.4 |
| SHIH TZU | 37 | 604 | 2.0 | 19.4 |
| GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG | 38 | 2229 | 11.8 | 19.1 |
| CARDIGAN WELSH CORGI | 39 | 1538 | 3.4 | 19.1 |
| GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG | 40 | 97930 | 3.8 | 19.1 |
| FIELD SPANIEL | 41 | 854 | 7.1 | 18.7 |
| OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG | 42 | 10271 | 11.4 | 18.7 |
| KUVASZ | 43 | 1659 | 13.3 | 18.4 |
| PEMBROKE WELSH CORGI | 44 | 9890 | 3.2 | 18.3 |
| GIANT SCHNAUZER | 45 | 4124 | 9.7 | 18.1 |
| CHINOOK | 46 | 500 | 8.4 | 18.0 |
| BEAGLE | 47 | 748 | 2.5 | 17.8 |
| STAFFORDSHIRE BULL TERRIER | 48 | 493 | 1.8 | 17.6 |
| ENTLEBUCHER | 49 | 262 | 3.8 | 17.2 |
| ENGLISH SETTER | 50 | 9549 | 9.9 | 16.5 |
| POLISH LOWLAND SHEEPDOG | 51 | 423 | 7.3 | 16.1 |
| BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG | 52 | 14801 | 12.8 | 16.0 |
| AFFENPINSCHER | 53 | 242 | 3.7 | 15.7 |
| SPINONE ITALIANO | 54 | 978 | 16.8 | 15.5 |
| AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG | 55 | 3032 | 4.4 | 15.3 |
| CURLY-COATED RETRIEVER | 56 | 1058 | 7.8 | 15.3 |
| BOUVIER DES FLANDRES | 57 | 7612 | 5.8 | 15.1 |
| BRITTANY | 58 | 16819 | 8.3 | 14.9 |
| BLACK AND TAN COONHOUND | 59 | 649 | 9.9 | 14.9 |
| BEAUCERON | 60 | 307 | 13.7 | 14.7 |
| BRIARD | 61 | 2178 | 12.9 | 14.5 |
| HARRIER | 62 | 290 | 8.6 | 14.5 |
| ICELANDIC SHEEPDOG | 63 | 146 | 10.3 | 14.4 |
| LEONBERGER | 64 | 1379 | 19.9 | 14.1 |
| TIBETAN MASTIFF | 65 | 782 | 7.5 | 13.9 |
| NORWICH TERRIER | 66 | 499 | 7.2 | 13.6 |
| BOSTON TERRIER | 67 | 156 | 5.8 | 13.5 |
| CHINESE SHAR-PEI | 68 | 9254 | 9.0 | 13.4 |
| ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL | 69 | 13407 | 8.4 | 13.3 |
| PUDELPOINTER | 70 | 355 | 13.8 | 13.2 |
| FINNISH LAPPHUND | 71 | 107 | 10.3 | 13.1 |
| PORTUGUESE WATER DOG | 72 | 6699 | 13.1 | 13.0 |
| AKITA | 73 | 15539 | 18.5 | 13.0 |
| POODLE | 74 | 20239 | 11.3 | 12.3 |
| SMOOTH FOX TERRIER | 75 | 279 | 7.9 | 12.2 |
| KOMONDOR | 76 | 929 | 11.7 | 12.2 |
| WELSH SPRINGER SPANIEL | 77 | 1719 | 14.8 | 12.2 |
| CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL | 78 | 5131 | 4.2 | 12.1 |
| IRISH SETTER | 79 | 10671 | 8.7 | 12.1 |
| IRISH WATER SPANIEL | 80 | 1186 | 17.4 | 12.0 |
| GREAT DANE | 81 | 11287 | 11.5 | 12.0 |
| LABRADOR RETRIEVER | 82 | 208931 | 17.6 | 12.0 |
| ALASKAN MALAMUTE | 83 | 13211 | 16.6 | 11.5 |
| AIREDALE TERRIER | 84 | 5465 | 7.2 | 11.4 |
| PETIT BASSET GRIFFONS VENDEEN | 85 | 617 | 3.4 | 11.3 |
| SAMOYED | 86 | 14935 | 10.1 | 11.1 |
| BOXER | 87 | 4878 | 3.4 | 11.1 |
| SMALL MUNSTERLANDER | 88 | 118 | 11.9 | 11.0 |
| BORDER COLLIE | 89 | 9226 | 12.4 | 10.9 |
| SWEDISH VALLHUND | 90 | 151 | 4.0 | 10.6 |
| WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER | 91 | 171 | 1.2 | 10.5 |
| NORWEGIAN BUHUND | 92 | 146 | 7.5 | 10.3 |
| ANATOLIAN SHEPHERD | 93 | 1567 | 18.3 | 10.2 |
| PULI | 94 | 1679 | 16.2 | 10.1 |
| HAVANESE | 95 | 2168 | 8.9 | 9.9 |
| AKBASH DOG | 96 | 514 | 22.8 | 9.3 |
| GREAT PYRENEES | 97 | 5548 | 13.9 | 9.2 |
| GERMAN WIREHAIRED POINTER | 98 | 3729 | 16.4 | 9.1 |
| AMERICAN ESKIMO DOG | 99 | 922 | 7.7 | 9.1 |
| COTON DE TULEAR | 100 | 547 | 9.5 | 9.0 |
| STANDARD SCHNAUZER |
Ethical breeders have worked very hard to improve this statistic and save our beautiful breed from this disease. It still does occur. You need to have extensive discussions with your breeder before you buy a puppy.
You also need to know nutrition, exercise and activity levels can cause hip dysplasia in a genetically health dog so it is important to review how you work with your puppy and get guidance from experienced trainers and vets.
If the worst occurs and your dog is diagnosed with dysplasia you can take action to address the situation. In the most severe cases there is hip replacement. Frequently you can keep you pet happy and comfortable with appropriate exercise and weight control, limiting jumping and limiting exercises requiring your dog to support itself on its back feet alone. Always talk to a vet and if possible consult with an orthopedic veterinarian.
We recently interviewed an orthopedic vet. The quote to replace a hip in a health 5 year old dog in good physical condition was $6,800. The surgeon indicated that newer materials exist than had been used in the past and they were seeing the hips last 13 years or more. If you are considering the surgery and have pet health insurance, do not assume the surgery will be covered. Some policies exclude genetic issues and hip dysplasia is considered genetic by most pet insurance companies.
We hope this “thumbnail sketch” helps you in making decisions regarding the purchase of a German Shepherd. There are no guarantees and even very ethical breeders may have a puppy with hip problems in a litter. Do your homework and make an educated decision on a breeder. Watch your puppy’s nutrition, weight, and exercise program carefully and you will minimize the chances of your pet having hip dysplasia. If diagnosed with the problem, consult your vet and a specialist and control the weight, exercise and activity of your dog.
found your site on del.icio.us today and really liked it.. i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later
Touche. Sound arguments. Keep up the good effort.
Thank you.
great put up, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector do
not understand this. You should continue your writing.
I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
Thanks
I was indicated this fabulous website by means of my relation. Practical goal beneficial no matter if this kind of set up is actually composed by way of them since nobody else understand this kind of given somewhere around our issues. You are remarkable! Cheers!
Hi there everyone, it’s my first visit at this website, and post is genuinely fruitful in favor
of me, keep up posting these types of posts.
hey there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here.
I did however expertise some technical issues using this site, as I
experienced to reload the website lots of times previous to I
could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK?
Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will
sometimes affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords.
Well I am adding this RSS to my email and can look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content.
Ensure that you update this again soon.
If some one wishes expert view about blogging after that i suggest him/her to pay a visit this blog, Keep up the nice job.
Fantastic blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of
any message boards that cover the same topics talked about here?
I’d really like to be a part of community where I can get comments from other experienced individuals that share
the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
Thanks a lot!
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few
of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think
its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different
web browsers and both show the same results.
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice whilst you amend your website, how could i subscribe for a blog
website? The account helped me a acceptable deal.
I were a little bit familiar of this your broadcast provided vivid transparent concept
This website was… how do you say it? Relevant!!
Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Thank you!
Thanks, I’ll look into it.
There are a couple of LinkIn groups, Friends of German Shepherds and Search and Rescue
Right away I am ready to do my breakfast, once having my breakfast
coming over again to read further news.
I blog frequently and I really thank you for your information. This great article has truly
peaked my interest. I will bookmark your site and keep
checking for new information about once a week.
I opted in for your Feed as well.
Excellent, what a website it is! This webpage gives useful data to
us, keep it up.
whoah this weblog is wonderful i like reading your posts.
Stay up the great work! You recognize, many persons are searching round for this info, you
could help them greatly.
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the page layout of
your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to
say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so
people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of
text for only having 1 or two pictures. Maybe
you could space it out better?
Wow! In the end I got a web site from where I be able to actually take valuable
facts regarding my study and knowledge.