Good dogs. Just expensive vet bills
From my professional experience, If you know what to look for and understand what application of health care is and isn’t necessary, you can avoid unnecessary vet bills. I am meticulous about choosing shepherds based on a lot of things that I personally have made a list of to kind of guide me when choosing a shepherd. Always assess the parents structure, health, hips and elbows, and most importantly, behaviour. A lot of breeders and buyers are obsessed with 2 things that I don’t personally care about - if it’s registered, and if it has a good historic bloodline. When you obsess with bloodlines so much sometimes the dogs present behaviour and structure isn’t taken in to consideration in the actual moment... because some breeders and people are so obsessed with keeping the name of the bloodline. I have seen so many special needs shepherds get even more special and develop and have problematic behaviours all because the owners/breeders only obsessed with one thing over the years of breeding... the bloodline. When this is obsessed over so much, other traits such as sharp mentality, natural intellect, environmentally sound behaviour and health tend to change because they aren’t breeding for those things, just the bloodline... I had to stop going to one breeder because she got a challenging special shepherd to use as her main stud for the future, his pups kept getting returned because his special needs behaviours were passed to his puppies. But the breeder didn’t see things like me, she just wanted to breed him because of a recognized bloodline. A lot of people don’t realize that a bloodline became renown in the first place simply because historically dogs were assessed in the moment, the genetic diversity was excellent and something new was tried... which is not what we’re doing as much of as today when it comes to breeding, instead most breeders are obsessing with keeping the bloodline name in the tree, which usually involves more line and inbreeding today. Something that the kennel clubs also encourage and I completely disagree.
This is how I assess and choose a shepherd. I assess the parents health, temperament, natural intellect, structure and sturdiness, and how environmentally sound they are. I select a shepherd that doesn’t have a lot of inbreeding in the family tree, has solid structure, good genetic diversity and sharp parents. I also see how the previous litters turned out if the breeder kept a pup or two. The most important thing to do is disregard bloodlines, and assess the dog in the now, and what it is like in the moment. Not what it’s great great great great uncle dad was capable of, what is this canine and it’s parents capable of and does it have what you are specifically looking for whether it be for working, protection or companionship.
Now. Three things you can do to really mitigate adverse health issues and cancers that a lot of people don’t realize can really ignite issues.
1. overlapping vaccines that have been proven to last the entire life of the canine when given once. Most don’t know that your average rabies vaccines lasts 15 years or longer and when you apply an annual vaccine or vaccine every three years, it overlaps the existing vaccine and this is what can ignite many life threatening and adverse health and even behavioural conditions. I’ve dedicated years of researching this and still do not know why we are doing this to canines when there are titer tests available to test whether the vaccine is still present in the canine. A titer test was invented to prove that vaccines last longer than what most vets recommend. the decision to vaccinate every year to three years is based on fear disguised as practicality. Vaccines have there awesome benefits and I use them based on what’s necessary to use in my geographic location. I will not over do it now that I’ve dedicated extensive research and tapped in to a lot of research studies. To concisely lay it out, titer your dog or only vaccinate it 2 - 3 times in its entire life and it will have less adverse effects on your canines health.
2. spaying and neutering causes serious health issues. It’s proven by stacks of research. Joint and displasia issues, thyroid issues, prostate cancer triples, blood cancers, bone cancers, irreversible behaviours, the list is 9 times longer than the benefits of spaying and neutering. There is also a 32% increased risk of adverse reactions to vaccines with spayed and neutered dogs. One police study also recorded that with the hundreds of German shepherds they observed and studied, those that were spayed or neutered were retired 2 - 3 years earlier than the intact shepherds. I don’t have to ramble on about this one because I’m sure all of us can agree here that intact is best lol.
3. don’t feed garbage. Grains, soys, by products. Not ideal and dogs don’t need them. Also avoid legumes. A lot of so called amazing brands of food that label themselves as grain free use alternative fillers - legumes usually. This are what’s responsible for leaky gut and dilated cardiomyopathy (heart issues). This was also found in a study on gorillas as the man made gorilla chow has legumes and was also linked to heart issues in the gorillas. I always do research on what brands have what ingredients and what ingredients could cause health issues or even cancers. When people ask me what I recommend for dog food the best thing to start with is by avoiding grains, soys, unnecessary filters and by products, as well as legumes. Aim for a mid grade or decent grade kibble and ween out those things. I also feed raw intermittently as well, I’ve had to because it helps my canines health extremely. Weight, gut health, and no allergy issues. I introduce it slowly in small portions and monitor how they handle it. I usually stick with a safer form of raw such as beef, beef trim, beef organs, bonemeal, and do a lab 80 10 10 mixture as it’s perfect. I’m not a sucker either. I will not pay stupid amounts of money for raw for dogs. I source good places or butchers that offer reasonable prices and in Canada there are options in every province almost for about $1.50 - $2.50 a pound. Which is cheaper than some kibbles. But if you really want to know a damn good kibble to feed - RedPaw is the shit. It doesn’t have stupidly low percentages of fat or protein, it’s just right and it’s made in America. The only thing I wish RedPaw did differently was have beef options as it is chicken and fish and pork oriented. But still outstanding quality because there’s not too many unnecessary fillers, grains, soys, by products or legumes and it is for intact dogs that burn weight faster than spayed and neutered couch potato canines lol
For those wondering, canine nutrition and biology have been my areas of study for 14 years. Graduated in wildlife biology, have trained and responsible for almost 1000 sled dogs health, nutrition and vet care at various kennels both private and touring. Additionally have worked with, trained and maintained a good genetic diversity of German shepherds since 2011. I have also raise and teach wolf education and have been in charge of one facilities wolves for many years. From feeding, health care, all to way to breeding.
Presently I have 14 canines have very rarely ever went to the vet because I apply my own basic vet care and follow the above tips I mentioned. The only reason I visit the vet is for puppy health check ups, heart murmur assessments or major surgeries. For example recently I had one puppy with a hernia my suit I made could not fix because it was way too big to heal on its own with guidance. When it comes to a lot of other things though I usually have this passion for researching heavily and diagnosing things before I even see a vet, and I have one hell of a healthy pack.