| Hip and elbow dysplasia can be found in a variety of | | | | inherited, dogs from poorly maintained German |
| animals, including humans. However, the disorder is | | | | Shepherd bloodlines are often at high risk. Working |
| commonly found in, and associated with canines. | | | | line German Shepherd breeders need to pay special |
| Larger and especially active dogs are particularly at | | | | attention to the hips and elbows of their dogs in |
| risk due to the excess stress put on their limbs and | | | | order to ensure that they are not introducing |
| joints. | | | | dysplacia into their bloodlines. |
| Dysplasia is an inherited disorder, and diagnosis can be | | | | While your guard dog may not show symptoms of |
| tricky. While some sever cases are recognizable in a | | | | hip or elbow dysplasia for the majority of its adult |
| dog's infancy, many cases go unnoticed until well into | | | | life, there is still a chance that minor deformations in |
| the dog's adult years. Dysplasia is the most common | | | | the joints will worsen over the years with standard |
| cause for arthritis in canines. The disorder often | | | | wear-and-tear caused by the exercise your dog |
| worsens as the dog ages and can be both painful | | | | needs. Regular x-rays of your dog's joints can help |
| and debilitating. | | | | you and your vet monitor your guard dog for signs |
| Work as a guard dog often involves rigorous | | | | of dysplasia in the joints. For working dogs who may |
| exercise. As a result, flaws in the hip joints affecting | | | | be getting on in their years, signs of hip and elbow |
| balance and posture often become apparent far | | | | dysplasia may be an indicator that it's time to retire |
| sooner than in less active dogs. Because dysplasia is | | | | your canine to a less active lifestyle. |