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by Kaylee on 18 March 2015 - 01:03
It's been a long time now but my oldest was an American BYB dog that made it just past 15 years. I adopted him when he was 10. He was the funniest dog I ever had the pleasure of spending time with. He'd gotten slow in his old age but never stopped trying to counter surf when my back was turned. He also taught me how to secure a refrigerator against a smart dog.
by hexe on 18 March 2015 - 01:03
My first GSDs were vaccinated annually with the combo shots, and rabies every 2 to 3 yrs [depending on the prevalence of rabies in my state]. In the past six-seven years, we've switched to every other year for the combos, still do lepto annually, sometimes twice/year if prevalence is high in area; always have given heartworm preventative year-round, whether it was the daily forms back in the day or the monthly forms once the daily products were no longer available.
My sled dogs were on the same program, with the whole combo shot done twice/year if we traveled to an area where there had recently been an outbreak of one of the diseases in the combo shot.
Never lost any of those younger than 10, either. YMMV. I don't worry about 'vaccinosis', but then again, I tend to try for broad exposure to lots of potential allergens early in life when I have that opportunity so as to strengthen the immune system via 'natural vaccination'--the fewer sensitivities a being has, the better the immune system is prepared to fight everything it comes across.
by Sunsilver on 18 March 2015 - 05:03
When I started in the breed in the 1980's the expected lifespan was 12 to 13 years. I blame too much inbreeding for the decline. I don't think it's coincidence that my 2 dogs with the longest lifespans were likely BYB dogs rather than highly bred show dogs!
by Hundmutter on 18 March 2015 - 10:03
Nans we don't have to worry about effects of annual rabies vax in the UK ! Not
sure what I would do if I had that problem.
Most dogs I've been connected with, including those owned by me, have been
on annual boosters for the first few years of their lives, but then in latter years
moved to 3-year regime adopted by our vet for the 'work' dogs, and in the case
of my own dogs I haven't done annual vax for about a dozen years. Never had
a vaccine reaction problem, and believe emphatically in getting the full set of
puppy vax; but later boosters (unless there is a known outbreak problem of one
of the covered diseases locally ) ? Nah. Too cynical about the big pharma profit
margin vs. actual need to keep re-vaxing.
Re their ages, the dogs at work ( a motley crew in terms of lines / origins) mostly
lived to around 11 or 12 - providing they didn't get anything nasty before that age.
Last dog to go before I left was 13. Of my late mentor's show stock, the average
was about the same - but the bitch I had from her was only a few days short of 14
when I had to let her go. She had an osteosarcoma for about 3 years prior but as
it was very slow growing, non-painful, and on a rib so didn't interfere with her
walking, we just monitored it and when I had to get her pts it was because she
could no longer walk properly and became doubly incontinent due to nerve
deterioration in her hind end. My current dog, i didn't expect to go much beyond
8 or 9 for some intuitive reason, but he proved me wrong so far, passing his 12th
birthday in December. He was bred at the same show kennel but from different
German and UK lines. He is starting now to get a bit unsteady though.
by arra on 18 March 2015 - 13:03
my older stud dog Zando vom Cap Arkona is now over 10 years old, still breeds natural and he is in top shape! He has been worked all his life and went to many many trials and competitions. I feed once a day green tripe! And mostly raw food diet, not much kibble.
here is a picture of him just from the other day.....
I believe his sire Melano vom Cap Arkona also lived until 14 years old.
by Blitzen on 18 March 2015 - 13:03
My first GSD died from lymphosarcoma at 7 1/2. He was sick most of his life - allergies, chronic bacterial infections. autoimmune diseases, and then the leukemia. One month after he had his first and only intra nasal kennel cough vaccine, he developed a bacterial sinusitis, sneezed blood and mucous 24/7. After 2 surgeries, many cultures and sensitivities, every anitibiotic known to man, no cure. The soft tissue surgeon finally decided it was the result of the KC vac. Never again......I only agree to that vaccine because we had to board him and the kennel required it. I will never use one of those intranasal vacs again.
by Sunsilver on 18 March 2015 - 14:03
I know allergies are inherited. Star has chronically gunky ears and itches a lot, especially around her mouth and anus, which is typical for dogs with food sensitivities. I have her on a limited ingredient diet, and she's doing okay, though her ears flare up every month or so.
Her sire had similar problems.
I have a friend with a beagle that has such severe allergy problems, he's nearly died a couple of times. she spends thousands of dollars every year on medical care, medicines and supplements. Apparently, his father has produced a number of pups with similar problems, and one actually had to be euthanized. Yet the breeder continues to let him pump out puppies... 
Star's breed only allowed Star's dad to sire 2 litters, then retired him when he didn't like what he was producing, despite the fact he could have made good money off of his stud fees, because he was an Ursus von Batu son.
by Rebel and Champ on 18 March 2015 - 15:03
Currently my oldest is working/show lines cross, he is 13, still tracking, and hasn't seen a vet since puppyhood! The whole litter - that I know about, made it to over 12.
Everyday with him is a bonus, he has had an immense impact on my life, even changing my way of thinking and training despite a lifetime in Shepherds before I had him - he is truly one of THOSE dogs!
by joanro on 18 March 2015 - 21:03
https://www.dropbox.com/s/u6rpoqws0iw5yc4/2015-03-17%2017.12.00.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tjszp5tfqvlmvwz/2015-03-17%2017.13.13.mp4?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s6q13y8jrp7swss/2015-03-17%2017.15.13.mp4?dl=0
by hexe on 19 March 2015 - 01:03
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