Unusual genetical faults found in the GSD - Page 1

Someone told me that they were on an American show list, please no bad comments because I said this, and the posters were telling of all kinds of very bad genetical faults that were suddenly showing up.  When I asked the person to please describe, I received no answer.  Do not know if this person was telling the truth about the list or not.  I have never been on the list as in order to be on it, I'd have to swear that I did not like German dogs or something like that.  When I say "American" show list, I am saying what a lot of you would call the AKC GSDs.

The American breeders for a while were only using a very few studs.  When people keep breeding so closely over and over and over, the bad is very likely to show up.  Then the American breeders began to use a few German dogs.  I do not follow their dogs in any way and have not for many years.

Thanks for any information.

I don't know of any faults unique to the Am. dogs, they all (Am. & Euro) spring from the same fountain. The choice or concentration of studs/lines may have brought different issues to light, but they were all there in the beginning. 

ASL, and when I say that I'm talking about dogs that actually show and win, will trace back every line to one dog in the mid 60's, Lance of Fran Jo. The GSL seems as concentrated, just a different dog, maybe two.

As for Am. breeders using German dogs, is it really that wide spread. I know a few have, but I've been out of the loop for several years and have no idea. I do know that at one time, the mention of German dogs would incite quite a bit of cursing. Anyone doubting that was not at the National that Fred Lanting judged and gave some placings to German dogs.

An interesting question anyway.

Rik

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI )
Degenerative Myopothy (DM)
Elbow and Hip Dysplasia

I believe these three are the most common genetic disorders in both german bred and american bred german shepherds.

Bloat "Gastric torsion" is another, dont know if its genetic though. Seems to happen frequently in some lines.

There has been a problem with sudden deaths in American showlines. These are generally due to undetected cardiac problems, such as aortic and pulmonary stenosis and cardiomyopathy.

My first GSD had pannus (degenerative kereatitis of the eye). This occurs only in GSDs and GSD mixes.

PS: It's degenerative MYELOPATHY. The prefix 'myel' refers to the myelin sheath of the nerves, which is what is degenerating. The prefix 'myo' refers to muscles, therefore cardiac myopathy is a problem with the muscle of the heart.

Sorry, I am a bad speller. Thanks for explaining it to me.

Anything is possible where puppy mills and backyard breeders rule: watch "animal princint" and judge for yourself. Whereas, in germany strong legislation in dog ownership, and in particular, the SV regulation of the GSD have a selective, controlling and sustaining guide for improvement: ie the best dogs remain in germany and can only go out on co-ownership, or you part with serious amount of money to keep it. Only such dogs still have access to german breedings, if they are outside. In germany, the gene pool is chocked with the best dogs. Outside germany is beclouded with faulty gene pool with few good dogs to alter. Germany and europe, particularly Italy, the UK will lead for a long time to come.

Hemophilia, Von Willebrands, congenital megaesophagus are also relatively common hereditary disorders of the GSD

Germany only health tests for Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia. Nothing else.

That is not to say that German dogs do not have the other genetic diseases, they have, the same as everywhere else.

Add:-

Epilepsy
Pituitary Dwarfism