This is a placeholder text
Group text
by dwarf GSW owner on 29 April 2010 - 16:04
We began to worry and continued to call the breeder to see if there was a problem. I did my own research and found that he was a dwarf. Emailed her and she gave 2 options to get our monies back. Put him down and show her the vet note saying he was terminated or give him back (which then she would have prob put him down). So we went with niether option.
Bullet is a full of life dog that has an awesome personality. He keeps up with our full grown gsd Mele and our wheaten terrier Sassy just fine.
He is now going on 3 and we can start to see things really progessing now. The typical life span is 2-5 years. He has lost most of his fur. He has a bald rat like tail. His back only has a few patches of fur left. His head and paws both have hair. But, I can see he is starting to lose little bits on his head also.
Now when I watch him relaxing his breathing is starting to look labored. GSD have high tolerances for pain, so we arent sure if he is in any. But, if he is he isnt showing it as of yet.
As of now his back stands at 15 inches high and weighs 19 lbs
I HAVE MADE A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR DWARF GSD... IF YOU HAVE ONE PLEASE GO ON POST YOUR STORY AND SOME PICS OF YOUR PUP!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112730725426249&v=app_2373072738#!/group.php?gid=112730725426249
by DebiSue on 29 April 2010 - 17:04
by Sunsilver on 29 April 2010 - 18:04
There used to be a site called Heartland Meadows which had the stories of numerous dwarf GSD, unfortunately, it no longer exists.
However there are a couple of previous threads on the database here: www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/355178.html
Tig owns a dwarf named Nemo, who is quite a character. I'm sure you''ll enjoy reading about him!
Also, the threads talk about hormone treatments that can help prolong your boy's life. Good luck with him...some dwarfs live longer than others. Maybe the info in these threads will help. Tig's boy must be 12 now if he's still alive!
by VomMarischal on 29 April 2010 - 18:04
by Sunsilver on 29 April 2010 - 18:04
Look at Tig's Nemo on the link I posted. He looks like a little fox, which is typical of this type of dwarf.
by BlackthornGSD on 29 April 2010 - 18:04
A runt is just a description of a puppy in a litter who is smaller. Sometimes this is a puppy who isn't thriving. The potential reasons for not thriving are many--sometimes the puppy has health problems from something that didn't form right in the womb, for example. (Often these puppies have to be euthanized--I once had a puppy who stopped growing at 4 pounds. At 6 weeks, she was still just 4 pounds and she began to starve to death despite being fed--she couldn't get nutrition from her food. It was *very* sad, as she was totally adorable and very sweet.)
Some people just call a smaller puppy "the runt"--but sometimes that dog just has different genetics leading to a smaller dog. A pituitary dwarf GSD happens when the dog's body doesn't get the right messages from the pituitary gland, causing a lack of growth overall. (In humans, sometimes there will be "giants"--usually due to a tumor on the pituitary gland, causing it to constantly tell the body to keep growing.)
The other form of dwarfism in dogs is what causes breeds such as Bassets and Corgis--their long bones don't grow to full lengths.
by delacruz germanshepherds on 29 April 2010 - 18:04
http://www.dogstuff.info/dwarfism_lanting.html
by dwarf GSW owner on 29 April 2010 - 20:04
He is on thyroid meds called soloxine... we have been back and forth to the vet to get his levels checked monthly for a long while... but the hair continues to fall out... he is an awesome pup though...
OK now the medical stuff on pituitary dwarfism.
Pituitary dwarfism is a rare congenital birth defect resulting in the malfunction of the pituitary gland situated at the base of the brain, often combined with malfunction of the thyroid gland.
In dogs with pituitary problems the dog will develop into a near-ly perfectly proportioned but considerably downsized version. In cases where there is an associated problem with the thyroid gland due to lack of proper direction from the pituitary, muscular weakness and skin/hair problems will occur.
It is a genetic disorder but because it is a recessive gene it requires male and female both with the recessive gene to produce dwarf puppies. Unless a breeder is deliberately mating male and females with this gene to produce dwarf puppies, pituitary dwarfism is not common in the GSD. However, when it does occur it can be quite distressing for the owner because of the associated medical problems and the look of the dog because of hair loss. Dwarf German Shepherds usually have fertility problems.
As a puppy the dog will have a fine coat of secondary hair but no primary hair so hair loss begins usually at the age of 6 months when puppies normally use their puppy coat. In some cases the dog will retain tufts of hair around the ears and the feet which does look rather comical. The hair on the tail usually disappears leaving it looking like a rats tail.
As hair loss progresses the skin can sometimes become very itchy, very sore and become scaly and wrinkled with some areas becoming quite black. Some areas will stay smooth.
The life expectancy of a dwarf shepherd is much shorter than a GSD of normal size. Some say 2 years at best although there are others that dispute this and quote ages of up to 13.
hes some medical stuff on dwarf gsd:
by DuvalGSD on 29 April 2010 - 20:04
by dwarf GSW owner on 29 April 2010 - 20:04
Contact information Disclaimer Privacy Statement Copyright Information Terms of Service Cookie policy ↑ Back to top