Why do German Shepherds die young? What health issues cause it?

An average life span of a GSD is 12-15 years. Health issues in GSDs include hip dysplasia, bloat, pancreatitis insufficiency, epilepsy, and cancer. Cancer is a middle aged to older dog disease, but it's really hard to see at what age they die from illness as it can vary within the breed. Some GSDs can live longer than others. It's important to make sure Bruno is a health weight, he is exercised daily, is kept up to date with his vaccines, and if you have any health concerns or questions, take him into the vet right away.

I’m sorry you lost your handsome boy. It certainly could have been due to heartworms if he wasn’t on heartworm prevention. Usually though they cough and have other signs before death. With a congenital problem they often die as puppies or young dogs. He could have had dialated cardiomyopathy which can be hereditary or can be a result of diet. They have implicated grain free foods in the higher instance of cardiomyopathy but haven’t discovered the exact reason yet. That does often result in sudden death. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Keeping Bebo normal weight throughout his life is the most important factor in longevity for dogs. Also regular steady exercise without a lot of jumping will protect his joints and reduce painful arthritis as he ages. With German Shepards hip issues can cause problems so the best thing to do is keep his rear legs strong to suppor his hips. I also give omega 3, and a good quality joint supplement in addition to a good quality dog food. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bebo.

I am sorry to hear that your dog isn’t feeling well. Many different problems can cause the signs your are seeing. These include Addison’s disease, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and exocrine pancreatic Insufficiency , and even cancer. EPI is common in shepherds and this could certainly happen in young dogs. Ideally an examination and blood work should be done by a veterinarian for a diagnosis. If that is the problem then adding pancreatic enzymes such as Prozyme and feeding a bland diet such as hills i/d can make a big difference. Best of luck and I hope you get an answer soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

I'm sorry to hear about Zorro. 11 years old is pretty good for a GSD, many of them only live until they are around 9 or so. Kidney disease is dogs is very serious, and most don't live long after diagnosis. It sounds like he was well taken care of, and as difficult as it is, know that he had a good life with you and try and remember the good times. 11 years is actually quite a long time for his breed. I hope that helps.

I'm so sorry about Freddie's sudden passing. Unfortunately, without a necropsy (animal autopsy) it would be hard to say what the cause of his passing was. It is possible he was ill, got into something toxic, or had a congenital issue that caused him to pass away. If you're having trouble coping with his loss, checking out some resources such as The Rainbow Bridge where you can talk with other pet owners and create a pet memorial may help you in your time of need.

First off, I'm sorry that you lost your dog so suddenly. Please accept my condolences for your loss. I'm only guessing here, but if he wasn't vaccinated, it could have been parvo that caused him to pass. It could also be that he had a foreign body, a severe GI illness, or if he was fed a raw diet, the bacteria from the raw diet could have made him extremely sick. Again, I'm sorry for your loss.