HD and bone problems

[draggar]

I better keep Fred Lanting away from this thread. He'll write a(nother) book on the subject in here.

While genetics is a factor (and there isn't anything you can do about that "after the fact") there are many ways you can help prevent HD becoming severe. As mentioned, diet is extremely important, especially in a puppy's youth during their development.

But also keeping them in shape is a great way to help prevent HD. Larger dogs (not just in size - but also overweight) have a higher chance of getting HD - keep your dogs fit and in shape!

The big issue is that when a breed becomes popular, unethical breeders start to pop up an then the breed started to get damaged (we see this with today's GSDs). As a technician, I'd have to label the GSD breed (especially "show" lines here in the US) as DBR (Damaged Beyond Repair). Even pet homes now are looking at German lines and importing - some potential adopters even ask us "your puppies won't look like inch worms, will they?".

I really hope this doesn't happen to the CWD breed.