Abstract
BackgroundThe German Shepherd Dog (GSD) has been widely used for a variety of working roles. However, concerns for the health and welfare of the GSD have been widely aired and there is evidence that breed numbers are now in decline in the UK. Accurate demographic and disorder data could assist with breeding and clinical prioritisation. The VetCompassTM Programme collects clinical data on dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. This study included all VetCompassTM dogs under veterinary care during 2013. Demographic, mortality and clinical diagnosis data on GSDs were extracted and reported.ResultsGSDs dropped from 3.5% of the annual birth cohort in 2005 to 2.2% in 2013. The median longevity of GSDs was 10.3 years (IQR 8.0–12.1, range 0.2–17.0). The most common causes of death were musculoskeletal disorder (16.3%) and inability to stand (14.9%). The most prevalent disorders recorded were otitis externa (n = 131, 7.89, 95% CI: 6.64–9.29), osteoarthritis (92, 5.54%, 95% CI: 4.49–6.75), diarrhoea (87, 5.24%, 95% CI: 4.22–6.42), overweight/obesity (86, 5.18%, 95% CI: 4.16–6.36) and aggression (79, 4.76%, 95% CI: 3.79–5.90).ConclusionsThis study identified that GSDs have been reducing in numbers in the UK in recent years. The most frequent disorders in GSDs were otitis externa, osteoarthritis, diarrhoea, overweight/obesity and aggression, whilst the most common causes of death were musculoskeletal disorders and inability to stand. Aggression was more prevalent in males than in females. These results may assist veterinarians to offer evidence-based advice at a breed level and help to identify priorities for GSD health that can improve the breed’s health and welfare.
Highlights
The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) has been widely used for a variety of working roles
This study identified that GSDs have been reducing in numbers in the UK in recent years
Using veterinary clinical data from the VetCompassTM Programme [37], this study aimed to report on the demography and mortality of GSDs in the UK and to tier the prevalence of the most common disorders recorded in GSDs
Summary
The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) has been widely used for a variety of working roles. concerns for the health and welfare of the GSD have been widely aired and there is evidence that breed numbers are in decline in the UK. Since the creation of the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) at the turn of the twentieth century, the breed has become one of the most populous dog breeds internationally and has been widely used for a variety of working roles including herding, guarding, police, military and guide-dog roles [1] During this period, the phenotype of the GSD has changed considerably. GSDs were initially bred as medium-sized dogs to meet their original herding purpose and GSDs are still classified within the pastoral group by the UK Kennel Club (KC) [2] Subsequent roles such as guarding and police work contributed to selective breeding for larger and more confident dogs [1, 3]. The KC Breed Information Centre states that the evolution of the GSD breed and its changed appearance in the last fifty years has provoked fierce debate, with the breed showing a marked division of breed “type” [2]
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