To help you identify any possible illnesses in your puppy, the following information will summarize the genetic, congenital or commonly acquired issues seen in some relatives of your White Shepherd puppy. Please, keep this document on hand as a reference tool. In the event that your puppy is affected with an illness, you can point your vet in the right direction and eliminate the need for many costly tests as your vet tries to figure out what is going on. It will also enable faster, appropriate treatment for your puppy. Many illnesses need prompt attention so that they will not worsen and take a serious toll on your puppy. The quicker your vet can pinpoint the problem, the quicker your puppy will be on the road to recovery and feeling better.

There is no such thing as a “clean” dog or a “clean” line. Every dog from every line carries genetic traits, both good and bad. Every breeding of two dogs will pass those traits from both parent animals to the resulting puppies. Some illnesses in the White Shepherd have been identified as “genetic”. Many breeders will not speak (or admit) to puppy buyers about these genetic issues that exist. We feel that it is in the best interest of our puppy buyers and our puppies to disclose what we know about these genetic traits.

There is a predisposition within the breed for certain illnesses. That is to say, all White Shepherds run the risk breed-wide of being affected by or being a carrier of certain illnesses that are seen recurrently within the breed. Following is a list of illnesses that you should be aware of. If your puppy is having difficulties, please go through the following list and compare your pup’s symptoms with the list of illnesses. The list is marked as “G” for genetic or “A” for acquired. Genetic will mean that your puppy has a chance of being affected through inherited traits, and acquired will mean that the illness is bacterial, parasite, virus or toxin mediated. After each entry will be an Internet link for further information.

Eosinophilic Panosteitis (Pano): a painful inflammatory bone disease of young, rapidly growing dogs, often characterized by increased eosinophils in the blood. Pano is a temporary condition and can be likened to “growing pains” in human children. Large breed dogs are most commonly affected. Symptoms can include limping, hopping, fever, and loss of appetite and decreased energy. Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatments are commonly administered in severe cases to ease discomfort in the pup. “G” or “A”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1561&articleid=466

Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI): a condition where the pancreas does not produce the proper enzymes for digesting food. Maldigestion of nutrients can seriously affect the health of your dog. EPI is a condition requiring life-long supplementation of the pancreatic enzymes so that the dog can digest and absorb nutrients. Without supplementation of the digestive enzymes, the dog’s very life is at risk. Symptoms of EPI are increased appetite, increased thirst, frequent loose bowel movements (soft formed to diarrhea), flatulence (gas), rapid weight loss, energy loss, and stomach rumbling excessively after a meal. Treatment for EPI is almost always effective in resolving the symptoms. With enzyme replacement and a highly digestible low fat and low fiber diet, the EPI affected dog can go on to live a full healthy life. Treatments for EPI include Viokase, Pancrezyme, or chopped, raw pancreas (porcine or bovine) added to the dog’s food at each feeding. If you suspect EPI in your dog, request that your vet run a TLI (trypsin-like immunoreactivity) test. The TLI test is currently your best option for determining EPI and is not costly to have run. “G”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1580&articleid=331

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (Bloat) or (GDV): a condition where a dog's stomach produces excessive gas and enlarges severely enough to cause death without immediate treatment. Usually associated with gastric torsion. Gastric torsion is a condition where the stomach twists (rotates), thereby impeding input and output, and cutting off the blood-flow to the stomach. Once this rotation (volvulus) occurs and the blood supply is cut off, the stomach begins to die and the entire blood supply is disrupted and the animal’s condition begins to deteriorate very rapidly. GDV is a very serious and life threatening condition. The symptoms include restlessness, pacing, rapid onset of abdominal distention, rapid shallow breathing, and nonproductive vomiting and retching. Profuse salivation may indicate severe pain. If the dog’s condition continues to deteriorate, especially if volvulus has occurred, the dog may go into shock and become pale, have a weak pulse, and a rapid heart rate. A dog with gastric dilatation without volvulus can show all of these symptoms, but the more severe symptoms are likely to occur in dogs with both dilatation and volvulus.

There are things you can do to help prevent bloat from occurring in your dog. 1. Fed two or three times daily, rather than once a day. 2. Exercise, excitement, and stress should be avoided one hour before and two hours after meals. 3. Diet changes should be made gradually over a period of three to five days. Mix the old food with the new food and gradually increase the amount of new food mixed in until the new food is fed alone. “G”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=402

Hip Dysplasia (HD): Hip Dysplasia results from the abnormal development of the hip joint in the young dog. It may or may not be bilateral, affecting both right and left sides. It is typically brought about by the laxity of the muscles, connective tissue, and ligaments that should support the joint. Symptoms include pain and discomfort during and after exercise, a hopping or stiff gait, and loss of muscle tone and decreased activity level. Obesity is a large factor with developing HD. Carrying around extra weight will exacerbate degeneration of the joint in a dog with a loose hip. Keeping your puppy in good physical condition and leveling out the pup’s growth can help reduce the incidence of HD. It is recommended to feed a high quality large breed puppy food and limit joint stress (repetitive jumping, Frisbee, excessive ball chasing, and long walks) while puppy is young and still developing. “G”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1569&articleid=444

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Inflammatory bowel disease is a condition in which inflammatory cells chronically infiltrate the stomach and/or intestine. The most common signs of inflammatory bowel disease are diarrhea and vomiting. Many times the diarrhea and vomiting may be intermittent (comes and goes). If severe, some dogs become depressed, will not eat, have a fever, and lose weight. Treatment for IBD is dietary management using hypoallergenic diets. “G”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=305

Ununited Anconeal Process or Elbow Dysplasia (UAP) or (ED): an abnormal development of the elbow joint. This condition can affect one or both elbows. The elbow may appear swollen and painful, especially when the leg is extended in severe cases. Symptoms are the same as Hip Dysplasia (HD) *see above with the difference being that the front rather than the rear of the dog is affected. “G”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1569&articleid=486

Perianal Fistula (PF) or (PAF): A deep infection around the anus that often results in ulcers and deep draining tracts. Symptoms can include odor, possible weight loss and diarrhea, excessive licking, scooting butt across the floor or lawn. Treatment in mild cases can be clip and cleanse the hair, hydrotherapy, antibiotics, steroids and Cyclosporine. In more severe cases, surgery is typically called for. “G” or “A”
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1592&articleid=2921

Giardia: Protozoa. Ingesting the cyst form of the parasite infects the dog. In the small intestine, the cyst opens and releases an active form called trophozoite. Younger animals are usually affected, and the usual sign is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be acute, intermittent, or chronic. Usually the infected animals will not lose their appetite, but they may lose weight. The feces are often abnormal, being pale, having a bad odor, and appearing greasy. Treatments include Metronidazole, Albendazole, and Fenbendazole. “A”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?articleid=739

Coccidia: Protozoa that multiply (and are organic) in the intestinal tracts of dogs, most commonly in puppies less than six months of age, in adult animals whose immune system is suppressed, or in animals who are stressed in other ways (disease or emotional stress.) The primary sign of an animal suffering with coccidiosis is diarrhea. The diarrhea may be mild to severe depending on the level of infection. Blood and mucous may be present, especially in advanced cases. Severely affected animals may also vomit, lose their appetite, and become dehydrated. Most infected puppies are in the four to twelve week age group. The possibility of coccidiosis should always be considered when a loose stool or diarrhea is encountered in this age group. A microscopic fecal exam by a veterinarian will detect the cysts confirming a diagnosis. Treatment is typically sulfadimethoxine (Albon) and trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (Tribrissen). Stress plays an important role in the development of coccidiosis. It is not uncommon for a seemingly healthy puppy to arrive at his new home and develop diarrhea several days later leading to a diagnosis of Coccidia. “A”
http://www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1622&articleid=727