German Shepherd Skull

How Dangerous Are German Shepherd Breeds? – German Shepherd Skull

You might have never thought about it, but just how many bones does a German Shepherd have? While the quantity of bones that a German Shepherd possesses is not typical among dogs, just how their muscles and bones function together creates a rather loyal companion that has served mankind in several useful capacities for many generations. It has been estimated that over one hundred and fifty bones are in a dog’s skeletal structure. This article will focus on just three of the many important bones that make up your faithful German Shepherd.

Just to give a quick introduction, here’s what happens when you look at a German Shepherd’s skull: it has three major bones that make up the skull. At the top is the cranium, or the backbone; next are the ribs or the side bones, and finally are the forelimbs or the head bones.

These bones go all the way to the base of the skull. The German Shepherd’s skull is shaped like a rectangle. It sits at the top of the neck in a “V” shape. Below the German Shepherd’s skull, you can find their mandible and dentures.

Now let’s take a closer look at these important bones.

The major bones found in the German Shepherd’s skull include the cranium, or the top of the head; the ribs, or the side bones; and the forelimbs, or the backbones. The forelimbs allow the dog to turn and reach its hind limbs. The backbones help support the dog’s hip dysplasia and give it the ability to wiggle its hind legs in the direction of movement. On the other hand, the ribs help maintain the natural gait of the German Shepherd.

These important bones, when damaged, can cause serious medical problems for your German Shepherd. Two of the most common causes of death in German Shepherds are congenital eye defects and hip dysplasia. A German Shepherd’s skull contains the beginnings of nerves that pass through the brain and spinal cord.

Because these nerves can become damaged easily, you must regularly inspect the health of your German Shepherd’s skull. An examination by an OSHA-certified veterinarian will help to keep your German Shepherd’s skeletal structure intact.

German Shepherds have their own unique set of characteristics, genetic disorders, and diseases. One of the most common genetic disorders in german shepherds is a form of cerebellar ataxia or more commonly known as cerebellar hypoplasia. This disorder is marked by an abnormally shaped brain and can lead to serious physical abnormalities. Because the brain and spinal cord of the dogs are much larger than those of humans, the condition is called “Cerebral Palsy”.

Hip dysplasia is another common genetic abnormality found in german shepherds.

The condition involves the abnormal development of the hip joint. This disease usually appears to be treatable but because of its severe physical implications, it often results in death in the dogs before they reach five years of age. Hip dysplasia can also cause severe hip injuries and deformities that require immediate surgical treatment to avoid permanent loss of the dog’s ability to walk.

Dogs with C-CSF disorder exhibit a condition where the soft palate and uvula do not develop normally. This often leads to difficulty swallowing, breathing, and speaking. The affected dogs sometimes cannot produce vocal sounds, they suffer from loud snores, have clogged air passage, and have speech problems.

Other symptoms include drooling, coughing, hacking cough, ear infections, and a loss of appetite. Many owners of German shepherd puppies suffering from C-CSF disorder believe their dogs will regain their normal active and energetic selves with proper diet, care, exercise, and plenty of love. But sadly this condition cannot be cured.

Cancer of the bone is another condition found more commonly in german shepherds. Hip dysplasia and bone cancer can both be fatal if not treated. German shepherd dog breeds are more prone to developing bone cancer than any other dog breed.

Bone cancer in the hip joint can lead to joint pain, infection, deformation of the bone (which can become permanent), loss of the joint, swelling, and deformity. Treatment for bone cancer usually involves surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and supportive treatment such as weight loss and artificial hips.