Anatolian Shepherd Health Problems and Raising an Anatolian Shepherd Puppy to be Healthy

Quiz – How Long Will Your Dog Live?
How To Raise a Healthy Dog
Feeding the Best Dog Food
Feeding the 2nd Best Dog Food
Vaccinations: Needed or Not?
Are You Sure Your Vet Is Good?

The most common health problems in Anatolian Shepherds:

All giant breeds are prone to tumors and cancer, and hip dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of 1240 Anatolian Shepherds and found 11% dysplastic. A similar and closely-related breed, the Akbash Dog, had a 10% hip dysplasia rate, based on over 460 X-rays.

Elbow dysplasia and osteochondritis also occur in Anatolians.

The most common eye problem in the Anatolian Shepherd Dog s an abnormality of the eyelid called entropion.

Hypothyroidism is being seen more frequently in Anatolians. According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, up to 16% of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs have low thyroid levels.

Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to bacterial skin infections (pyoderma).

As with all deep-chested breeds, Anatolian Shepherds are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat.

Can you prevent health problems from happening to YOUR Anatolian Shepherd?

Yes, often you can.

1. Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from parents. Genetic health issues are common in Anatolian Shepherds today because of unwise breeding practices. My book, Dog Quest: Find The Dog Of Your Dreams, shows you how to find an Anatolian Shepherd puppy who is genetically healthy.
2. Other health problems are environmental – caused by the way you raise your dog. My best-selling dog health book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to prevent environmental health problems by raising your Anatolian Shepherd puppy (or adult dog) in all the right ways.

Here are my dog health tips for raising a healthy Anatolian Shepherd puppy or adult dog:

How Long Will Your Dog Live? – Take This Quiz!
Based on your dog's breed and how you're raising him, this personalized quiz will help you understand how long your dog might live – and most importantly, how you can increase his life expectancy.

Dog Health Care – The Sensible Way
Read my advice on daily health care so your Anatolian Shepherd lives a long, healthy life and seldom needs to see the vet.

The Best Dog Food For Feeding Your Anatolian Shepherd
The best diet for feeding your Anatolian Shepherd is real food. Real chicken, turkey, beef, bison, venison, fish....This is not "people food" and I'll tell you why.

The Second-Best Dog Food For Your Anatolian Shepherd
If you can't feed homemade dog food, here are your next-best choices.

Vaccinations and Booster Shots: Needed or Not?
How many vaccinations does your Anatolian Shepherd puppy really need? Does your adult Anatolian Shepherd need yearly booster shots? The vaccination guidelines have changed. Find out what many vets aren't telling you.

The Type of Veterinarian I Recommend
Is your veterinarian really the best choice for your dog? Learn about the differences between vets who practice conventional, holistic, and alternative veterinary medicine.

Spaying Your Female Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of spaying your female Anatolian Shepherd.

Neutering Your Male Dog: Pros and Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of neutering your male dog.

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