Expected life span for German Shepherds -- and how to help YOUR German Shepherd live longer.

Health problems in German Shepherds that affect quality of life and/or how long a German Shepherd lives:

Orthopedic diseases in German Shepherds:

  • hip dysplasia
  • elbow dysplasia
  • panosteitis
  • osteochondritis
  • cruciate ligament rupture
  • hypertrophic osteodystrophy

Skin disorders in German Shepherds:

  • allergies
  • pyoderma (folliculitis/furunculosis)
  • seborrhea
  • sebaceous adenitis
  • lick granuloma

Autoimmune diseases in German Shepherds:

  • degenerative spinal myelopathy
  • perianal fistula
  • lupus

Gastrointestinal disorders in German Shepherds:

  • bloat
  • colitis (irritable bowel)
  • hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
  • pancreatic insufficiency

Heart disease in German Shepherds:

  • subaortic stenosis
  • pulmonic stenosis
  • cardiomyopathy
  • mitral valve disease
  • patent ductus arteriosus

Eye diseases in German Shepherds:

  • pannus
  • cataracts

Tumors and cancer in German Shepherds:

  • hemangiosarcoma
  • lymphosarcoma
  • osteosarcoma

Endocrine diseases in German Shepherds:

  • cushing's disease
  • diabetes
  • hypothyroidism

Other health problems in German Shepherds:

  • epilepsy
  • blood-clotting disorders

How Long Do German Shepherds Live?

By Michele Welton. Copyright © 2000-2010


The typical life span for German Shepherds is 10-12 years old, though some are fortunate enough to reach 13 or 14.

However, many German Shepherds today live less than 10 years.

These unfortunate dogs are struck down in middle age by inherited cancers, bloat, or an autoimmune disease such as spinal myelopathy.

Indeed, health problems have become so common in German Shepherds that it can be difficult to find an individual you can count on remaining healthy for a normal lifetime.


There are two causes of health problems in German Shepherds:
  1. GENETIC. Your puppy inherits these health problems from his parents.
  2. ENVIRONMENTAL. Your puppy's health is affected by everything he puts in his mouth (food, water, chew toys), by everything he breathes (fragrances, smoke, fumes), by everything put into or onto his body (medications, drugs, chemicals, vaccines, ointiments, sprays, cleaning products on your floors) . . . virtually everything he comes in contact with. Many of these things cause health problems in dogs.

To find a healthy German Shepherd and KEEP him healthy. . .

Book cover

I wrote How To Buy a Good Dog to help you find a puppy that has the best chance of growing up healthy. Genetic health problems have become embedded in the German Shepherd gene pool by unwise breeding practices.

In How To Buy a Good Dog, you'll learn how to find knowledgeable, responsible sources of German Shepherds that are genetically healthy.		 Book cover

I wrote a 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy to help you KEEP your German Shepherd healthy for a lifetime. Environmental health problems can be avoided by raising your German Shepherd in all the right ways.

In 11 Things You Must Do Right. . ., you'll learn 11 "Golden Rules" for preventing health problems throughout your dog's life. By doing just these 11 things, you will minimize your German Shepherd's chances of developing health problems and maximize his lifespan!