German Shepherds: Common Health Problems

German Shepherd Joint Health

Hip Dysplasia

German Shepherds are prone to canine hip dysplasia (CHD). In fact, nearly 20% of all German Shepherds suffer from this congenital disorder. Hip dysplasia starts early, usually by 4 months old, and worsens over time.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis, also known as Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), is caused by a progressive inflammation in the joints from a reduction in cartilage. Osteoarthritis is common in large breed dogs, like German Shepherds, and contributing factors include advanced age, obesity, repetitive stress from activity, and injury.

Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a devastating neurological disease that causes a slow, progressive degeneration of white matter around the spinal column eventually resulting in complete paralysis. Because DM can present similarly to hip dysplasia as well as osteoarthritis, rates of incidence are not well known. One US study suggests 2% of German Shepherds have DM.

Panosteitis

Panosteitis is a painful inflammation of the outer surface of the long leg bones. This condition is primarily seen in large breed dogs that are rapidly growing. It’s more common among male dogs and symptoms include lameness, weight loss, and pain. The German Shepherd is the most commonly affected breed.

"Our 4-year-old German Shepherd was recently diagnosed with hip dysplasia and spinal disc disease. We have bought several mass-produced “orthopedic” dog beds and he wanted nothing to do with them. After much research on Big Barker beds, and our appreciation of them being American made, we decided we had nothing to lose, especially with the amazing warranty & return policy. It took Red about 2 weeks to absolutely fall in love with his bed. He has no pain on rising from it, whereas before Big Barker, he cried in excruciating pain when getting up. We highly recommend these beds, as they are everything as described by the manufacturers. My only wish is that they made a human-sized bed, as it is incredibly comfortable!"

Amy M.

Why German Shepherds Love Big Barker Beds

"Maximus loves his new bed! My GSD has elbow dysplasia so he needed a bed he could lounge or sleep on that didn’t put pressure on his joints. It’s the only bed I have found that is worth the money!"

Patricia F.

“ I bought my first Big Barker for my 5-year-old 85 pound German Shepherd, Aiko, for her bilateral hip dysplasia and bilateral TPLO surgeries. It’s so comfortable, she can lay on it with me and we don’t sink to the floor. Fast forward 2 1/2 years later and I gave our new puppy, Aiko's Large Big Barker, and bought her a new XL Big Barker! I completely recommend these beds and although they are a bit expensive, they are well worth the money since they even provide a 10-year warranty. ”

Stephanie S.

Bonus Review! (It’s from Eric, the owner of Big Barker)

“I first started Big Barker 8 years ago to help my dog Hank in his battle with hip dysplasia. We lost Hank back in 2018 after 13 great years together. We just celebrated Spike’s 1st birthday and I’m glad to know that I’m giving him and his joints the best possible start.”

Eric S.

Big Barker is a revolution in sleep care for dogs. Whereas other dog beds arrive on store shelves from Chinese assembly lines, our beds are sold online and handcrafted with high-quality furniture-grade materials in Reading, Pennsylvania. It’s why we can offer a 10-Year Warranty.

Other dog beds flatten and fail your dog within the first year (or sooner!). We build dog beds that are built-to-last.

Other pet companies try to be all things to all people. We don’t. We just make the best dog beds in the world. Because buying a REAL bed for your dog is the one important thing you can do today to shield your dog from the onset of hidden “joint based” aging.

Why do Big Barker beds work?

Simple. It’s the foam. Here’s the difference between a REAL bed for dogs vs a normal dog bed.

Normal beds made from polyfill or cheap memory foam don't provide support. Their material collapses under the weight of a big dog, with no support layer to prevent your dog from pressing directly into the ground below, creating uncomfortable pressure points.

The weight bearing parts of your dog's body sink into the top layer, wrapping their joints in comfort foam. The support layer in the middle provides a small amount of give, sustaining the comfort while blocking your dog from sinking all the way to the floor.

We blend multiple types of American made foam using a proprietary foam construction process to ensure your dog’s weight is well supported and perfectly balanced - just like you’d expect from your own expensive mattress.

Normal dog beds are most commonly made in China using cheap materials that let your dog’s joints grind right into the floor - just like you’d expect from a bad pull-out couch.

The comfort provided by Big Barker beds - and the absence of stress and pressure caused by laying on the hard floor - has allowed 60,000+ pet parents to keep their dog feeling happy and active.