Do German Shepherds tend to have sensitive skin?

Question

What causes this?

Answer 1

GSDs tend to have allergies which causes them to have sensitive skin. It is mainly due to the breeding, but most dogs have some degree of allergies. I would put your GSD on a high quality omega 3 & 6 fatty acid supplement and make sure that you have the dog on a high quality food. I would recommend one of the Natural Balance allergy formulas, they have different protien and grain sources that are new to the dog and will help if the dog has any food allergies.

Answer 2

German shepherd's HAVE very alkaline skin - so their skin dries out & some German Shepherds will break out. It has nothing to do with them being registered pedigree & nothing to do with type of German Shepherd. Just like people some can have a sensitivity due to environment, body not digesting & etc. correctly. There can be one dog in a litter or one in 4 litters that may be skin sensitive. I have raised, bred, trained., & showd over 20 German Shepherds, 2 Shiloh Shepherds, 4 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, 4 Doberman Pinchers & 4 Collies. German Shepherd's skin are more alkaline.. Take your dog to a vet have them test your dog for allergies & auto immune defects. Add vegetable oil.(1 teaspoon) to dry food for dry skin & if that does not work try fish oil. German Shepherds also tend to have sensitive stomachs with the same of maybe 1 in a litter or I in 4 litters. Just cause you have 1 shepherd without a sensitive skin problem does not make you an expert on German Shepherd, cause I am not & raised for 26 years.

Answer 3

Most German Shepherds do not tend to have sensitive skin. Make sure you have your dog on a quality food. Maybe a lamb and rice, or chicken and rice if he has allergies. Also, Shepherds can be highly allergic to fleas. Even if one flea jumps on, bites and jumps off, the dog can scratch or bite hair off on a place so it is raw. Keep your dog free of parasites and treat with something like Frontline plus once a month. In all of my GSD's at my kennel, I do not even have 1 with sensitive skin. Oh, and to the poster above about breeding, I have West German show lines, East German working lines and American show lines here.

Answer 4

I have 2 German Shepherds and they don't tend to have sensitive skin. However; winter can be a bit harsh on them with dryness and such.

With parasites (mites, dander, etc.) this can pose some issues. However; you may want to look around your home or where they frequent and see if they are coming in touch with things, cleaning agents, or other surfaces that may be leading to any problems which is why I assume you asked this question.

However; all in all, a good diet, good maintenance of parisital pests, and keeping up of regular required and recommended shots is why I believe my Shepherds don't have any problems.

I don't skimp on the quality of their food, and I don't give them any people food. I do not bathe them as they keep themselves clean and help groom each other. Too much bathing is not good either.

I brush them as needed, and I make sure they are cool in the Summer and Warm in the winter. You may want to run your concerns by a Veterinarian or Vet Tech if none of what I have shared works.

NOTE: I know of an acquaintence that let his dog run all over a floor he had recently treated with a floor chemical that was absorbed into the poor dog's feet which led to Liver damage and Central Nervous problems such as seizures.

Make sure the surface your dog walks on is safe. Even carpet cleaners or letting your dog walk on a freshly mopped floor can allow many things to be absorbed into his body by way of his paws.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

it depend on the type. (yes there are diffrent kinds of german shepard!!) Most do have sensitive skin especially if it is a pure bred. Mine had an odd skin thing were he would chew himself rax and whin but he stoped after a year. Go get him checked out. Make sure to feed him right, meaning meats but not so much grain. Grain like foods arn't great for dogs.

Answer 6

SOME lines of German Shepherds are especially prone to allergies.

Answer 7

I don't know about all German Shepherds.... but mine does.

Answer 8

That depend. If yours is a register pedigree. You can check the history of their parent. If the parent are not then it would have been the food you feed. And the living condition of your GSD. Better check it with your vet also and some other breeder.

Answer 9

I suggest you visit http://www.dogsvets.net and consult a vet or breed expert for free

Answer 10

i had two in my life and neither had sensitive skin. one was a mut the other was pure bred. but no.