Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK

Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK (internal)

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The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) is one of the most popular dog breeds worldwide and has been widely used for herding, guarding, police, military and guide-dog roles. Over recent decades, breeding for characteristics deemed desirable in the show-ring have changed the physical shape of the GSD and there is now much debate about the health of the breed. Annual KC registrations for GSDs in the UK have dropped sharply over the past decade. VetCompass^TM collects veterinary clinical data from first-opinion practices for research purposes. This study aimed to use VetCompass^TM data to describe the demography, mortality and common disorders of GSDs in the UK.