Are German Shepherd / Husky mixes healthy?
Shepskies can inherit some of their parent breeds’ prevalent health issues, including:
- Hip and/or elbow dysplasia: Both German Shepherds and Huskies have a higher risk of developing hip and/or elbow dysplasia, a common skeletal disease in dogs where the joint has grown abnormally, resulting in pain, lameness, and possible osteoarthritis.
- Eye issues: Shepskies may develop progressive retinal atrophy, a disease that causes degeneration of the retina at the back of the eye, which can result in vision loss; juvenile cataracts, which are cataracts formed before or right after birth; and corneal dystrophy, or eye diseases that involve changes in the cornea.
- Degenerative myelopathy: Shepskies are also prone to degenerative myelopathy, a progressive disease that affects the spinal cord and results in hind-limb weakness and paralysis.
It’s important to remember that even though this breed might have an increased risk for certain health conditions, this doesn’t mean they will develop them. Mixed-breed dogs are often healthier than purebred dogs because of greater genetic diversity. Your veterinarian can help you watch for health problems with regular checkups.