German Shepherd with Hind Leg problem

Question
My In laws own a German Shepherd named Ally. This is their 2nd German shepherd. When there first dog grew old her back legs started to go, she could no longer control them, couldn't stand up on them in the morning, and practically dragged them behind her all the time. This has now happened to Ally, she is no where near as old as what Jo was when her legs started to go, but allys have started to go already and are getting bad very quick. My inlaws don't have pet insurance and believe this is just something that happens to German shepherds and that its in their breed. I was wondering if you could shed more light on whether hind leg problems are common in these dogs and what can be done, or any ideas on what it could actually be . Many thanks

Answer
Sounds like hip dysplacia.  It is largely genetic, but there are lines of Shepherds where it isn't common.  It is due to a failure to form good hip sockets.  Younger dogs can do quite well just on muscle tone, but as the dog ages and arthritis sets in, problems show up.  There is little that can be done.  Glucosamine helps and so do pain killers.  Aspirin is the only OTC one that is safe for dogs.  One standard 325 mg tablet every would be about right for smaller shepherds.  The vets have better painkillers.