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 Panosteitis is another common orthopedic health problem in German Shepherds. Osteochondritis and cruciate ligament rupture occur regularly. Wobbler's syndrome and hypertrophic osteodystrophy have been reported. Let's look at skin problems next – they're rampant in this breed, especially allergies (which cause itchy skin) and pyoderma (folliculitis and furunculosis), but also seborrhea, demodectic mange, lick granuloma, and occasionally calcinosis. Autoimmune diseases, where a dog's defective immune system attacks its own body, are extremely common in German Shepherds. Often the skin is the target of the defective immune system. Autoimmune skin diseases include perianal fistula, sebaceous adenitis, lupus, pemphigus, nail bed disease, and vitiligo. When the defective immune system targets other organs, the resulting diseases include degenerative spinal myelopathy, megaesophagus, and myasthenia gravis.