It is most important that GSD owners report side effects of veterinary medications to the VMD. Vets themselves do this because they know this process exists and that it is important. 

Why does it matter?  Well many medications for dogs are less well studied than those for people and not all breeds are tested with a medicine before it is marketed. So no one really knows for example if GSD's excrete drugs differently than other breeds of dogs. The only way companies and the VMD will know if a drug is really safe for GSD's is by people reporting side effects. Not only to their vets but to the VMD.  This is a very important aspect of overall GSD safety. 

The problem is people do not report side effects and neither do vets. This has to change. 

Also, the VMD will post recalls and alerts from time to time. Now that Sanofi Aventis owns the worlds largest dog medication company, and vet drugs can be sourced outside of the EU. Dog owners must become more active in assuring dog safety.

Look at some products Merial-Intervet will sell

The two businesses are combining in a joint animal health venture to be called Merial-Intervet are expected to have more than $5billion (£3billion)(in annual sales of medicines and vaccines for pets and livestock. Existing products include:-

Merial products:

Frontline, the world's top-selling medicine to fight fleas and ticks in dogs and cats.

Heartgard, chewable tablets to prevent deadly heartworm.

Enacard, treats heart failure in dogs.

Tresaderm, for treating fungal and bacterial skin and ear infections in dogs and cats.

Ivomec, kills parasites in hogs and cattle.

Recombitek, vaccine to protect horses from West Nile virus.

Igenity, test for livestock genetic potential, to manage breeding, milk production, etc.

Intervet products:

Eclipse, line of vaccines to protect cats from various viruses and bacteria.

Galaxy, line of vaccines for dogs against distemper, parvo and other viruses.

Rabdomun, rabies vaccines for dogs, cats, cattle and sheep.

Panacur Plus, fights internal parasites including heartworm in dogs.

Plerion, fights roundworm and tapeworm infestations in dogs.