Information on this site is to provide many points of view it is not a guide to raising of your dog. You should only follow advise of breeder of the the puppy or your veterinarian. This site and owners are not responsible for any use or misuse of any information. We (as site / dane owners) do not follow a lot of the content on page below. Care of a dog is the soul responsibility of it's owner. The only goal here is to compile as many views as possible to let people see there is not just one theory on raising or feeding Great Danes.

 

What are Great Dane health concerns? 
If you have purchased your puppy from a reputable breeder you should have very little health concerns with the Great Dane.  But there are some things to keep an eye out for.  The following is a list of some concerns/health problems you should keep an eye out for.

    • Bloat (Gastric Torsion) More info : This condition effects large and deep-chested breeds, it may occur is smaller breeds but larger breeds seem to be more susceptible.  The condition causes the stomach to twist and turn, cutting off blood supply and preventing gas and stomach contents from escaping.  You never know when bloat may occur.  When it does there is very little time to seek veterinarian care.  If the dog does not go into surgery immediately, the result will most likely be in death in the Great Dane.  This is the second leading killer in dogs.

    • Heart Problems : According to the GDCA (Great Dane Club of America) heart disease has overtaken bloat and cancer as the most frequently occurring fatal condition in Danes.  Dilated cardiomyopathy is a degenerative heart muscle condition that gradually weakens the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.  It is usually associated with enlargement of the left ventrical.  If your Dane should develop cardiomypathy, medication will relieve pain and make the Dane somewhat comfortable.  But sometimes medication can no longer provide relief.  This condition is always fatal.

    • Wobblers Syndrome (Cervical Vertebral Instability) :  A orthopedic medical problem more frequently associated with Great Danes is Wobbler’s syndrome.  The symptom is a clumsy, or wobbly gait when walking.  This Dane health problem is caused by a malformation in the neck vertebrae that causes pressure to be exerted on the spinal cord.  Wobblers is thought to be hereditary condition, although there may also be a connection between this Great Dane health issue and nutritional efficiencies.

    • Hip Dysplasia :    Is a genetic degenerative joint disease affecting the joints of the hip.  The soft tissue surrounding the joints break down and the joints themselves begin to separate.  The best way to avoid dealing with this issue is to choose your animal carefully.  The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals will examine x-rays and rate the condition of the hips.  Any breeder should be able to provide OFA rated documents for the parents of your new puppy.  This is excellent information… Be wary if this is not offered.  Surgery can correct this condition in many cases, however a hip replacement will mean thousands of dollars in vet bills.

    • Entropion / Ectropion :  Although this is not very common it does appear in Danes.  The ailment involves the inward turning of the eyelid which results in the eyelashes; scratching the surface of the eyeball.  It is extremely painful condition that may eventually lead to corneal ulceration.  Treatment is available through the veterinarian.  In the condition known as ectropion, the lower eyelid turns outwards.  The result is usually eye irritation (redness, soreness, etc...) with possible infection and discharge.  This inherited condition can also be treated by ointments by your veterinarian.

    • HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy) :  HOD is an orthopedic condition that occurs due to the rapid bone growth in Great Dane puppies.  It causes severe joint pain (usually in the front joints) and is accompanied with fever.  If HOD is going to strike, it usually occurs in puppies between four and seven months old.  The danger with this medical problem is that it can lead to severe secondary infections (e.g. pneumonia) that can be fatal.  If your puppy appears to be in pain and develops a temperature, HOS is the most likely cause.  HOD can be treated and provided it does not lead to further complications, is not life threatening.

    • Pano (Panosteitis) :  This is a bone health issue that occurs due to rapid growth puppies go through during the first year.  When the bones develop faster than the soft tissue around them, inflammation will sometimes result.  A Lump normally appears on one of the legs and although it can be stationary, it is not uncommon to see it migrate to the other one.  This condition once the Dane is a year old.  There is no cure for this health condition, although anti-inflammatory medication will manage it.  The real secret to preventing pan is to properly feed during the Dane’s first year.  Do not over feed, watch the protein levels and in particular, the calcium levels of your puppy.  Growing your Great Dane too fast always leads to trouble.

    • OCD (Osteochondritis Dissecans) :  If this one shows up it is usually when you Dane is still a puppy (between four and eight months of age).  It affects the shoulder joints and lower leg joints and occurs when cartilage at the end of the long bones (leg bones) is injured because it is not developed enough to sustain the impacts and stress from vigorous exercise.  There are medications that can manage this condition but in more serious cases, surgery may be required.  The best way to approach this health problem is through prevention.  Try to limit the intensity of your puppy’s physical activity.  During the first year of growth in particular, even though they look magnificent, they really are quite fragile.

    • Hypothyroidism :   This medical issue that is seen more often than anyone would like is hypothyroidism/  This is an inherited immune system disorder which inhibits the thyroid gland from producing sufficient hormones to support the Dane’s metabolism. It causes body system to slow down and your beautiful Dane will display and unhealthy lack of energy and a complete disinterest in everything around him/her.  A blood test will determine if this is the problem and there are medications that will treat this condition.

    • Cancers :  all breeds of dogs suffer from cancers.  Data is now starting to show that over % of ALL DOGS develop some kind of cancer in their lives.  Great Danes are no exception – they get cancer as well.  Fibrosarcoma, a bone cancer, is more common in Danes and usually appears in the jaw and/or legs.  Hemanfiosarcoma, an organ cancer, is also prevalent in our breed and in particular, seems to attack the spleen.  It is a good idea to get any new lump checked by a Vet as quickly as possible.   It may just be a cyst, but breeders generally agree that something like 20% of new “lumps” will be cancerous.