Common health problems with Great Danes

Great Danes are the definition of big, friendly giants. Originally hailing from Germany (yes, not Denmark), they're friendly pups with a talent for being calm guard dogs.

But like any pedigree, they're prone to certain health issues. Here, we discuss the most common Great Dane health conditions, how vets diagnose them and how to care for one.

Most common Great Dane health conditions

Digestive problems

Great Danes can suffer from a few digestive conditions, like Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV) and bloat.

GDV happens when a dog is exercised too soon after a meal, leading to a twisted stomach. Other risk factors, like bloat, are present when this happens, but it's something to be aware of when exercising your Great Dane.

It's a life-threatening condition that needs immediate attention.

Bloat, also known as gastric dilation, is when a dog's stomach fills up with gas, food or fluid. The resultant gas can't escape, leading to pain and discomfort. It can happen after a large meal.

Vets will perform an x-ray and consider if your dog needs surgery if they have this.

Orthopaedic problems

Great Danes can suffer from a few orthopaedic conditions, namely elbow dysplasia and hip dysplasia.

Hip dysplasia is where a dog's hip joint doesn't fit together quite right - it causes bones to rub on each other, leading to swelling, pain and eventually arthritis.

The elbow version's similar: it's where the elbow joint doesn't develop properly, causing bones to rub on each other. Over time, it leads to discomfort, pain and disability.

Vets grade these on severity - higher grades are more likely to need surgery. Your vet will help with a treatment plan, which can include a mix of:

• Diet

• Exercise

• Physiotherapy

• Pain relief

• In severe cases, surgery

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

DCM is a type of heart disease. It's common in Great Danes and refers to when the heart's bigger than it should be. It causes issues in how the organ functions.

The disease is usually inherited and gets worse over time. The heart muscle gradually stretches and weakens, slowly losing the ability to pump blood. Eventually, the heart struggles to pump oxygen efficiently around the body.

Dogs affected with DCM may develop a dangerous complication: a disruption in their heartbeat, called an arrhythmia. This can lead to heart failure.

We recommend regularly screening Great Danes as it can help start medical management early and prolong heart health for as long as possible.

Screening before any anaesthetic is particularly valuable to reduce the risk associated with pre-clinical heart disease.

Cervical Spondylomyelopathy (Wobbler syndrome)

Wobbler Syndrome is a neurological condition involving instability of the bones in the neck. It causes back leg weakness due to their large heads and long necks.

This disease of the cervical spinal cord causes neck pain and an unsteady, wobbly gait. Since this disease is linked to nutrition, it is important to feed a growing Great Dane a quality large-breed puppy diet until they are 18 months of age.

This diet will help moderate their growth and lessen the risk of both hip dysplasia and wobbler syndrome.

Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis

Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis, a neurological spinal condition that causes lower back pain, is more common in Great Danes than in other breeds.

The condition involves a progressive compression of the spinal cord. It eventually leads to problems walking or rising from lying down.

The condition is more common in senior overweight dogs, so keeping your dog at a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do to reduce their risk of debilitating lower back pain.

Inherited myopathy

Inherited myopathy of Great Danes (IMGD) is a common, serious condition. Dogs typically begin to show signs around six months of age and many are euthanised before a year old due to welfare concerns, although a small number do stabilise and live to adulthood.

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty exercising

• Tremors brought on by exercise

• Weakness

• Muscle wasting

• Abnormal posture or gait

How to care for a Great Dane

Diet

Diet is very important in feeding a growing Great Dane puppy. It'll allow for rapid growth and protect them as they mature, reducing the risk of hip dysplasia and wobbler syndrome. A quality large-breed puppy diet should be provided until they are 18 months of age.

Neurological back conditions (like wobbler syndrome and Degenerative Lumbosacral Stenosis) can be reduced by managing your dog's weight. Obesity worsens symptoms in these cases so keeping them lean and active is beneficial.

Choosing a responsible breeder

Responsible breeders conduct all the proper health tests - it helps make sure your Great Dane has the best chance of living a long, healthy life.

Our article on choosing a responsible breeder can help.

Genetic testing

A lot of Great Dane health conditions are inherited, and good genetic testing and screening can prevent them. It's essential to maintain the breed's health.

For example, there's a DNA test for IMGD. In this case, both parents need to have a copy of the faulty gene to pass the condition on, so dogs should only be bred to those without the faulty gene or not at all.

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