5 Things You Need To Know About Great Dane Diseases Today

Your Great Dane is at the risk of suffering from some diseases peculiar to the breed. Being a Great Dane parent means you must understand your canine’ trivialities, in addition to taking care of its fundamental needs, clearly. Encompassing issues like its feed, health and apparent petty things like routine establishment and disciplining of a dog. To help you out we have come up with the list of Great Dane diseases along with signs, preventive tips, and treatments. 

The breed, Great Dane though is huge and enormous but is vulnerable at the same time. Its canines are prone to various diseases which mainly cover joint and bone issues. Besides, the dogs might also suffer from heart disease. Digestive issues like bloat are also frequent with the Great Dane dog. Furnishing the Great Dane with a somewhat pregnable disposition. We will talk about Great Dane Diseases and treatments.

Maybe this is the reason why the great Danes are called ‘gentle giants’.

Look;

Proper care of a Great Dane can only be done if you are aware of susceptible bugs. Learn the diseases your dog has the latency to suffer from.

Great Dane diseases, their treatment, and probable prevention

The Great Danes are prone to a number of diseases. Some of the diseases are frequent than others making the Great Dane diseases more crucial to understand and discussed initially.

The following are the Great Danes diseases you need to be ware of, with their treatments and preventive measures.

Bloat

• What is bloat?
• Is bloat dangerous?
• How bloat happens?
• How to know if your dog is fine or not?
• What are the signs of bloat?
• Treatment for bloat if any?
• How to avert bloat?

Bloat is the most recurrent Great Dane Disease and a big trouble for Great Danes. Commonly evaluated as the top most slayer of the breed, bloat might also be perilous for your Great Dane as well.

Bloat is also called gastric torsion. This condition occurs when the canine eats too fast or overindulge itself in eating. This makes the dog gassy. Hence rendering it bloated. Naturally human beings also become gassy at times but can easily get rid of the condition.

Remember;

For Great Danes bloat is dangerous and in worst scenarios can even cause death. The dog can die within hours from bloat.

While food moves through a canine’ stomach, gas starts to accumulate causing expansion of its stomach. In case, this expansion exceeds its limits, halting blood circulation to related organs. The heart and stomach tissues being deprived of blood supply begin dying.

The stomach of a canine under bloat initiates twisting at both ends. i.e., top and bottom. Hence the gas remains in the dog’s stomach as it has no place to move out. Rendering the organ permanently damaged.

Signs

It is often not easy to know if dog is fine or not. Unfortunately, bloat in Great Danes is mysterious enough to catch beforehand. Knowing the killing latency of bloat here are some signs of the condition in canine;

• Inconsistent both physically and in disposition
• Change in appearance of stomach. It would become large and hard
• The dog might look uneasy enough to even lay down
• Standing in a tense position
• Absence of digestive noise (which can be heard if you are close enough to Great Dane’s stomach)
• Vomiting
• staring at its abdomen
• Whining
• Weak pulse
• Standing with their legs outspread
• Incomplete breathing
• Gums change their usual color to dark red or white
• Collapse

Treatment

If you get even the slightest idea that your Great Dane might be bloating, take it to veterinary doctor right away. Depending on the damage caused, the vet would chose the way of treatment. Which includes employing a tube to remove gas or performing a surgery.

No matter which way your Great Dane got treated post treatment care and physical examination is necessary. Vets might suggest some anti-gas medicine to your dog for the time being.

Prevention

The crucial measures you can take to avert bloat in your Great Dane is to;

• Discourage fast eating. Do not let your Great Dane eat too fast.
• Never take your canine for a walk right after its meal. Rather let the dog rest for at least 45 minutes after mealtime to avoid the risk of bloat.

Hip dysplasia

• What is hip dysplasia?
• Describing the causes hip dysplasia in Great Dane breed?
• What are early signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia?
• Is there any way to treat hip dysplasia?
• How to reduce chances of hip dysplasia in your Great Dane?

Hip dysplasia is a joint disorder present mainly in large breed canines. Great Danes being large dogs are often found suffering from the disease.

This condition is also regarded as one of the most common Great Dane diseases.

Hip dysplasia is a chronic disease affecting the mobility of a dog. In this condition dog is mainly attacked on its lower part i.e hind limbs. Leaving the dog passive and even not willing to move.

In this condition the upper part of femur bone does not position properly into the hip socket. As the joints have lost its flexibility. Due which the canine feels pain during movement.

In normal Great Dane the presence of fluid between two bones ensures painless movement. Its bone’ ligaments are strong holding the hip joint bones together.

Unfortunately, in case of dysplastic dog the fluid is not there anymore causing pain.

Additionally ligaments are also affected due to hip dysplasia. The strength of ligaments is reduced which is not enough to hold the two bones together. Making the joint bones to grow farther and isolated.

The foremost cause of hip dysplasia in Great Danes and other large canines is bad breeding.

Beside genetic factor is also a contributor to the disease. It is a hereditary disease that becomes worse as the canine ages.

Did you know?

Veterinarians reason that all dogs are born with healthy joints. Hip dysplasia develops gradually in Great Danes, when two bone surfaces separate which were meant to join together, making the growth of abnormal joints.

Signs

As mentioned above, hip dysplasia is one of the hereditary sort of Great Dane diseases. Which means you must learn your canine’s family history from the breeder you are buying the Great Dane puppy from. If the disease is running within family you might not let your guard down. And be vigilant for any early signs to help your Great Dane in time.

The following are precursors of hip dysplasia in Great Danes;

• Pain or reluctance during physical activity
• Lameness
• Discomfort or stiffness in getting up
• Passiveness
• Refusal to rise from an initial position
• Walking or running with stiffness
• Lack of muscle tone in hind limbs or back legs

Your Great Dane disease might have better chances of cure;

Hip dysplasia can be treated better if grabbed early enough. In case you have found any of the symptoms in your dog visit your vet right away.

Treatment

Usually veterinary doctor would do an x-ray to gauge the severity of your Great Dane’s condition. There are varied treatments available depending on the state of hip dysplasia for your dog. The cost of every treatment varies with surgery being the most expensive option. Other probable solutions for your Great Dane include hip and joint supplements, anti-inflammatories, and pain relievers.

The vet might also suggest physical therapy in combination with some medicine or supplements. This may reduce the pain making the Great Dane more comfortable during exercises to recover from hip dysplasia.  

Prevention

Indubitably, every Great Dane parent wants its canine to be healthy and robust. You can take the following measures to help your dog escape the chances of hip dysplasia;

• To reduce potential of hip dysplasia the paramount way is to opt for responsible breeding.
• Secondly Great Dane owners must strive to maintain robust bones and joints of their dogs. Feeding proper feed is crucial for bone and joint strength but do not let your dog overeat.
• Do not use stairs for your dog to walk up and down through. Rather employ other devices like gates or ramps to save your dog from hip dysplasia.

Cardiomyopathy

• What is cardiomyopathy?
• How cardiomyopathy develops?
• What are signs of cardiomyopathy?
• Are there any other complications originating from cardiomyopathy?

Like humans Great Dane also get cardiac issues. The breed is prone to heart disease called cardiomyopathy, in which the dog’s heart increases in its size.

The most prominent cause of this Great Danes disease is genetic. The disease is also a hereditary disorder like hip dysplasia.

Diagnosis is indispensable to treatment. Timely diagnosis is made possible only if you are aware of any early signs of some disease. Unfortunately, cardiomyopathy does not bear any clear signs. The Great Dane might die but remain undiagnosed.

Signs

If your Great Dane is facing difficulty in breathing, This could be a sign, must visit your vet right away.

Related complications

In case cardiomyopathy is detected in a Great Dane the chances of other abnormalities increases. Congestive heart failure becomes latent worry for such dog’ owner. Another fatal condition for a canine suffering from cardiomyopathy is arrhythmia. In which heart of the dog beats irregularly.

Osteosarcoma

• What is Osteosarcoma?
• Can you tell the cause of Osteosarcoma?
• What are early signs of Osteosarcoma?
• How the disease is treated?

Osteosarcoma, commonly known as bone cancer is another Great Dane disease. There are many dogs spotted with this condition making it a recurrent ailment of Great Dane breed.

Uncontrolled or irregular growth of cells is the root cause of Osteosarcoma in canines.

Signs

The canine disease, Osteosarcoma manifests itself in Great Dane with following precursors;

• Formation of clusters or lumps in different parts of body.
• Inflammation
• Pain in joints or bones
• Lameness
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue

Treatment

There are different stages of Osteosarcoma in Great Danes. Depending on the dog’s state the method of treatment is prescribed by veterinary doctors. Besides cancer stage, vets also consider age and physical health of a dog for treatment of this Great Dane diseases.

Addison’s disease

• What is Addison’s disease?
• Are there some causes of Addison’s disease?
• What are symptoms of the disease?
• How Addison’s disease is treated?

Addison’s disease is a gland related Great Dane disease, also known as Hypoadrenocorticism.

Did you know?

The disease is more frequent in young to middle aged female Great Dane dogs.

In this disorder the levels of ortico steroid hormones gets reduced. Due to malfunctioning of adrenal gland, the secretion of the steroid hormone is decreased. Leaving the Great Dane with Addison’s disease.

Symptoms

Addison’s disease has following symptoms;

• Laziness
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Lack of appetite

Treatment

In case your dog is diagnosed with Addison’s disease, the vet would recommend its to replace its certain hormones to normalize the function of adrenal gland. Medications like Florinef is usually administered to dogs suffering from this ailment.

Wobbler syndrome

• What is Wobbler syndrome?
• How Wobbler syndrome is caused?
• What are signs of the disease?
• How Wobbler syndrome is treated?

This is canine skeletal disorder also known as cervical spondylomyelopathy. In this disease the cervical spine at the neck of the dog is affected.

The Great Danes suffering from the disease explicit a change in their gait. Such dogs walk with a wobbly gait giving the name of the disease, Wobbler syndrome.

Symptoms

Some clear signs of Wobbler syndrome one of the Great Dane diseases are;

• Stiff neck
• Wobbly gait
• Reduced stride
• Weakness particularly in front legs
• Muscle dissipation at shoulders
• Paralysis
• Deteriorated nails from abnormal walk
• Problem in getting up

Treatment

The vet might recommend surgery to your affected Great Dane or might not. There are other methods used to treat Wobbler syndrome depending on severity of the disorder besides surgery. Indubitably surgery is the best solution as suggested by your vet.

The Great Dane dogs are also advised to put on bed rest. In this way activity is controlled at least to avoid further damage along with other therapies.

Healthy lifestyle for Great Dane: Prevention From Great Dane Diseases

Great Dane like all other living creatures require love, care, attention, and proper food. There is a huge responsibility at the Great Dane parent’s end to furnish optimal environment to their canine. Sometimes the owners are found concerned whether what they are doing everything towards their dog is right or not to keep their Great Dane healthy? Here is a little suggestion;

Keep on with your routine activities and feeding if your dog looks fit and active.

A regular sitting with a vet of your Great Dane is essential for its health and for early diagnosis in case of any disease.

Prevention from various disease can be achieved by vet’s recommendations. In case you observe something fishy with your dog take it to the vet instantly.

Do not overdo on anything, neither exercise or food.

Give comfortable and painless sleep to your Great Dane.

Knowing a happy dog is a healthy dog. Good luck with making your Great Dane happy.