The Great Dane dog’ short life span and a related query why do Great Danes die early?, are the two most recurrent questions on the Great Dane breed. The Great Dane is a canine which is admired universally owing to its extraordinary appearance. These reliable giants have shorter life spans as compared to numerous breeds of dog including small breeds as well.
The heart wrenching thing about a doting Great Dane dog is its short life span. The Great Dane is estimated to have a life span of 6-8 years at average. Whereas, some Great Danes might die before reaching even 5 years of age.
Want to know;
How many years a Great Dane dog tends to live?
Why do Great Danes die early?
The Great Dane is one of those giant breeds of dogs which are generally adored all over America.
Great Dane is mainly preferred because of its unique personality to other dogs. It has huge and behemoth presence which can reach up to hundreds of cm. The world’s tallest dog is a Zeus possessing a height of 111.8 cm from shoulder to paw. Great Dane is also friendly and frequently expresses affection towards its owners.
A Great Dane would make a great family pet. An excellent guard, and protector, a Great Dane is the Gentle Giant for you. If you are looking for a canine who is good at almost everything expected of dogs, its no one other than a Great Dane.
Great Dane Life span
One sad thing about this mighty breed is its short life span. The Great Dane is estimated to have a life span of 6-8 years at average. Some Great Danes have even a less age of 5-6 years, unfortunately. Yet, the Great Dane dogs have managed to awe people with their singular profile even within that short life span.
Well if you would be fortunate, your Great Dane might live to celebrate its 9th birthday.
Here is the kicker:
Some Great Dane owners are found claiming that there dog has lived more than the breed’s expected age. Among such owners an owner claimed that his Great Dane was able to celebrate 17 birthdays. But being an unofficial claim it is still to be verified.
Why do Great Danes die early?
Great Dane is an excellent dog to pet. When you look at its profile the dog excels in almost every field. With one exception; which is the dog’s short life span. As aforementioned, the Great Dane has an average life span of 6-8 years. The breed is among the giant breeds of dogs who tend to live shorter than many small breeds. This is the only dimension where a Great Dane seems imperfect.
Why do Great Danes die early?
This question is pondered upon by many canine experts. As of now, there is no explanation as to why the breed cannot live longer. Generally, the animals which are small have shorter life spans and those having huge bodies live longer.
But when it comes to dogs, this rule seems to lose its application. Smaller dogs can easily knock out big breeds in terms of life span. So, why do Great Danes die early?.
Dog experts consider that the growth rate of a Great Dane puppy is faster than other breed’s pups. It also ages faster and dies sooner than many small breed canines. The dog appears to live its adult life in a fast forward way, making a Great Danes life span short.
It is suggested that the life span of a Great Dane can also shorten from its usual life span. The Great Dane breed has many inherited disorders and diseases which can reduce life of the dog even further. It can be inferred that this is the major reason to why do Great Danes die early.
The Health problems reducing a Great Dane’s life span
The Great Dane dog is among the large breeds having short life span. The established average span of life for the Great Dane can be shortened further if the dog is suffering from disorders. The health problems recurrent in the Great Danes which can reduce their life span are;
Bloat
The Great Dane dog breed is most likely to bloat. It is a perilous, and often a deadly condition. In which the stomach of the Great Dane dog gets twisted. This results in breaking off its blood supply.
Once a Great Dane gets effected by bloat, the dog is prone to get bloat second time. Which could be dangerous for the Great Dane, as it might not be able to make it through again.
Such Great Danes require surgery to avoid the problem in future. Veterinary doctors might suggest a stomach tack to reduce the risk of occurrence of bloat.
Stomach tack is largely advised for prevention of bloat in the Great Danes. Precisely, in this procedure the dog’s stomach is permanently attached to the abdominal wall. This prevents stomach from twisting in the future.
If you own Great Dane, a dog prone to bloat, it is suggested to consult a veterinary doctor and get informed regarding the problem.
Bloating can be lethal for the Great Dane
When it comes to the Great Dane, one of the health risks this breed possess, is bloating. Bloating is accumulation of gasses in stomach. Though sounds simple but for the dog it can be lethal.
How to prevent bloating of a Great Dane dog? Here are some general tips by canine experts,
- As a Great Dane owner you must give the dog its meal in small portion around the day. A big meal once or twice a day is not recommended for the Great Dane.
- Do not take your Great Dane dog for a walk right after its meal.
Cardiomyopathy
The Great Dane breed is among the large breeds which are susceptible to Cardiomyopathy. It is second only to Doberman Pinscher in its susceptibility to this disease.
Cardiomyopathy is a heart disease in which the heart muscles of the Great Dane get effected, which induces enlargement of heart.
If,
a Great Dane is detected with Cardiomyopathy, the chances of later abnormalities, such as congestive heart failure, also becomes a worry.
There are also other problems originating from Cardiomyopathy such as arrhythmia. In this condition the heartbeat of the patient Great Dane is interrupted. This condition could be fatal for the Great Dane except if the normal beats of heart returns briskly.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip Dysplasia is a paralyzing disease that influence the hip joints of the great Dane dog. The breed is more prone to this disease though it is also present in other large, medium, and small sized dogs.
Great Danes who are suffering from Hip Dysplasia or other bones related diseases, develop pain and loses flexibility of joints. This directly limits the activities of a Great Dane dog by making its movement slow, difficulty in getting up or lying down, unwillingness to walk, jump or play, limping, avoiding stairs. Hip Dysplasia can change the dog’s eating habits and even its overall personality.
If Hip Dysplasia grows the Great Dane dog won’t put pressure on its hind legs. Such dogs require human’s support to stand on its legs in severe cases.
Hypothyroidism
A Great Dane could also suffer from a condition called hypothyroidism.
This condition occurs when thyroid gland malfunction and unfit to produce the hormone ‘thyroxin’ in required amount. This hormone is crucial to the Great Dane’s metabolic rate regulation. The hormone also manages growth and development of the Great Dane.
The dog suffering from hypothyroidism would gain weight without any visible change in its appetite.
If you are an owner of a Great Dane do not let its age factor or diseases associated with the breed dis heart you from getting the dog. But rather, being an inseparable part of the Great Dane’s profile, short span of life calls for multidimensional responsibilities on owner’s part. Great Dane require extra care and attention. The owner’s must try to;
- Make the dog’s time with you happy and
- Strive to provide your Great Dane a healthy life
What can you do to have a happy time together?
Dog owners can make the Great Dane their beloved friend, by engaging it in various activities with themselves. Happy time with the dog or puppy ensures a perfect bonding. To develop and foster a unique bond with a Great Dane dog the owners ought to make sure that the dog gets what it requires.
The Great Dane is a smart breed which learns faster. It also learns affection and care from its owners. It registers and understands your expressions of love and care. Which also assists the Great Dane to decide on its allegiance. Also, if you want to be loved by your Great Dane make sure to express your love for the dog frequently.
Your Great Dane also gets happy when you would give it treats. Reward its good behaviors with toys and stuff. Get a cozy bed, a least bothering dog collar for your Great Dane right away.
The Great Dane also likes activities like playing in snow.
Why not arrange a trip with your Great Dane and enjoy snow.
How can your Great Dane live a healthy life?
Health ensures to some extent long life span. A Great Dane dog living a healthy lifestyle is bound to live longer viz-a-viz dogs having improper way of living. Knowing the importance of customs you have inculcated in your Great Dane’s life, here are some tips for you to provide a healthy life for your Great Dane.
Balanced and Healthy diet
Dogs just like humans depend on diet to maintain themselves. A healthy life of a Great Dane directly depends on what you feed it to with. If your dog is getting its much needed nutrients in its food, you are surely assisting your Great Dane to have a healthy span of life. But food for a Great Dane ought to be the food particularly made for the breed. As Great Dane could face problem of fast growth. The difficulty can be controlled plainly by furnishing the dog with proper food and nutrition.
The number of meals in which the feed is given is important for the dog. A Great Dane puppy entails three meals per day. Whereas an 2 meals for an adult dog daily. How much food to give your Great Dane is also important.
If your Great Dane is growing rapidly it might get musculoskeletal diseases like;
- Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis, and
- Hypertrophic osteodystrophy
All the aforementioned diseases are bone and muscle related problems a Great Dane might suffer from.
Warning:
While you are trying to supply your Great Dane with a wholesome diet, be moderate in the quantity of its food. If the dog gets a lot of food your Great Dane can grow out of shape and become obese. Obesity is as damaging for your Great Dane as it is for humans. But one can say that obesity might be more dangerous for your Great Dane. Therefore, the span of life a Great Dane would have is interlinked with the kind of life style you provide your dog with.
Physical activities for the Great Dane
To ensure healthy life of a Great Dane you can organize various physical activities for your dog. You can make a routine for your Great Dane including of exercises and stroll. Generally, the Great Dane does not require a lot of exercises. Simple exercise would do for the Great Dane. Try to take your Great Dane for a walk daily.
Regular sitting with a vet
The Great Dane is a breed which has high health risks owing to its gigantic size. It is suggested to visit a veterinary doctor regularly to check on the dog’s health. If the dog has altered its activity, food, or overall mood the doctor will find the probable reason behind this change. Mostly, the Great Dane would change its routine due to some illness. At this stage the disease is not that dangerous. If recognized earlier your Great Dane would have great chances of complete recovery.
A veterinary doctor would also be able to guide you if your Great Dane is ageing. How to manage the dog when it is getting old? It is indubitably a herculean task if faced without professional assistance.
Make sure your Great Dane has a sitting with a vet regularly.
Breeding
Experts suggest that the Great Dane should get their breeding history in order. This would help veterinary doctor to come up with diet plans for your Great Dane. Such plans are particularly developed for your Great Dane by the vets. The doctor might also be able to check on the latent diseases your Dane could get. Breeding must be done keeping in mind the high potential of genetic diseases a Great Dane has if the dogs involved in the process are not checked beforehand. Be cautious, when it comes to your Great Dane.
Conclusion;
In this article we have tried to find reasons as to why do Great Danes die early. In addition to Great Dane life span.
Though, the Great Dane’s life span is shorter than many small breeds. But it is up to you what kind of life your dog would live. Great Dane parents usually strive to provide a happy and healthy life for their Great Dane. You can ensure your canine’ health and wellness by maintaining its comfort. The supreme way of doing this is to provide your dog with a safe xl dog crate. Or if your Dane is living in a dog house it has to be weatherproof and secure. Moreover, daily walk is important for the dogs.
It is you who can make the Great Dane’s life happier, and easier if not longer. Because the span of life of a Great Dane does not matter it’s the happiness in both your lives that counts more.
References;
https://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-breeds/5-Things-You-Didnt-Know-About-Great-Danes.aspx
https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/194083/pets/understanding_hypothyroidism_in_a_great_dane.html
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