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As sweet and wonderful as Great Danes are, like all breeds, they have their drawbacks. Their usually short life is at the top of the list. The high average is probably seven to eight years, although there are certainly exceptions. It is known that many of them live from nine to twelve years. This is a question you should ask when interviewing a puppy breeder. Apparently, their early death was due to some reason. Unfortunately, more than their share of health problems are found in this breed. Not all of the problems listed below are life-threatening, but they appear to be more common in Great Danes. Thyroid imbalance, cataracts and von Willebrand’s disease are some of the health problems that breeders are also checking for. Ask the breeder what problems they are testing. They will probably never affect you, but it’s a good idea to be aware of these health issues when considering a Dane for your family.
1. von Willebrand’s disease
Von Willebrand’s disease (vWD) is an inherited disease that prevents blood clotting. There are different degrees of vWD, ranging from clear, to genetic, to affected. The screening consists of a blood test that determines the degree to which the Dane will fall.
2. Cataracts
There are many causes of cataracts in dogs, including injury, nutrition, congenital and genetic inheritance. Here we deal mainly with hereditary cataracts. Juvenile or hereditary cataracts torment Great Danes. Unfortunately, not many breeders check for cataracts, as they cannot always be seen with the naked eye. There is little evidence of this condition in Danes to draw any conclusions, as they may not live long enough for cataracts to ever bother them. The cataract is located on the lens of the eye, the pure body behind the iris. Most often, iris enlargement is needed to see the cataract. It is important that the eyes are examined annually by a certified ophthalmologist. If the dog passes the CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) test, the dog is issued a number – valid for one year.
3. Thyroid gland
Thyroid problems consist of an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. Proper thyroid function is essential as it affects many aspects of a dog’s health. A blood test will check the effectiveness of the thyroid gland. OFA (Animal Orthopedic Foundation) will only certify dogs with a normal thyroid gland. If the thyroid gland is not functioning properly, it often affects the condition of the skin and causes dry, itchy skin with sparse hair. Autoimmune problems are also common and cause infertility in the reproductive system.
4. Panosteitis
Panosteitis is an inflammation of the long bones of the leg that causes lameness. It is known to move from foot to foot and usually passes by itself. If the pain is severe, then a trip to the vet is a good idea. It is not known what causes panosteitis. It most often occurs between the ages of four and eight months and usually disappears when the dog is two years old.
5. Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is what happens when the joint of the femur (the long femur that joins the pelvis) does not fit snugly into the socket of the pelvis. This is mainly due to the fact that the pelvic socket is too small to accommodate the hip joint. The dog is in pain because they do not fit properly and as a result often develop arthritis. Fortunately, hip dysplasia is becoming less common in puppies of responsible breeders who regularly check their dogs for this condition. The screening consists of an X-ray of the hip joint and certification by OFA (Animal Orthopedic Foundation). Unfortunately, many breeders do not check the hips of their dogs and it is they who still have a very high incidence of hip dysplasia in their puppies. Insist that both parents be tested for this condition.
6. Hypertrophic osteodystrophy
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD) affects young people during their fastest growing period, usually between four and ten months. This is severe swelling and inflammation of the joints, which causes great pain to the puppy. Often the dog will just lie there and cry because the pain is so severe. The diagnosis is made by X-ray and the cause is unknown. Be aware of HOD, as many veterinarians do not recognize it when they first present it. Treatment is usually successful if caught early and there are several treatments, the most important being pain control.
7. Wobblers syndrome
Nervous system disease Wobblers syndrome is when a dog has movement problems. When the vertebrae in the neck form abnormally, this puts pressure on the spinal cord. There are several degrees of severity. Some dogs live long, happy lives with this condition, while others are unfortunately euthanized while young. Loss of coordination in the hind legs is usually the first symptom. The dog seems to be moving without knowing exactly where its back is. The problem is more serious when the dog falls when cornering. Sometimes, in very extreme cases, the front legs can be affected. Rarely, there is pain associated with Wobbler syndrome.
8. Swelling or twisting of the stomach
This condition is probably the most common cause of death in Great Danes. Studies show that at least 25 percent of the Great Dane population has bloating. Swelling usually occurs only when the dog is five years old or older. What actually causes swelling is not yet known. Many people believe that careful monitoring of what your Dane eats and drinks can help prevent it. The gases fill the stomach and the dog cannot release it. Due to the excess gas, the stomach will swell, eventually rotate around its axis and turn over. This is known as gastric torsion. When this happens, the nerves and blood vessels going to and from the stomach become blocked. The tissues that work because of these vessels will begin to die and produce toxins, which in turn will cause toxicity and shock to the whole animal. This leads to death very quickly. It is important to take your dog to a veterinarian very quickly when this happens. Sometimes it is not enough to take your dog to surgery on time. Often the trauma of the experience is enough to cause heart failure.
To successfully treat this condition, the dog must first be stabilized before surgery. By inserting a gastric tube through the mouth, the trapped gas can escape. If the tube cannot be inserted due to time or blockage, then they will have to pierce the stomach directly so that the gas can be expelled on its own. Releasing gas is the only way to stop the deadly effects of bloating and twisting of the stomach. Once the dog is stable and the surgical team decides it is safe to try the operation, the veterinarian will open the dog and perform a procedure that will ensure that the stomach can never twist again, called gastroplexy. Discuss this condition with your veterinarian before swelling occurs, as there are several methods that are commonly used. Don’t be afraid to ask your veterinarian how familiar they are with gastroplexy.
If the stomach is just “glued”, this is not a permanent solution. Within six months, gluing will be ineffective. There are more permanent methods of treating this condition. Future torsion of the stomach is prevented. However, an episode of swelling will always be possible. Some breeders and owners perform gastropexy on all bitches while anesthetized during neutering, and on male dogs when they have x-rays for hip dysplasia – as most veterinarians will use anesthesia to take an accurate x-ray. Calmness is worth it for them, because it is likely that the swelling is so high.
9. Cardiomyopathy
A common condition in the breed is a condition called cardiomyopathy. It is a heart disease that does not usually affect a dog until three or four years ago. Symptoms you may notice include a lack of interest in food, intermittent coughing, lack of energy, and intolerance to exercise. Watch out for swollen legs and vomiting, as fluid sometimes collects in the stomach and chest cavity. Unfortunately, after being diagnosed, patients with cardiomyopathy get about three months of life.
10. Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the most common form of cancer found in this breed. It usually affects the long bones of one leg. The first symptom is swelling of the legs and lameness. Osteosarcoma is diagnosed mainly by X-ray. It is important to diagnose this condition before the cancer spreads. The treatment consists of amputation of the limb. This is drastic, but the Danes are doing well on three legs and running around as if they still have an amputated leg. This decision will take into account the age and strength of your dog. Owners who have survived this condition and treatment almost unanimously do not regret it.
Due to the potential health risks in Great Danes, responsible breeders will check their dogs before making breeding decisions. OFA (Animal Orthopedic Foundation) evaluates and registers dogs for elbow and hip dysplasia, heart defects and thyroid function. The degree of the thighs will be either bad, good or excellent. They will also tell the owner if the dog is dysplastic. CERF (Dog Eye Registration Foundation) will certify the eyes after the dog has been examined by a certified canine ophthalmologist. Insist on proof of these tests from the breeder to make sure that conscientious breeding practices are applied and to know that your Dane is of good breeding.
Great Danes grow in one year what people grow in eighteen. During this period of growth, if something goes wrong with the metabolism or absorption of nutrients, it will most often occur in the skeleton. Most of these problems are easily managed or prevented with proper nutrition. Ideally, a diet that includes all the elements of growth, which is properly balanced, should effectively slow down this growth rate. Given that all the above problems are huge, there is no reason why your Great Dane can not live a long life without any of them. Having a Dane does not always mean that there will be problems!
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Source by Mandy Schubach