Breed Specific: The Great Dane, the Friendly Dog Who Doesn’t Know His Own Strength!

Pikes Peak Vet wants you to know about your Great Dane’s lifestyle and other needs!

Great Danes are elegant dogs, giant, sweet friendly people-pleasers, but don’t mistake this for softness. They make great home guardians with courage and spirit. Danes are patient with children, which is helpful in a dog of this size. Taking a dog of this stature and power, no matter how sweet they are, is not a contract to be entered into lightly.

Males – Height: 30-32 inches Weight: 140-175 pounds

Females – Height: 28-30 inches          Weight: 110-140 pounds

Feeding/Treats/Weight: Discuss an appropriate diet with your veterinarian. Danes should not be fed human food, especially avoiding cooked bones and high-fat foods. Bloat is the number one killer of Danes. Multiple small meals per days and preventing vigorous exercise around mealtimes can help reduce the chances of it happening. 

Grooming: Danes’ short, smooth coat does not shed much, but the size of the dog can still produce a fair amount of hair. Weekly brushing with medium-bristle brush, grooming mitt or hound glove will keep shedding to a minimum. While they are blowing their coats, daily brushing is ideal. Baths are generally not necessary unless they get into something messy. Danes’ nails need to be trimmed regularly to avoid foot and leg discomfort as well as problems walking and running.

Exercise: Daily exercise is needed. A brisk walk two or three times a day not near mealtimes can be enough. They can make good companions on jogs or hikes, but you must wait until they are 2 years old to avoid damage to growing joints. They do like to go after scents, so they should always be kept on a leash in an unsecured space.

Training: Early socialization and puppy training classes are recommended. Obedience training is a must for a breed of this size and power. Because they love socialization with humans, gently expose puppies to a wide variety of people, places and situations to help develop them into well-adjusted adults. Social and eager to please, they respond well to firm, consistent training.

Thank you to the AKC’s webpage, https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/great-dane/, for much of this information.

BASIC FACTS

Over the Great Dane’s 7-10 expected years, you and your vet will create a health plan to evaluate and catch any conditions that may arise.

HEALTH CONCERNS

• Orthopedic/bone issues
• Eye issues
• Hypothyroidism
• Bloat
• Heart disease

Pikes Peak Vet has the goal of healthy longevity for your Great Dane.

Wellness Exams and Vaccinations

• Every 6-12 months, as advised by your veterinarian, until age 6, including a full physical exam and routine bloodwork
• Pets age faster than us and tend to hide symptoms. At age 6, we recommend routine exams and bloodwork every 6 months to catch anything unexpected before it gets too firm a hold.

Other Exams and Screenings

• PennHIP evaluation
• Joint x-rays
• Regular eye exams
• Chest x-rays
• Bloodwork to check thyroid
• Stomach tack, aka Gastropexy
• Routine dentistry as needed

Reach out for more information by phone or text, 719-475-1747, or through our Pikes Peak Vet app!