Great Dane nail clippers can be hard to find. Whether you have a Great Dane or another breed of dog, keeping their nails trimmed is an important part of their grooming. Not only does it keep them looking nice, but it also helps to prevent injuries and keeps their nails from getting too long. If you’re looking for the best nail clippers for your Great Dane, look no further! In this blog post, we will recommend three different types of clippers that are perfect for large dogs.
How to Trim a Great Dane Puppy’s NailsGreat Dane Nail Trimming
Great Dane’s paws have very large dog nails which need regular nail trimming. A Great Dane’s nails are usually black, but can be lighter colored. The dewclaw is the fifth toe on a Great Dane’s paw.
This nail sometimes grow much faster than the other nails. It can be a difficult task to trim the dewclaw. However, if you avoid hitting the dog’s quick and make a clean cut, it will cause no discomfort at all.
Sometimes, Dewclaws get broken more easily than the other nails.
Many dogs nail care can be easier, since their paws are smaller than the Great Danes. Great Danes require regular nail clipping. A Great Danes nails will grow quickly and require trimming on a regular basis.
If you do not conduct regular trimming, the dog’s nails can become painful and it will be harder for them to avoid injury when running and playing. Also, you should work to get your Great Danes nails trimmed in a stress free way as often as possible so that they do not have a hard time when it is clipping time.
It is important to trim a Great Dane’s nails every two to three weeks, depending on how fast they grow. Clipping your Great Dane’s nails is not as difficult as it may seem. You just need the right tools and a little bit of practice. With the proper nail clippers, you can easily trim your Great Dane’s nails at home.
Large Breed Dog Nail Tips
Great Dane Nail Clippers are the same as a regular dog nail clipper, except they might be made for a large breed. Since Great Danes are a heavier breed, their nails are tougher and require a more powerful clipper.
If you have a Great Dane, they often require a different dog nail grinder. Some owners of big dogs have a hard time clipping their own dog’s nails. However, with a few tips we can help you eliminate all fear and work to trim your own large breed nails at home.
Nail clipping is something that many pet owners fear. Great Dane care is often more work since an uncomfortable dane does not often show good behavior. When using a nail file appropriate for Great Dane nails you can rest assured that your dog will not be experiencing pain.
Long nails are often harder to trim on dogs. The blood vessel in a dogs nails travel towards the tip of a dog’s nail. This is called the ‘quick’. When clipping, it is important to trim around the blood vessel. If appropriately trimming, your dog will get its nails clipped in a comfortable position with absolutely no pain.
What type of nail clippers are best for a Great Dane?
There are many types of nail clippers on the market. Let’s discuss some of the best nail clippers or best nail file for your Great Dane’s nails. When choosing a type of nail clipper, you should take into account the size and strength of your dog’s nails.
Great Dane’s have large, tough nails. Therefore, you will need a powerful clipper that can handle their nails. There are also alternative tools such as a nail grinder, scissor style clippers, the Dremel tool, and other clippers. We will discuss which Great Dane nail clippers and nail grinders we prefer. Then, you can make the best choice for your Great Dane.
We recommend a nail clipper with sharp edges to trim your dane. Clipping will become easier if your nail clipper will stay sharp while working around the dog nail.
One of our favorite Great Dane nail clippers is the Millers Forge Steel Pet Nail Clipper with a Safety Stop Bar. This grooming tool is an excellent nail clipper because it is able to surround the dog’s nail but also has the ability to trim without accidentally clipping the quick. We really like the safety stop on these nail clippers because then you don’t risk cutting the quick.
The next tool we will discuss is what we believe to be the best nail grinder for a Great Dane. We think the best nail grinder is the Dremel Paw Control Dog Nail Grinder. This grinder is very easy to use and has a powerful motor that can quickly grind down your dog’s nails. It also has a guard to protect your dog’s quick.
We really like this grinder because it is very easy to use and control. The pros of the Dremel is that you can have control over your dog’s paw and nail more easily. With clippers it can be easier to cut into the dane nails, but with a Dremel, you can more slowly and carefully grind away at the nails. With a large Great Dane, having a nail grinder can help owners feel more in control and less nervous.
Dremeling a dog’s nails is perfectly safe if you are using the proper tools and taking the necessary precautions. We recommend only using a Dremel on your Great Dane if you feel comfortable doing so.
Myth or Fact: My dog will file its own nails by going for frequent walks on pavement. Myth! Unfortunately, this is a myth. Going for walks on pavement will not help your dog’s nails to naturally file down. In fact, it can actually cause more damage and breakage to their nails. If you want to help your dog’s nails stay healthy, we recommend using a nail file or grinder specifically designed for dogs.
Is it okay to use a regular / power tool Dremel vs. the Dremel Paw Control Dog Nail Grinder?
Absolutely! Some dogs have extremely strong nails! For some dogs, a standard Great Dane nail clipper or scissor style clippers are just not powerful enough. The Dremel Paw Control is significantly less powerful than a standard Dremel Power Tool.
For those that might like to move as quickly as possible with the nail grooming process with their Great Dane, the standard Dremel Power Tool is a better option. Additionally, we have noticed that this tool is quieter than the Paw Control.
If your Great Dane is sensitive to noise, you will want to get the Dremel Power Tool and not the Paw Control. The power tool can be found on Amazon (linked here), or at any hardware shop or website such as Home Depot. Dremel on Home Depot Website, linked here.
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There are also some cons to using a Dremel on your dog’s nails. The biggest con is that it can be really loud. If your dog is scared of loud noises, then this might not be the best option for you. Another con is that it takes a little bit of practice to get used to using a Dremel.
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You don’t want to accidentally hurt your dog while you are trying to trim their nails. We recommend that you practice on a very low level first or get someone else to help you before using a Dremel on your dog’s nails.
If you have never trimmed your Great Dane’s nails before, we recommend that you have someone else help you or take your dog to a professional groomer. They will be able to trim your dog’s nails quickly and efficiently without hurting them.
However, it is great if pet parents clip their own dog’s nails. Great job working with your dogs!
Note: Here is a great website that speaks to the importance of cutting dogs nails as well as gives a tutorial using a Dremel Dog Nail Grinder: Big Dog Mom, How to Cut Big Dog Nails.
Great Dane’s require special care when it comes to their nails. With the right tools and some practice, you will be able to quickly and easily trim.
Can Dog Owners Trim their own Dogs nails?
The answer is YES! If you have the right tools, it is not difficult to trim your own dog’s nails. Start by getting your dog used to the idea of nail clipping. You can do this by gently touching their paws and nails so they get used to the sensation.
If your Great Dane is afraid of the nail clipper, you can try desensitizing them by letting them see and smell the clipper before you use it. Once your dog is comfortable with the idea of nail clipping, you can begin trimming their nails.
When trimming your Great Dane’s nails, it is important to avoid the quick. The quick is the blood vessel in the nail tips and if you accidentally clip it, it will be painful for your dog. To avoid the quick, you can use a nail grinder or Dremel tool to slowly grind down the nails instead of clipping them. This method takes longer but is less likely to cause pain.
If you do choose to clip your Great Dane’s nails, we recommend finding a pair of clippers or a dog nail grinder that your pet is most comfortable with. Since your dog is afraid of discomfort, make sure that you are extra careful not to clip the quick. Take your time, and if you’re not sure, ask a professional groomer or vet for help.
Steps to Trimming at Home
If you are eager to work with your Great Dane and file their nails at home, here are some steps to getting started.
Begin by finding a comfortable spot on the floor.
With your dane, make a choice as to whether you will use clippers or a grinder.
Get plenty of treats ready.
Start with just one paw, and slowly introduce your dog to the sensation of having their nails trimmed.
Use your Great Dane nail clipper or dog nail grinder and work to clip just one nail at a time!
Work up to trimming all of their nails in one session.
You may need to try out a different grooming tool one day than the next to see which one both you and your dog prefers.
Practice clipping using Great Dane nail clippers and see how your dog reacts. Then use a nail file to see if that seems better! If they don’t respond well to those tools, you can try different nail grinders. Every dog has a different tolerance to clippers vs. grinders, so be patient!
When you are done, give your dog lots of love and treats!
Regular nail trims are an important part of taking care of your Great Dane! So, whether you decide to go to a grooming salon for your Great Dane or file your dogs nails at home, make sure to keep up with this important grooming task.
What Happens if Your Dog’s Nails Bleed During Nail Trimming?
When it comes to nail clipping, there are a few things you should avoid. First of all, do not try to clip all of your dog’s nails in one sitting. This will only overwhelm them and make the experience more difficult. Over time, you can work up to trimming all of their nails in one session.
Secondly, make sure you avoid the quick. The quick is the blood vessel in the nail tips and if you accidentally clip it, it will be painful for your dog. If this happens, use a styptic pencil or cornstarch to stop the bleeding. Finally,
We recommend NOT using any Great Dane nail clipper that has sharp blades in order to avoid injury. If you accidentally touch your Great Dane on the ‘quick’, their sensitive dane nail may begin to bleed.
Do not panic!
You may think that your pet is incomplete and utter pain. But actually, this is not the case! Although a dog’s nail is very sensitive at the quick due to increased blood vessels, it is actually not as painful for their nails as we think. Many veterinarians actually state that hitting the quick bothers humans more than the dogs.
Products to Stop the Bleed
If your dog’s nail begins to bleed, there are a few things you can do to ease their pain (and bleeding).
First, use a styptic pencil or cornstarch to stop the bleeding. These are considered a binding agent and will help their bleeding stop.
Use treats on a regular basis if you find your Dane having any form of discomfort. Sit on the floor with your pet to help them have a positive experience with nail clipping. Most of all, know that dogs can pick up on your energy. If they sense that you are nervous, they will also be scared. Go into the experience with a stress free attitude and they will be less stressed.
To Wrap It Up
Trimming your Great Dane’s nails doesn’t have to be a difficult or painful task. Gaining the confidence to trim your Great Dane’s nails with either nail clippers or a grinder will take time, but it is important for the health and wellbeing of your pet. With a little bit of patience and practice, you will be able to trim your Great Dane’s nails like a pro in no time!
If you have any questions or concerns about trimming your Great Dane’s nails, please feel free to reach out to us!
Can you use laser therapy for your dog’s pain? The answer to that question is a resounding “yes!” Laser therapy is a pain-free, noninvasive treatment. Lasers are used to treat a variety of painful conditions in dogs.
Some of the most common conditions that laser therapy can help with include hip dysplasia, arthritis, injuries/ACL tears/knee pain, elbow osteoarthritis, ear infections, and wounds/hot spots/burns. Is your dog in pain? Be sure to continue reading if you’re interested in learning how to use laser therapy for your dog’s pain.
Many veterinarians are now using laser therapy to help their patients find relief from pain, and the results are often astounding. Has your dog encouraged you to consider using laser therapy for your dog’s pain? If you’re looking for an alternative treatment option for your dog’s pain, be sure to ask your veterinarian about laser therapy.
To begin, if you’re considering laser therapy for your dog, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Before you begin using laser therapy for your dog’s pain, make sure to get educated and informed.
First, you need to find a laser therapy system that is safe to use at home.
Second, laser therapy is not a miracle cure-all and will not work for every dog.
Third, laser therapy requires multiple sessions, not just one.
Fourth, laser therapy for your dog’s pain will take patience and time.
Lastly, laser therapy is relatively new, so there may not be as much research available available depending on the laser you choose.
It’s important to consult with your veterinarian before starting any laser therapy. Your vet will help you determine if laser therapy system you are using is the right option of laser therapy for for your dog’s pain.
Additionally, we will discuss a safe and reliable laser therapy device and the results that have come from it. When choosing a laser, it is of utmost importance that it not only is a system of laser therapy for your dog’s pain, but one that is safe as well.
So, does laser therapy help dogs pain? Absolutely! If you’re looking for an alternative way to help your dog find relief from pain, keep reading! Technology and science has shown that it is a good choice to use laser therapy for your dog’s pain!
Watch the Technology Behind B Cure ILLT Laser Vet Here to see how to incorporate laser therapy for your dog’s pain
Cold Laser Therapy for Your Dog’s Pain
Cold Laser Therapy is also called Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). To begin, Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a treatment that uses low-intensity lasers to improve the health of cells in the body. ILLT is helpful in treating a variety of conditions in humans and animals alike. ILLT Laser Therapy can help significantly with your dog’s pain. You should consider LLLT Laser Therapy for your dog’s pain.
Laser therapy works by using light energy to stimulate cells and promote healing. The light energy penetrates the tissue and the cells absorbs it. Next, this absorption process triggers a series of events. This leads to the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
ATP is the energy that cells need to function properly. Also, it helps to reduce inflammation and promote healing. In addition, laser therapy also helps to increase circulation and reduce your dog’s pain.
Research shows that the B-Cure Laser Vet eases back pain in dogs. ILLT gives cells more energy and helps them do their job. Additionally, ILLT regenerates damaged cells and heals injuries.
What is B-Cure Laser Vet Therapy and Can it Help Your Dog’s Pain?
B-Cure Laser Vet therapy is a popular alternative treatment for many different conditions, such as pain and inflammation. B-Cure Laser Vet uses laser light in the range of 1 – 1000 microwatts (MW).
This low level illumination has several benefits on living tissue because it does not cause damage while targeting specific areas with photochemical effects instead thermal ones like heat application would do. In other words, your dog can get relief without experiencing any side affects!
Additionally, the B-Cure Laser Vet is safe to use at home. The B-Cure Laser Vet treats muscle spasms and pain without the need for protective goggles. Furthermore, you are not taking any risks at burning your dog’s skin.
The Benefits of Laser Vet Therapy for Your Dog
Increased Collagen– One of the benefits of laser therapy is that it helps to increase collagen production. Collagen is a protein found in the skin and connective tissues. It helps to give skin its elasticity and strength. LLLT increases collagen by stimulating fibroblasts, which are the cells that produce collagen.
Reduced Inflammation– One of the most common benefits of laser therapy is that it helps to reduce inflammation. This can be helpful in treating a variety of conditions such as arthritis, injuries, and hot spots.
Increased Circulation– Another benefit of laser therapy is that it helps to increase circulation. This increased circulation can help to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Better Blood flow– One of the benefits of laser therapy is that it helps to improve blood flow. This improved blood flow can help to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Reduced Pain– One of the most common reasons why people choose laser therapy is because it can help to reduce pain. Laser therapy can be helpful in treating a variety of conditions such as arthritis, injuries, and hot spots.
Improved Healing– One of the benefits of laser therapy is that it can help to improve healing time. This is because laser therapy helps to increase circulation and reduce inflammation.
Watch Veterinarian Dr. Kane explain the impact of the B-Cure Laser Therapy Vet on pain and inflammation.
How to Use a Laser Therapy Device at Home
In order to determine the best way to use your Laser device, you need to identify the cause of your dog’s pain.
If your dog is experiencing pain from arthritis, you will want to focus the laser on the affected joints. Injury and surgery recovery will merit a different area of focus. Let’s dive into some of the common uses for laser therapy.
Always consult with a veterinarian if to see if laser therapy can help for your dog’s pain.
Your Dog’s Pain: Arthritis
Arthritis affects over 20% of all dogs in the United States. It is a degenerative joint disease that causes inflammation, pain, and stiffness. The most common form of arthritis in dogs is osteoarthritis.
There are a few things that you can do to help your dog find relief from arthritis pain:
Weight Management: One of the best things that you can do for your dog is to help them maintain a healthy weight. This will take pressure off of their joints and help to reduce pain.
Joint Supplements: Another thing that you can do is to give your dog joint supplements. These supplements can help to reduce inflammation and pain.
Dasuqin is a veterinarian approved joint supplement for large dogs.
Exercise: Exercise is important for all dogs, but it is especially important for dogs with arthritis. Exercise helps to increase circulation and reduce pain.
Laser Therapy: Laser therapy can also be helpful in treating arthritis pain. The best way to use laser therapy for arthritis is to focus the laser on the affected joints.
How to Use the B-Cure Laser Vet to Treat Your Dog’s Arthritis Pain
Symptoms of Arthritis
Slow to move/jump/run or hesitation to climb stairs
Difficulty keeping up with daily activity
Reluctant to play like they used to
Lameness in hind end
Looseness of joint
Bunny Hopping when running, instead of running normally
Loss of muscle mass/muscle degrading
Noticeable change in behavior/temperament
Agitation towards kids/other dogs/adults that used to be fine
Pain/irritation
Stiffness and soreness
Whining or whimpering
Reluctant to climb into or jump out of car
“B-Cure Laser Vet is an effective mode of treatment that helps treat inflammation, reduces pain and swelling.”
Treatment of Arthritis Pain Using Laser Therapy
If your dog has pain in its hips or back due to arthritis or hip dysplasia, begin by using 1.5-2 minutes of the Cold Laser Therapy on each spots that depict pain (hips, joints). You will gradually increase the treatment to up to 4 minutes.
It is best to repeat the laser treatment at least twice daily.
Treating ACL Tear / CCL Tear
If your dog has suffered an ACL tear or CCL tear, you know that the road to recovery can be long and painful. Laser therapy can help to speed up the healing process and reduce pain.
ACL Tears are one of the most common injuries in dogs. They occur when the ligament that stabilizes the knee is torn. This can happen due to trauma, exercise, or degenerative disease.
Symptoms of Knee Pain or ACL / CCL Tear
Location and severity of knee pain varies in accordance with the cause of the problem. Signs and symptoms that may accompany knee pain:
After an injury, you may notice your dog is weaker
Your dog loses stability or looks ‘wobbly’
Swelling in knee or leg
You hear a popping or cracking in the knee
Lack of ability to straighten their knee
Pain / lethargy with movement
Hesitancy to move up and down stairs or into car
CCL Tears are similar to ACL Tears, but they occur in the elbow instead of the knee.
The best way to use laser therapy for an ACL or CCL tear is to focus the laser on the affected area for 15-20 minutes per day.
Ear infections are one of the most common problems that dogs experience. Ear pain is caused by a variety of things. Some causes include allergies, bacteria, yeast, and foreign bodies. Ear infections can be very painful for your dog.
Have you noticed your dog shaking their head or scratching their ears? These are both signs that your dog may have an ear infection. Other signs include red, inflamed ears, a foul odor coming from the ears, and discharge.
Otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear and canal.
Dogs are commonly prone to it, since they have a flap that blocks air flow while their ears get warm due to insulating wax buildup which makes removal difficult without proper equipment from your vet such as an otoscope for inspection purposes.
The external surface area in animal’s versus human’s has made them more susceptible when compared with humans. However keeping your dog’s ears clean at home will help to prevent painful infections.
The ear is a very sensitive and delicate organ. Infections are caused by both bacterial or fungal origin. Additionally, small organisms such like mites that carry infection in their fur can creep into their ears.
A more serious case with pus inside your dog’s ears may indicate a more serious bacteria, which thrives when environmental conditions support its growth.
Most pet owners will sooner or later deal with ear infections in their pet’s ears.
Laser therapy is a great way to help your dog with pain. If you think your dog might be in pain, please consult with your veterinarian about using laser therapy.
There are many different types of laser systems and each one can be beneficial for certain issues. We hope this article has helped you learn more about how laser therapy can help your furry friend live a better life without pain.
How many grapes can a dog eat before it becomes a toxic dose? Many people have heard that eating grapes is poisonous to dogs, but what does that mean for your new puppy? Have dogs eaten grapes without grape poisoning or kidney failure? In this blog post, we will explore if a single grape can make a dog sick and what pet owners need to know about grape toxicity.
How Many Grapes Can a Dog Eat Before It Is Toxic?
Dogs are known for being voracious eaters, and many people wonder about what to do if their dog was eating grapes.
What is true is that when a dog consumes grapes they are at risk of acute kidney failure, regardless of the amount of grapes that they eat. Therefore, if your dog ate grapes you should know that they are toxic to dogs. But, what your plan of treatment might be depends on a few factors.
What is the severe toxicity of grape poisoning in dogs?
This fruit is poisonous to dogs because of their toxicity which comes from cyanogenic glycoside.
The toxicity is caused by a compound called cyanogenic glycoside, which is found in the skin and seeds. This compound turns into cyanide when it is metabolized, and cyanide is poisonous to dogs. The severity of the toxicity depends on the size of the dog, the amount eaten, and the type of grape.
For example, raisins are more toxic because they are smaller and have a higher concentration of cyanogenic glycosides. So, not only are grapes poisonous, but keep in mind that there is raisin toxicity as well.
What happens when dogs ingest something toxic?
When a dog ingests this compound, it can cause problems with their metabolism and result in toxicity. There are studies which show that grapes result in poison for dogs, including Great Danes. It has also been proven that any amount can result in toxicity poisoning, even just one grape. Ingestion is something that usually requires immediate treatment.
Are all grapes toxic to dogs?
All grapes are toxic to dogs, no matter if they are fresh grapes from a fruit bowl, dried grapes, or even grape juice. Are raisins poisonous as well? The answer is yes. Raisins are poisonous as well. How many raisins a dog can consume is unknown and dependent on many factors.
Is this toxicity common?
Although cases of grape and raisin poisoning are not common, they can be very serious if not treated immediately. Dogs who ingest grapes or raisins may vomit, have diarrhea, and become lethargic. In severe cases, grape and raisin poisoning can lead to renal failure and death. The exact mechanism by which grapes and raisins cause toxicity is unknown, but it is thought that grape seed extract or a compound in grape skins may be responsible. For this reason, it is best to err on the side of caution and avoid feeding your dog any grapes or raisins.
Sneaky Ingredients
Grapes can hide in some foods that you may sneak to your pups as occasional treats. The obvious sources of toxicity are food products that contain grapes and raisins, such as breads, hot cross buns, fruit cake or cookies. If you have children you will want to monitor them anytime they are eating raisins, incase any fall on the ground.
My dog only ate one grape, should I be worried?
Smaller dogs are also more susceptible to toxicity because they have a higher ratio of body surface area to body weight. However, there have been cases of toxicity in large dogs like Great Danes after eating just a few grapes. Many dogs with high body weight have been shown to show signs of damaged kidney function, trouble breathing, abdominal pain, or inability to produce urine just after a few grapes.
So, if your dog ate just one you may want to consider taking them to the vet just in case. Grapes and raisins can be harmful, even if it is just one.
Seeking out the soonest vet immediately
The best thing you can do is try to prevent your dog from getting into a situation where they have access to grapes in the first place. Not all dogs will respond to treatment the same. However, the sooner treatment takes place with any dog experiencing grape and raisin toxicity, the better.
Is there a set amount of grapes and raisins that will create grape toxicity?
Overall, it is not proven exactly how many will cause harm to your individual Great Dane. So many factors are at play, many of which we are unaware of.
It is safest to completely avoid grapes at all cost. Protecting your Great Dane from grapes, especially if you have children who eat grapes and may drop them, is of huge importance.
Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout
Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout
My dog accidentally ate grapes or raisins, what should I do?
If your dog has accidentally ingested grapes or raisins, it is important to take action immediately and take them to the vet immediately. Although the toxic dose of grapes varies depending on the size of the dog, even a small amount can potentially cause kidney damage. Even if you have a large dog who has eaten grapes, it is important to rule out kidney damage with blood tests and pursue treating grape poison.
Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout
Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout
Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout
What will happen after my dog gets to the vet?
You may be able to give them medication that will make them throw up any food they’ve already ingested within the past 2-3 hours of time before bringing this information forward so we can get rid if these pesky little fruits from our furry friends systems!
Should I look for signs of poison after my dog eats grapes?
Symptoms of grape toxicity in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. In severe cases, dogs may experience kidney failure and death. If you suspect that your dog has ingested grapes or raisins, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Encouraging Vomiting
Like stated, after looking at your dog’s medical history, they will likely recommend making your dog vomit with activated charcoal and provide supportive care to protect your dog’s kidneys. With prompt treatment, most dogs make a full recovery from grape toxicity.
The toxicity of grapes is dose-dependent, meaning that the more grapes your dog consumes, the more likely they are to experience problems.
What are the signs of grape and raisin toxicity?
Some of the most common signs of grape and raisin toxicity are lethargy, pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The abdominal pain is often followed by a decrease in urine production. This is caused because when dogs eat some toxic items (even the lowest toxic dose) it affects their kidney, which interacts with their urine output. Some dogs with pre existing conditions might be more prone to toxicity, whereas other dogs might not show signs as quickly.
Common signs include pale gums, vomiting, and diarrhea. In severe cases, fruit toxicity can lead to acute renal failure and kidney damage. If you suspect that your dog has consumed grapes or raisins, it is important to seek emergency veterinary care immediately. Early treatment is essential for preventing serious complications.If your Great Dane ate grapes, you should watch for symptoms of grape poisoning. These symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and lack of appetite. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your veterinarian right away.
Should you look for a ‘dry nose’ when examining symptoms?
No, there are many reasons why a healthy dog will have a dry nose. Do not consider a dog’s nose moisture a factor when examining whether or not your pup has been exposed to toxins or not.
How long after eating a grape will symptoms take to show up?
Usually between 2-12 hours after ingesting- your dog will begin to vomit
Between 12-24 hours after ingestion your dog can experience stomach/abdominal sensitivity and pain
Loss of appetite can occur within 24-48 hours after ingestion, but different waiting periods apply
Your dog might act extra tired, lack energy or be lazier than usual between 24-48 hours after ingestion
Increased thirst can indicate acute kidney failure and can occur within 24-72 hours after ingestion and should be treated as an emergency
Long story short, you need to seek emergency care immediately. Is there a chance that your dog will process the toxin and be completely fine? Yes. However, the risk that you take with not seeking treatment is acute kidney failure and even death. Your veterinarian will give dog activated charcoal to hurry the process of vomiting when they eat grapes. If dogs eat grapes, it is considered an emergency. This applies to raisins as well.
Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout
If you notice that your pup eats grapes, call your veterinarian or emergency vet, and get to the soonest appointment. It is not safe when dogs eat grapes, and should be treated
At your appointment, your Great Dane will be given medication to induce vomiting. Next, they will provide medications, IV fluids, and any other support for your Great Dane that they might need to keep their kidneys functioning.
Please note: many people have begun to induce vomiting in their own Great Danes, at home. There are, however, many very dangerous methods that have been conducted to induce vomiting. Some examples of extremely dangerous means of inducing vomiting are: salt, gagging your Great Dane, using oils, using Ipecac, and most commonly: peroxide. Peroxide has been an ‘up-and-coming’, popular means for inducing vomiting in pets at home, but can pose many dangers. If you are considering administering peroxide at home, you should call Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 prior to administration. The APCC will help you determine whether or not giving peroxide is a safe idea for your situation.
If you think your pup has grape poisoning, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately.
The treatment for grape toxicity will depend on the severity of the toxicity and how quickly you seek treatment.
If your dog has only eaten a few grapes, they may only need to be monitored for symptoms. However, if your dog has eaten a large number or is showing severe symptoms, they may need to be hospitalized for treatment.
It is best to be vigilant with keeping toxic items out of the paws and mouths of our furry friends! Let us know if you need any help or have any questions!
Ear cropping is a surgical procedure done on Great Dane puppies when they are 7-12 weeks of age. A Great Dane with cropped ears is regal and majestic!
The ear cropping procedure in Great Danes also requires aftercare and posting. Posting takes months and is the process by which the cropped ears are trained to stay upright.
If you have ever seen a Great Dane with ears that stand up, you have seen a Great Dane with cropped ears! Read to learn more about ear cropping.
Shown above: a mantle Great Dane puppy with cropped ears that are being posted, image courtesy of Kindlefire Great Danes (used with permission). Notice the taping around the ears. That must be cleaned and changed often, and the puppy must wear them for months.
GREAT DANE WITH CROPPED EARS
Great Danes are born with large floppy ears.
During a cropping procedure, the puppy is sedated and the ears are shaved.
A veterinarian then removes a large portion of the pinna (ear flap), sutures the edge and tapes the ears to a cone or to the puppies head.
Once the ears are fully healed from cropping (up to 2 weeks), the posting process can begin!
Here is a photo of a Great Dane puppy before cropping, and then again after cropping as an adult. Notice how the ears stand up on their own.
GREAT DANE EAR CROPPING INFORMATION
Ear cropping should be performed by a licensed, insured and highly qualified/experienced cropping veterinarian.
We recommend asking your breeder for recommendations on the most talented ear crop veterinarians for your Great Dane. The best breeders will have puppies cropped before they are sent home.
If you live near Ohio, Dr. Anne Midgarden is highly regarded as one of the best Veterinarians in the Country for Great Dane ear cropping.
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GREAT DANES WITH CROPPED EARS?
Shown above: A Great Dane puppy with cropped ears that are not fully standing yet. These ears need a lot more time in posts before the cartilage will be mature enough to help the ears stand on their own.
We have tons of resources for cropping, with more added often! Ear cropping is a permanent procedure that requires skill and owner dedication; we support you either way!
Today’s post is going to be quick and simple. The anti-ear cropping argument is misleading, and I think we need to talk about it. This morning somebody started a post in a Facebook group. It was one of THOSE posts. The “this is a hot topic and the initial take on it is controversial” type… Read more: The Anti-Ear Cropping Argument (& Why It’s Wrong)
Ear cropping and taping cropped ears on Great Danes is a lengthy, involved process. If you have found this article, you are either on this journey or about to be, and we’re here to help! If you want your Great Dane to have erect ears that stand up, you may want to consider this procedure… Read more: Ear Cropping & Taping Cropped Ears on Great Danes
Ear cropping is a surgical procedure done on Great Dane puppies when they are 7-12 weeks of age. A Great Dane with cropped ears is regal and majestic! The ear cropping procedure in Great Danes also requires aftercare and posting. Posting takes months and is the process by which the cropped ears are trained to… Read more: Great Dane with Cropped Ears
Today we are chatting about Great Dane Ear Cropping! Are there any benefits to cropping Great Dane ears? When is ear cropping done on puppies? We will highlight the risks and benefits of Great Dane clipped ears and ear cropping, as well offer as a little bit of history, information on what to expect if… Read more: The 2 Sided Debate: Great Dane Ear Cropping
For Centuries, humans have continually adjusted and tailored dietary guidelines to align with the latest trends, science, and research. The current fad of excluding grains, carbs, and processed foods from human diets has extended to pet foods, with grain-free options gaining popularity. However, the decision is more complex when it comes to whether Great Danes should have grain free food or not.
You may have heard from your veterinarian, a friend, or on social media that grain-free or boutique (“BEG”) foods are bad for Great Danes. Alternatively, you may have heard that grain-free kibbles are “higher quality”, have “more meat”, and can help resolve allergies.
It’s hard to know what to do when you hear so many conflicting opinions, so here at Hello Danes we’re going to run with science.
In the interest of saving you some time here, I will cut to the chase. Of course, we’re going to deep dive into this below, but here is the low down: most, if not all, grain-free kibbles are a bad choice to feed your Great Dane.
The information in this blog post is important and may save your dogs life!
The Problem with Grain-Free Dog Food
All extruded kibbles require some kind of starch to bind the meat together. Without it, the food would be dust.
In grain-inclusive dog foods, this starch is often some form of rice or oats.
In grain-free dog foods, grains are replaced most often with ingredients such as peas, lentils, and potatoes. These are starchy carbohydrates that may also be used to replace meat-based protein.
(A benefit of ingredients such as rice, oats, or lentils is that they add fiber to your dog’s diet, which may decrease the risk of bloat. )
Grain-free foods are NOT carb-free! Lentils, peas, and potatoes have lots of carbohydrates.
Now it’s also important to understand that ‘Fresh meat’ is roughly 70% water and doesn’t have the same robust nutritional profile that bone, organ meat, and cartilage has.
Compare that to a concentrated meat meal or meat by-product meal (which sounds gross, but is made of bone, organ, tissue, and cartilage), and is packed with protein and amino acids. Meat meals are only 10% water.
Many grain-free kibbles after extrusion, especially those with ‘fresh meat’ and multiple starch sources, are nothing more than meat-flavored peas or lentils.
Even if you personally see no correlation between grain-free dog food and DCM (more on this below), you have to admit this is a huge problem.
What is DCM in Dogs?
Now for the fun part.
Grain-free and improperly balanced or pulse (legume) heavy boutique brand foods are implicated in a notable increase of deadly DCM (heart problems) in pet dogs.
By implicated, we mean that there is a strong correlation that is actively being studied. Check out any veterinary or breed-specific group and you will see stories of dogs dying this way. Lots of them.
DCM (aka ‘Dilated Cardiomyopathy) is a devastating disease that results in an enlarged heart. The larger heart has to work harder to pump blood and as a result, the valves can leak.
Over time, the heart cannot keep up.
Fluid builds up in the chest and abdomen and eventually, the heart will give out.
Left untreated, many dogs eventually suffer from congestive heart failure and will die, often suddenly.
Unfortunately, DCM is often a ‘silent killer’, often undetected until it is too late.
Great Danes are genetically prone to DCM (deadly heart problems), especially if the breeder isn’t fully health-testing the parents. So their risk of developing DCM is even higher than it is for other dogs.
Many people have what they think are ‘perfectly healthy’ young Great Danes with shiny coats and perfect stools. These dogs die suddenly while sleeping or playing.
Some of them have genetic DCM.
Many of them have secondary DCM, however. This is caused by unbalanced, poorly formulated foodand nutrient deficiency.
Once a dog is diagnosed with primary (genetic) or secondary (nutrition-related) DCM, or the early signs of it, things must happen quickly.
The veterinarian will typically:
Recommend that the diet is immediately changed to food that meets WSAVA guidelines
Prescribe medications and supplements if needed
Encourage certain restrictions to exercise
Give you a list of signs and symptoms to watch for that indicate worsening Dilated Cardiomyopathy or congestive heart failure
4-6 months later, the dog will be checked again via echocardiogram.
For dogs with primary DCM (genetic), the condition may not improve.
With secondary DCM (nutrition-based), assuming that the condition was caught soon enough and the dog was switched to a properly formulated science-backed food, improvement is often noted. Some dogs go on to live full, normal lives.
A large majority of food-related DCM cases go undocumented.
Many dogs pass suddenly of a ‘heart attack’, during anesthesia, or in their sleep. Expensive (and often heartbreaking) post-mortem testing for it isn’t always done.
Great Danes do have a genetic predisposition to primary DCM that may be at play here.
This makes it even more important to be informed about the roll that diet may play, and to ensure that all breeders are thoroughly testing their dogs (OFA Heart / Echocardiograms, etc.) prior to breeding.
If you feed grain-free, are thinking about feeding grain-free OR are ‘on the fence’ about this debate, read on.
Should Great Danes eat Grain-Free food?
The potential link between grain-free foods and DCM was brought to the attention of the FDA when Veterinary Cardiologists were noticing an increase of suspicious heart problems in dogs.
Secondary DCM was showing up at an alarming rate; higher than the typical genetic incidence, and they were growing concerned.
Their investigation revealed (and still reveals to date) that an alarming majority (90%) of the dogs experiencing secondary DCM were being fed boutique dog foods.
Kibbles from small dog food companies such as Fromm’s, Orijen, Diamond, Victor, Nutrisource, 4Health, and Acana are taking the brunt of this potential correlation, primarily because among ’boutique’ and smaller food brands they have the largest market share.
More fed dogs = more sick dogs.
But there are 1000’s of brands and formulas on the market. Not being on that list doesn’t magically make a diet “safe”, and consider this:
Purina, Royal Canin and Hill’s feed more dogs than any other brands. Purina alone leads the market with over 16 billionin revenue (2021, and growing).
That’s a lot of dogs. Many more than are fed Fromm, Victor, or otherwise and yet…the millions of Purina-fed dogs are not turning up with nutritional-DCM.
The fact that any are turning up at all in smaller brands is alarming.
Since the time of the original DCM reports, the grain-free DCM debate has become a hotbed of opinions, frustration, and concern between professionals, credentialed nutritionists, raw feeding enthusiasts, and dog owners.
At Hello Danes, we believe that a grain-free food from a small company, that has a lot of peas, lentils, legumes, or potatoes in the ingredients list is dangerous to feed.
People don’t want to hear that the food they believed to be ‘holistic’ and ‘high quality’ may actually be killing their beloved pet. It’s easy to want to believe that something more ‘natural’ is best, but it’s not always the case, unfortunately.
Does adding taurine to Grain-Free food prevent DCM?
In response to the FDA warnings about DCM and grain-free dog food, people began to believe that adding taurine or grains to a dog’s diet would solve the problem.
This concept doesn’t actually have science to back it up; it was only a theory that as of this writing still has no merit.
Regardless, many boutique manufacturers responded by adding taurine to their formulation. They then took the opportunity to market their brand as being ‘scientific and thoughtful’.
Of the DCM cases being studied by the FDA, many of the dogs suffering from DCM had normal taurine levels.
If there is any merit or science behind a taurine-DCM link, current research is indicating that it’s likely related to formulation problems in the food that may be blocking the synthesis and bioavailability of taurine.
Dr. Jennifer Larson, Veterinary Nutritionist U.C. Davis
Does adding grains to dog food prevent DCM?
Adding grains (such as rice or oats) at home to a grain-free kibble only serves to further unbalance the food and load the dog up on carbs.
This too has been done with no scientific backing. Doing so is not safe, effective or healthy.
Do not add rice, millet, oats, or other grains to your Danes boutique diet to ‘prevent DCM’. There is no science behind that theory at all, and it may do more harm than good.
Additionally, choosing the ‘grain-inclusive’ version of a boutique dog food brand does not make it magically ‘safe’.
Nutritional DCM has been seen in dogs on boutique diets of all kinds, both grain-inclusive and grain-free.
While ‘grain-free’ foods and boutique brands specifically have been implicated, it is believed that the problem may actually originate with boutique kibbles that are formulated with a lot of pulse, legumes, peas and potatoes.
Remember, manyGrain-free kibbles heavily utilize peas, pulses, lentils, garbanzo beans and potatoes in their formulation.
In other words, just as the FDA stated (see below) that it’s not necessarily grain-free that is the problem, it’s boutique foods that are:
Heavy in pulses, peas, potatoes, and legumes
Not formulated by an on-staff board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist
Manufactured by brands that don’t participate in peer-reviewed science, research and feeding trials
Many of these types of diets tend to be grain-free.
So can Great Danes have grain-free foods? Sure, but should they? Probably NOT.
When you read something that says ‘the FDA finds no evidence that grain-free diets cause heart disease‘, don’t immediately jump to the conclusion that your ‘grain-free boutique kibble’ is safe.
Read that statement for what it is. It’s not the lack of grains that is the problem.
It’s the replacement of essential meat-based amino acids and proteins with pulses, peas, potatoes, legumes, and other plant-based carbohydrates, often done by boutique brands with no board-certified veterinary nutritionist on staff to formulate, research and test the food.
Research is ongoing and all of us should be alarmed, not defensive.
Read the Label on your Dog Food Bag
Read the ingredients list on the back of your grain-free kibble, ‘fresh’ or ‘human-grade’ dog food bag. Do you notice a lot of the following? It may be worth changing your dog’s diet as a precaution, especially if you noticed multiple forms of the same ingredient (aka, Ingredient Splitting).
Peas, Pea protein, Pea Starch, Pea Fiber, Pea Flour
Other similar non-grain ingredients including pulses and legumes
We also recommend avoiding the following dog food brands altogether (this list is not exhaustive).
Despite making up only a small market share of dog food sold, these brands (and brands like them) are responsible for 100% of nutrition-related DCM cases (and likely many, many more health conditions including chronic loose stools, itching, hyper or hypocalcemia, growth disorders and more):
Fromm
Victor
4Health
Diamond Naturals
Costco
Nulo
Nutro
Nutrisource
Earthborn Holistic
Acana
Orijen
Zignature
Solid Gold
As pet owners, we don’t have enough professional knowledge to evaluate ingredients list pros and cons.
We tend to default to what ‘feels right’ or ‘seems healthy’, especially when boutique food companies use catchy, unregulated words such as ‘holistic’ and ‘super-premium’.
What are ’boutique dog food diets’?
Boutique food diets for dogs come from small companies that use catchy terms in their marketing.
New research (in 2022) indicates that the DCM and Grain-Free foods issue correlates STRONGLY to boutique food brands where no board-certified veterinary nutritionist is on staff to formulate the foods.
Hallmark traits of boutique dog food diets:
Offers very little if any contribution to canine nutrition, health and veterinary research
Does not support veterinary nutrition, health and research organizations (such as WSAVA)
Does not participate in full, legitimate AAFCO feeding trials to prove formulations
Only formulates their food to ‘meet the nutritional requirements’ on paper
Does not employ a board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist to formulate the food; may ‘contract’ with a professional that has lesser degrees
May or may not own and operate their own manufacturing facilities
May use ‘exotic’ ingredients with very little research behind them, including kangaroo, bison and unusual carbohydrates such as millet.
The following brands are just some of the popular boutique dog foods. Check these brands against the manufacturer report above and see how they rate.
Victor
Nulo
Diamond
Costco/Kirkland
Fromm
Nutro
4 Health
Roosevelt
Life’s Abundance
Nutrisource
Olly
The Farmer’s Dog
Earthborn Holistic
Ketona
Spot and Tango
The problem with boutique dog food marketing
When you start looking into it, you may be surprised to find that MANY boutique kibble brands do not employ a legitimate, board-certified veterinary nutritionist to formulate, research, test and update their foods.
As a matter of fact, a lot of ‘natural’ kibble brands only appear healthier because of their impressive dedication to packaging and marketing.
FROMM, for example, is a brand that has been implicated many times in DCM. There have been many Fromm-related cases where dogs had their secondary DCM symptoms reversed by switching to a more professionally formulated diet.
FROMM family foods are formulated by a chemical engineer; not somebody with a credible background in actual nutrition and current research. But their marketing makes you belief in their ‘family owned’ mission of ‘healthy’ nutrition.
There are more dogs, more dogs eating kibble and more veterinary resources at our disposal now; so it stands to reason that this has always been a problem, but we are just now starting to really see it.
DCM is often a silent killer. MANY dogs will die suddenly of a ‘heart attack’ without warning. In this case, owners rarely seek answers (a post-mortem autopsy is expensive) and as a result, DCM is never diagnosed or tied to the food that had been fed.
Is the Dog Food Advisor Blog a good place to learn about dog food?
Many people reference the dog food advisor blog for nutrition information for their pets.
The owner of that blog is a human dentist with no background in veterinary nutrition.
The rating system is made up.
We can do so much better than this when choosing large breed dry dog food for our beloved dogs, right?
What is the best dog food for Great Danes 2021-2022?
After much research into this ourselves, we believe that if you are going to feed kibble you should choose a brand that is fully backed by top-level research and veterinary nutritionists.
The best dry food for Great Dane dogs is going to be backed by research and science, not opinions and marketing.
Look past the ingredients list and research the company itself.
Do they employ a dedicated, on-staff board certified veterinary nutritionist (ACVN or DACVN)?
Do they manufacture the food in-house, from carefully sourced, chosen, and tested ingredients?
Do they participate in university-level research and nutrition study for the advancement of companion animal health?
Do their foods undergo AAFCO feeding trials, or are they just formulated to meet minimums on paper?
Do they support the non-profit World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) or give you reasons why they don’t?
Marketing has unfortunately taught us that the heavily researched, professionally formulated science-backed dog food brands such as Purina, Royal Canin, and Eukanuba are ‘full of fillers and cancer-causing junk‘. ,
That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Take note of the people you tend to hear that kind of misinformation from; none of them have any credible, boarded, science-backed veterinary background in canine nutrition. None. Most stand to gain, financially, from making you believe these things, too. Follow the money!
Millions of dollars of actual health and nutrition-based research are done by the ‘Big 5’ brands, who use that information to formulate and then fully test the foods that they sell.
We recommend Purina Pro Plan, however, a large or giant breed formula (puppy or adult, depending on your dog) from any of the following brands is an acceptable choice: Purina, Eukanuba, Iams, Hills, Royal Canin.
The majority of veterinarians in the U.S. are going to recommend one of the following brands of food:
Purina
Royal Canin
Eukanuba
Iams
Hill’s Science Diet
Some people will argue that veterinarians have very little nutrition education and that their education comes from companies that incentivize them to take the class and promote their food.
Then it is believed that the veterinarians stand to profit from the sale of foods in their office and are making tons of money marketing these ‘billion-dollar cancer nuggets’.
a. The companies sponsoring nutrition classes at the top veterinary schools are the same companies that spend millions on nutrition research and canine health science. They know a lot more about canine nutrition than boutique food brands, so if our vets are going to learn about nutrition, it should probably be from them right?
b. A veterinarian that has taken a few nutrition classes during the course of their study has still learned a lot more about canine nutrition than somebody who sells pet food at a boutique pet store. For some reason, people are more willing to listen to a sales rep with 7 days of training or a dog trainer than to somebody with a studied, professional veterinary background!
c. Some veterinarians go on to obtain additional certifications in canine nutrition. Every single one of these highly-studied veterinarians will still recommend the science-backed and heavily researched food brands listed above and no, they often don’t make a dime on those recommendations. Kickbacks are actually ILLEGAL in the U.S.
d. Veterinarians are often approached by companies to market food brands and make brand recommendations. There is a reason we don’t see veterinarians promoting boutique brands for affiliate income (even though they totally could); they simply don’t believe in those foods.
e. If a veterinarian profits from the sale of science-backed, professionally formulated dog food, why is that so bad? The boutique pet store profits too from selling you ‘healthy and holistic’ pet food diets made by companies with no nutrition research backing their food.
There are plenty of opportunities for veterinarians to use affiliate links to promote ’boutique’ food brands. They don’t, though. Ever think about why that is?
You’ll notice that we use affiliate links in our promotion of certain food brands. We could choose any brand to promote!
Do we make a few pennies if you purchase through our affiliate link? Sure. Anytime you buy food, somebody will profit no matter what.
Question if the people you are listening to are promoting that food because it’s backed by actual science, or because it’s backed by opinion and boutique marketing.
The truth here is that boutique food brands earn millions by using marketing, fancy words, and pretty packaging to make you believe that the unproven, untested food they make is healthier.
The food-profit incentive is not isolated to veterinarians who make pennies on the sale of a bag of food. Stop blaming that. Everybody profits somewhere. Put your money where the science is.
Pinterest and a crock pot full of overcooked meat, veggies and rice is NOT balanced nor is it magically healthier for your pet.
If you are planning to home cook meals for your dog, work with a credentialed, studied veterinary nutritionist to develop a recipe specifically for your pet.
You may hear from dog trainers or ‘holistic’ pet care professionals that cooking food at home is the healthiest choice, however these people don’t have expertise in canine nutrition.
Below we’ve linked our favorite resources for learning more about homemade feeding.
Note that anybody can pick up the ‘nutritionist’ title. Being a dog or ‘nutrition’ enthusiast, or working in a pet store as a brand rep or salesperson does not make somebody an expert.
Look for University level degrees & certifications in canine nutrition, not non-degree ‘certifications’ from small unaffiliated organizations.
An appropriate Great Dane kibble offers meat meals in the first ingredients and offers appropriate protein and calcium/phosphorus ratios for the life stage of the dog.
Examples of fresh-food toppers that can be used for up to 10% of the total diet include:
The following foods for Great Danes are heavily researched, backed by legitimate nutrition science, and are fed to millions of robust, healthy dogs worldwide.
When choosing a kibble, you should ideally choose a company that follows the guidelines recommended by the non-profit World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) regarding manufacturer standards.
These are nothing more than recommendations and the WSAVA does not ‘certify’, ‘approve’ or profit directly from the sale of brands that meet these standards. If you are unsure whether your kibble is meeting these guidelines, call the company and ask them directly to answer these questions without giving you the run-around:
The company should fully employ at least one dedicated nutritionist with a Ph.D in nutrition or a veterinarian boarded in nutrition (DACVN). If they simply consult with these professionals in lieu of employing them, they don’t likely have complete oversight of the formulation, formula changes or otherwise.
All formulas should be formulated by the above person; somebody who is truly qualified to create foods that are balanced not only nutritionally, but functionally as well. Being a general practice veterinarian, pet expert, dog lover or having a background working in ‘pet nutrition’ isn’t necessarily a qualification that meets this recommendation.
All diets should undergo extensive feeding trials and then meet or exceed AAFCO standards. Foods should exceed these standards both in formulation and following a rigorous analysis. Meeting these guidelines ‘on paper’ by formulation or anecdotal evidence only is not enough.
The company/manufacturer should own and operate their own facilities and laboratories and thus, maintain full oversight and control of the production process including control and diligent monitoring.
They should be transparent and open about their testing, process and recall history. (Note that recalls are a positive sign that a company is making ethical choices; not a sign of poor quality control. A company with no recalls is actually a red flag.)
The company should be involved in transparent and rigorous peer-reviewed and published testing and research. Ideally, this dedication to nutrition would not just be of their foods, but of canine nutrition in general. This is especially true if they make health claims or create unusual formulations that are outside of the industry standards. Claiming to have a ‘proprietary’ formula is a red flag.
Having ‘no recalls’ is a RED FLAG If a company is relying on the ‘no recalls’ tactic for marketing purposes, they are unlikely to recall a food for minor reasons; reasons that could ultimately be devastating for a percentage of dogs fed that food.
Recalls show that a company is diligent about avoiding mistakes and willing to hold itself accountable for problems with formulation or its supply chain. Be worried when a company says they have had ‘no recalls.
Dogs may be just as likely to bloat when they are resting as when they are running!
It is often reported that many dogs bloat in the middle of the night and on an empty stomach. As a matter of fact, this was true for most of the dogs that participated in the Tufts University study. They weren’t exercising when bloat happened; they were resting.
That fact should put a lot of doubt into the validity of ‘resting’ as a legitimate ‘preventative’. Just because as a theory it ‘makes sense’, doesn’t mean it’s going to prevent bloat. At all.
Think about this.
If resting after meals actually worked as a reliable preventative, the rate of bloat incidence would be going DOWN in Great Danes, not up.
In the last 30 years, bloat incidence has increased by 1500%.
YIKES..and no, I did not accidentally add a zero. You read 1500% correctly.
HOW TO PREVENT BLOAT
Great Dane owners really hate this discussion. Making dogs rest after meals feels like the right thing to do, and perhaps it is a totally fine thing to do (why take the risk, after all?).
Where it becomes problematic is in the anxiety that it causes Great Dane owners.
Because this is so widely promoted as a ‘preventative’, people get nervous when their dog has a meal. To temper this anxiety, they may strictly limit food intake to once per day.
Tufts University Study: single large meals each day increase the risk of bloat.
Science shows as that smaller, more frequent meals are better for Great Danes.
However, if an owner offers 2-3 meals per day and requires rest for an hour before and after each, the dog may be given fewer opportunities for meaningful enrichment and exercise.
Oh, and they may still bloat anyways.
THE AWFUL TRUTH ABOUT BLOAT IN GREAT DANES
Time and time again we see Great Dane owners lose their dogs to bloat. They say “I did everything right, how did this happen?”, or “my dog was resting, I don’t understand”.
Honestly, that’s the worst part.
This is not to make Great Dane owners feel helpless! It’s meant to shed some light on a real problem that we have in this community where assumptions are being heavily promoted as preventatives.
FACT: They still don’t actually know what triggers bloat. Science so far can only show us what leads to higher and lower risk factors.
The side effect of this is 1000’s of heartbroken Great Dane owners who feel that they did something wrong, when they likely didn’t do anything wrong at all.
SHOULD YOU REST A GREAT DANE TO PREVENT BLOAT?
It’s honestly up to you. As above, there is nothing inherently wrong with it so long as you don’t take it too far.
Great Danes benefit from daily enrichment, exercise and training. Too much ‘rest’ or crate time isn’t necessarily the answer; we believe that there are other more impactful ways to minimize bloat risk. You can click on the links below to learn more about bloat.
Avoid foods with fat in the first four ingredients.
Use puzzle feeders to encourage slow eating.
If choosing elevated feeders, keep them on the lower side of things.
Add fresh food toppers and fiber to the diet. We like balanced raw food, Dr. Harvey’s and Olewo Carrots. Make sure the diet is balanced as a whole!
Do not encourage resource guarding by hovering, messing with food or taking food away. Prevent resource guarding by not making it a problem in the first place.
Feed multiple smaller meals, not one large meal.
Use modern positive reinforcement and humane, thoughtful balanced training methods, not aversive training (alpha rolls, hitting, intimidation, etc.) or alpha/dominance (debunked) that have been proven to lead to increased stress, aggression, fear and frustration.
Address anxiety, stress and aggression with a highly qualified humane trainer.
Address gut health issues by seeking veterinary care, adding probiotics and finding a diet that is appropriate for your dog.
Choose ethical breeders that are 1000% dedicated to the pedigree, health, structure & temperament, and prove it with papers, titles, activities and practices. Be part of the movement that no longer supports puppy mills, backyard breeders or ‘friendly backyard breeder’ unethical breeding practices.
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.
Some of the products we list on our website contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, we may receive a small commission for referring you. This commission does not affect the price of the product and is used to fund this website and our content.
Our favorite breed of dog is known by many to have a shorter lifespan, but that doesn’t have to be a reality. What is the Great Dane lifespan and how can we extend our favorite dog’s life?
Great Danes live an average of about 8-10 years, but with good breeding practices and a proper diet and exercise regime, they can live up to 12 years old or more!
Many people have experienced the devastating loss of a Great Dane at a young age and this happens most often because of bloat, heart conditions, orthopedic problems, and other genetic issues.
On the flip side, many people have had Great Danes live for 10 years or even longer!
There is a misperception about the lifespan of Great Danes, and we are here to fix that. Great Danes make amazing family pets in the right homes, and can absolutely live long and healthy lives.
It is well known that Great Danes tend to have shorter lives than other smaller dogs. This is because they are a giant breed and are prone to a number of health problems. (Health Risks in Great Danes)
Great Danes live, on average, 8-10 years.
Many smaller dogs live 10-15 years, for comparison.
The average life expectancy of a gentle giant is low, but it doesn’t have to be!
The oldest Great Dane currently known in 2021 is Maggie Mae, at the ripe old age of 16.
Some of the health problems that Great Danes are prone to include canine hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, bloat, cancer, and heart disease which can lower the average life span. All of these health issues can be genetic, and lead to a shorter lifespan in the breed as a whole.
Great Danes can live long, robust lives. While 8-10 years is the average, many live to be 12 years of age or more!
Since Great Danes are such big dogs, they frequently suffer from a list of health issues that are often FATAL and nearly always GENETIC. These health issues significantly lower the average expected lifespan. Unethical breeding practices are to blame, not the Great Dane breed itself.
HEART DISEASE AND AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A DOG’S LIFE
DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy) is a silent killer. Many Danes are lost to this but it’s not always diagnosed; they often have very few symptoms and may pass suddenly (as if they had a heart attack).
Your dog’s chances of developing Hip and Elbow Dysplasia are higher if you choose a reputable breeder who’s dogs have a health history of having Hip Dysplasia or other joint related health problems.
Since Great Danes frequently suffer from joint problems, and it is known that mobility issues can lower the average lifespan, it is important to start your Great Danes on joint supplements. Great Danes should be on a joint supplement from the time they are just a Great Dane puppy until they are adult dogs.
When you are raising Great Dane puppies, keep them on a healthy diet and Buffered Esther Vitamin C, which will support their joints and keep them from knuckling.
To support your dog’s joints during their adult lives, include Glucosamine and/or Dasuquin in their healthy diet to promote good health of their joints.
It is very unlikely that a Great Dane with any of these unfortunately common disorders will live long and robust (10+ year) lives.
HOW DO I MAKE MY GREAT DANE LIVE LONGER?
The reality here is that most of us want our Great Danes to live forever. So then, how do we make the Great Dane lifespan as long as possible and minimize the health risks?
There are things you can do to help them live long, healthy lives and increase the average lifespan. The most important one starts with the breeder you choose.
Many of the Great Dane breeders perpetuating these common health problems are friendly, say they ‘health test’, breed often and have cute puppies and nice websites!
Treat cautiously with ‘friendly backyard breeders’ who are more interested in profits than the breed itself.
Friendly backyard breeders may even be popular, especially on social media. It’s easy to fall into this trap, and it’s unfortunate because bad genetics is like a game of telephone.
It’s very hard to get rid of the bad genetics so long as they continue to be reproduced.
Wobblers, bloat, heart issues, blood clotting disorders, anxiety, painful structural problems (including flat feet and roached back) and even cancer have genetic links that can be traced back to the lineage and careless breeding.
Their waistline should be visible when looking down at your dog from above, and you should be able to feel their ribs with light pressure but not see them.
An Underweight Great Dane
A Healthy Weight Great Dane
An Overweight Great Dane
An hour a day of moderate activity is what’s recommended for most adult Great Danes.
Use e collar training to help your Great Dane know the boundaries and rules of society, which will help your Great Dane lead a stress and anxiety free life.
KEEP THE NAILS TRIMMED AND SHORT ON YOUR GREAT DANE
Since a big Great Dane is prone to developing painful arthritis, Great Danes need their nails kept trimmed and short.
Check them regularly and if they get too long, it is far past due.
If you have a Great Dane, you should be familiar with the tools required to groom their nails, and become familiar with how to use them.
Your options are to use a Dremel or nail clippers.
Click below to shop our favorites of each.
A Great Dane should get their nails trimmed weekly! If you are not comfortable trimming the nails of your Great Dane by yourself, you should schedule regular veterinary visits to get them taken care of.
A Great Dane has big, strong nails, so it can be very painful if they are touching the floor.
More so, it can actually cause joint and structural issues if the nails of a Great Dane are too long.
Check out our favorite grooming tools for the big nails of a Great Dane here.
EXERCISE FOR A GREAT DANE
Great Danes are NOT couch potatoes!
Nothing in life, not a Great Dane and not smaller breeds should be left stagnant!
Most dogs thrive when they get an abundance of free play, exercise, and training, which can help them grow both physically and mentally.
Proper exercise for a Great Dane includes offering plenty of free play and exploration on soft, varied terrain. For this reason, we believe that all Great Danes should be reliably off-leash trained!
Using an e collar to train your Great Dane is one of the best ways to ensure that you can provide your Great Dane with the proper amount of free play and freedom that they need.
Read on for our tips for preventing knuckling in Great Danes!
HOW TO PREVENT KNUCKLING IN GREAT DANES
1. Avoid hard and slick surfaces.
This includes wood, tile, and yes, concrete! Puppies need soft places to rest their joints, walk, and exercise. Do not allow your puppy to slide around on floors or jump off furniture. Healthy play on soft, varied terrain is appropriate and will help strengthen joints!
Put down lots of area rugs to keep joints safe and cushioned. We love washable rugs from Ruggable; they are perfect for homes with puppies, look beautiful, and offer just enough softness and traction.
2. Strengthen Toes and Feet
Strong feet are important to ensure that your puppy has a solid foundation to grow on. Walk and play on soft surfaces such as bedding, gym mats, sand, gravel, dirt, and grass.
By allowing your puppy to play on a variety of terrain, you are building muscles and strength that will help their feet grow correctly.
Choose a large or giant breed puppy formula with meat and meat meals in the first ingredients, calcium at or below 1.2%, and phosphorus close behind. The food must also contain the AAFCO large breed growth statement.
Do NOT mix kibble brands. Choose one and stick with it. The following foods meet the criteria:
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
5. Watch the Treats
Do not let supplements, toppers, or treats make up more than 10% of the intake. Excess nutrition is harmful for Dane pups!
6. Minimize Crate Time
Crates are important for training, however, Great Dane puppies need the freedom to move naturally to develop joints, tendons, and bones. Limit crate time, especially if your puppy is in a crate overnight.
Great Dane puppy joints are fragile and need to be cared for.
With proper care, knuckling over is preventable and treatable. Without care, knuckled limbs may become painful and permanently deformed.
All these things we listed work together to help prevent and treat knuckling in Great Dane puppies. Protect the joints, strengthen the joints, and lastly, provide the correct nutrition.
It is time to BUST some myths about bloat and Great Danes!
This post is going to shake up EVERYTHING you think you know about bloat, GDV, torsion, and gastropexy, and we cannot wait to share it with you.
How do you prevent bloat? Are some dogs at higher risk of bloat than others? Does Gastropexy prevent bloat? Do I need to rest my Great Dane before and after meals?
Let’s get started!
Myth #1 – Raised Feeders Prevent Bloat
Many people rely on raised or elevated bowls with the belief that it will help prevent bloat. The theory is that the dog will swallow less air and will be more comfortable eating.
HOLES IN THIS MYTH: In 1994 a study was done of over 1900 dogs with no prior history of bloat. They were surprised to learn that the dogs with raised bowls were 110% more likely to experience bloat than other dogs in the study that had bowls on the floor. Ruh-Roh.
Want to see more information on this study? Read it HERE.
Sure, Hello Danes. Whatever. Correlation does NOT mean causation, right?
We agree, which is why we believe more studies are needed here, but also that this information may be alarming AND valuable regardless!
When we look at dogs eating from raised bowls, we see dogs having to hold their neck straight outward and then bend their head at the jaw to eat.
This makes us question if it’s really ‘more comfortable’ than a dog that drops their head to the ground (and thus has a straight line from the teeth up into the esophagus). Dogs put their noses to the ground all of the time to graze, sniff and explore. It may look uncomfortable to us humans, but it’s not an unnatural position for a dog of any size to be in.
It’s important to keep in mind that there are MANY other risk factors associated with bloat, and this specific correlation requires more study to be truly conclusive.
It is fascinating, however, that this advice continues to hang on despite information that raised bowls may increase risk and that as of yet, it’s never been proven (only theorized) that raised feeders do anything to reduce risk or prevent bloat at all.
Our advice? Do what works for your family, but especially if your Dane has other major bloat risk factors (genetics, anxiety or aggression, poor gut health and IBS), you might consider putting those bowls on the floor.
This is probably the most common bloat prevention recommendation for Great Danes. This advice is so common that it’s to the point where many Dane owners experience significant anxiety if their dog eats anything and then jumps off the bed or goes for a walk, run or zoomies in the yard.
MYTH BUSTING: As of this writing (May, 2021) studies indicate that there is actually very little, if any correlation between exercise and bloat!
Dogs can and do bloat at ANY time, and rest or exercise may have very little to do with it.
As a matter of fact, a majority of dogs that experience bloat do so while resting or in the middle of the night on an empty stomach.
There is actually no conclusive scientific evidence that resting before or after meals can prevent bloat; and when we did the research for this article we observed something really interesting. Nearly every source we found (that supported rest before/after meals as a ‘preventative’) was a blogger, and none had a study to cite supporting this claim.
Let me repeat that. As of this writing, we cannot find a SINGLE scientific source that shows resting before/after meals can actually prevent bloat, or that exercise CAUSES bloat. Only opinions that have been passed along.
Test this theory! Ask dog owners that have experienced bloat what was happening when their dog bloated. Many times it was late at night, and quite often 2-3 hours AFTER a large meal.
The heartbreaking part of this is that bloat is happening to dogs whose owners have lovingly and diligently rested them before and after meals for YEARS, leaving the owners heartbroken and frustrated. Because this advice has become so common, many Dane owners are stressed if their dog eats and then moves around, and that’s not fair.
This is a big yikes in the Dane community, in my opinion.
Here we go with the whole correlation/causation thing again, too: for those did bloat while exercising, it may have just been a matter of chance and timing…or the dog was actually experiencing anxiety, stress, or other medical problems (example, a trip to the dog park or a long walk in the heat) and/or had significant other contributing factors.
As above, there are MANY, many other risk factors for bloat. Rest your dog if you feel it makes a difference, but don’t give yourself anxiety over your dog walking around the yard with a few treats on board.
Dogs that spend too much time in a crate can become bored, weak and overweight, which isn’t good either. So find a healthy balance between eating, rest and living life.
Stomach tacking/Gastropexy is considered a ‘prophylactic’ procedure, in other words, a preventative. It involves suturing the stomach to the abdominal wall, and is usually done during spay/neuter surgery. Read our blog on the gastropexy HERE).
MYTH BUSTING – Gastropexy does NOT prevent bloat. We cannot say this loud enough.
If you have chosen Gastropexy for your dog, your dog is STILL susceptible to risk factors and may still bloat, however, bloat will be less likely to kill them.
Gastropexy helps prevent torsion, the dangerous part of a bloat event.
Torsion is what happens, during bloat, when the bloated stomach turns over on itself. Torsion is extremely serious, painful and deadly.
So really, this myth is a matter of semantics. Language. Gastropexy doesn’t really prevent bloat, but it can help prevent torsion…and that has merit.
Preventing torsion could mean that you have more time to get to the veterinarian before the bloat becomes more deadly than it already is. It is believed (though not formally studied, that we’ve seen) that Gastropexied dogs have better overall outcomes when bloat does happen.
We highly recommend this procedure, but only if you are working with a well-researched veterinarian that has a lot of experience doing it. Full pre-op screenings are a must.
For dogs that do bloat and successfully receive medical attention, gastropexy is highly recommended moving forward.
At Hello Danes, we believe in Gastropexy and consider it a safe, minimally invasive, and extremely beneficial option for all Great Danes when done by an experienced veterinarian.
Myth #4 – Only Large or Overweight Dogs Bloat
Many people with lean, fit, healthy dogs believe that their Great Dane is much less likely to suffer from bloat, heart conditions or otherwise.
While we 100% believe in keeping Danes lean, fit and active, read on:
MYTHBUSTING: All dogs are susceptible to bloat. As a matter of fact, some studies indicate that lean dogs have a slightly higher risk!
It is believed that unlike lean and fit dogs, overweight dogs have fat in the abdomen that protects and cushions the stomach.
Basically put, don’t believe for a moment that your dog is safe from bloat just because your dog is fit, active and lean. One of the most famous dock-diving Great Danes succumbed to bloat recently, which goes to show that any dog is at risk.
The benefits of keeping Great Danes lean and fit FAR outweigh anything else.
Overweight dogs have shorter lifespans, are less likely to be able to handle anesthesia (a key aspect of treating bloat, cancer and otherwise), are more likely to suffer from arthritis, diabetes and thyroid disease, and have more problems with their heart. No thanks!
Myth #5 – Food Causes Bloat & Large Scheduled Meals Prevent It
Many Dane owners maintain a rigid feeding schedule so that they can also make sure to rest their Dane before and after the meal. This practice comes from a fear that food itself is the enemy for Great Danes.
A lot of people who support this practice also believe that grazing is exceptionally dangerous, and will say that it’s better to minimize eating and meals by only allowing food intake once or twice each day.
MYTH BUSTED: Studies show that large meals (heavy, full stomachs) actually INCREASE the risk that a dog may bloat!
Yikes!
Why is bloat seen more in dogs fed single large meals? The large meal puts a lot of strain on the hepatogastric ligament, which holds the stomach in place. Over time, chronic stretching may cause this ligament to become elongated and weak; a common feature in Danes that succumbed to bloat.
Not only that, but dogs that are restricted to one large meal/day may feel anxious about food and scarf the meal down as fast as possible, which are also major risk factors for bloat.
We believe in moderation here. Smaller, more frequent meals offered in a low stress environment and a puzzle feeder (to slow down eating) are MUCH healthier.
Myth #6 – Gulping Water Causes Bloat
Gulping water causes blurping (burps that bring up water), a belly ache, and maybe a parasite from drinking dirty pond water…but the great news is that studies show almost no correlation between water intake and bloat!
Many Dane owners have anxiety when their Great Dane plays in the water, swims, snorkels, runs in the sprinklers or splashes around.
These activities are fun and enriching to dogs and like all fun and enriching things, carry some risk.
Aspiration pneumonia is a common example.
However, dogs that are acclimated to water and swimming (those that have safe water skills, in other words) are not at increased risk of bloat just because they are playing in the water.
As above, find a balance between stressing out when your Dane eats and moves, and letting your Dane be a dog!
Myth #6 – They Don’t Know What Causes Bloat
Many Dane owners feel hopeless and frustrated when they hear this. The good news is that studies are ONGOING!
MYTH BUSTING: While there is no scientifically conclusive information on what actually ‘triggers’ a bloat event, there is a lot of science into why some dogs succumb to it and others don’t.
Bloat has three primary risk factors: GENETICS, TEMPERAMENT and GUT HEALTH.
Not all Great Danes have the same risk factors. Some have MUCH more risk of developing bloat than others do!
Bloat is a disease of large, deep-chested breeds and is most commonly seen in dogs that have a genetic link (parent, sibling, etc. who also suffered from it), who are anxious, fearful or aggressive, and/or who have poor gut health (IBS, excess gas, etc.).
All dogs are at risk, unfortunately. Use our guide below to assess the risk factors for your individual dog, and minimize the risks associated with bloat!
BLOAT RISK FACTORS
We may update this list when additional research comes available. At this time, the following items are known to contribute to bloat risk; they are on the list because they are backed by at least some scientific inquiry and research (not just tall tales). Research is ONGOING!
Give your dog one point for each item. How many points did your dog get? Remember, ALL DOGS are at risk, and some dogs with high risk never bloat!
Your dog is a Great Dane
Your dog is over the age of 2 (risk increases with age)
Your dog is over the age of 5
Your dog has experienced bloat before
Your dog has a 1st-degree relative that has experienced bloat (Parent, Sibling, etc.)
Your dog has had or also had any other relative that experienced bloat (Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, etc.)
Your dog has an unknown or unstudied pedigree
Your dog was tested and carries 1-3 of the known risk alleles (see more HERE)
Your dog has a timid, fearful, or shy temperament
Your dog is under-socialized
Your dog is poorly trained and generally “difficult”
Your dog is anxious (may present as severe separation anxiety, reactivity and nervousness)
Your dog is often aggressive, snippy, or reactive
Your dog has a strong tendency to resource guard (food, toys, bones, beds, etc.)
Your dog suffers from IBS /Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Your dog has chronic poor overall gut health (allergies, loose stools, diarrhea that you struggle to resolve)
Your dog has heart/cardiac problems (which can cause a poorer prognosis if bloat happens)
Your dog is eating a dry food that is heavy in peas, lentils, potatoes, or legumes (which can damage the heart and make a bloat prognosis worse)
Your dog eats meals quickly and scarfs food down
Your dog is anxious while eating or worries about food
You use a raised feeder/bowls that are elevated more than 6-8″
You serve a single large meal each day, in lieu of smaller more frequent ones
Your dog is easily stressed by boarding, training, socializing, etc.
Your dog has experienced a stressful event (including rehoming, boarding, moving, a party, kids, etc.)
You often use harsh/punitive punishment based training (hitting, intimidation, kicking, scolding, etc.)
You only feed a dry kibble diet (no fresh or wet food toppers or treats)
Your dog is on a low-fiber diet
Your dog has an exceptionally deep and narrow chest compared to others
You feed a dry food from Victor, Fromm, Diamond, or 4Health that has fat in the first 4 ingredients
Your Great Dane is from a breeder that is not invested heavily in genetics, structure, health, temperament and longevity
LEGITIMATE WAYS TO DECREASE BLOAT RISK
Support only ethical breeders that understand genetics and are focused on health, temperament and longevity. Ask your breeder for a full history of the pedigree and verify no presence of bloat within at least 2 generations.
Choose Gastropexy
Work with a qualified behaviorist if your Dane is aggressive, anxious, fearful or timid. A veterinary behaviorist may be the best option for dogs with severe temperament problems
Know the signs of bloat and share that information with pet sitters, family and friends!
Don’t breed Great Danes unless you are willing to fully study genetics, structure, temperament and health (including full health testing, structural evaluation and genetic screening to better the breed as a whole and reduce genetic risk)
READ THE STUDIES
We’re not going to tell you all of this and then run off and not provide the studies we read!
Definitely check this out, and remember. ALL GREAT DANES ARE AT RISK, no matter where they are from, and what you do.
As much as we want to prevent bloat, it’s not 100% possible. Even a dog with little to no known risk factors can suffer from bloat and torsion!
We prefer to look at bloat prevention in terms of minimizing risk. When you think of it that way and address the small things, positive changes can happen for the Dane community as a whole.
Get out there and enjoy your dog!!!!
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.
Some of the products we list on our website contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, we may receive a small commission for referring you. We only recommend products that we truly believe in. This commission does not affect the price of the product and is used to fund our content and expenses related to operating this website.
Is it time to let my Great Dane go? How do I know it’s time?
This is one of the hardest questions you’ll ever ask yourself as a pet parent. Making a decision about end-of-life care and humane euthanasia is difficult and heartbreaking. We are here for you.
We recognize that this is an extremely emotional subject, and if you are reading this you may be wondering if the time has come for your Great Dane to pass on and cross the rainbow bridge.
Our hope today is that we can provide you with some measure of comfort and confidence in your decision to let your beloved pet go. We are also including information about what to expect during the euthanasia process, which can help put your mind and heart at ease.
If you have an elderly or unwell pet and are wondering if it is time to let your Great Dane go, this post is for you. We will cover behavioral euthanasia in another post.
Processing the Decision to Euthanize
Nobody can make this decision for you. Recommendations from your veterinarian may be helpful, but you should never feel pressured.
It may feel like it was just yesterday that you brought your Great Dane home.
You have loved this dog and may be in disbelief that your once bouncy, active dog has lost her spark.
It’s also possible that you feel guilt, wondering if you could have done something differently, or wishing you had spent more time with your dog while he was still full of life.
Your dog does not think the way that you do!
Dogs don’t live with regret, spite, or anger.
They don’t live wondering what tomorrow brings or whether they’ve done something wrong in life.
What they do know is that you are here, right now with them and that is what matters.
Companion Animal Hospice
Companion animal hospice is a relatively new option and can be exceptionally helpful for elderly pets or for pets with degenerative disorders such as wobblers disease.
A veterinarian technician or trained professional may be able to visit or talk with you and help provide some quality of life to your dog.
Pain medications, dietary guidance, emotional support, and orthopedic assistance can be helpful in providing and ensuring quality time with the days that you have left with your pet.
Working with a hospice and palliative care veterinary professional can make the process much easier on everybody, especially your dog. A qualified hospice professional can help guide you through making the decision to let your Great Dane go, as well.
LEARN ABOUT HOSPICE CARE FOR PETS
International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care
One of the most beautiful parts of choosing euthanasia for our pets is that we can let them go with dignity.
We can say goodbye when they are still able to function enough to have their last days with us be the best days of their lives, not the worst.
Every pet owner and every veterinarian will tell you that you will not regret making the decision too soon, but you may regret making it too late. Veterinarians consider humane euthanasia to be one of the most important gifts we can give our beloved pets.
Hold onto your dog as long as possible, but don’t be afraid to say goodbye before your dog is truly suffering.
How do I know that it’s Time?
Only you will truly know the answer, but here are some common ways people determine that it’s time to let their Great Dane go:
Your dog has stopped eating or drinking, despite receiving medical and palliative care.
Your pet ‘tells you’. Many dog owners say their pet lets them know in some way that it’s time.
He or she has more bad days than good days.
You notice that your dog is clearly in pain or is suffering, despite receiving medical and palliative care.
Your pet is unable or unwilling to get up.
Your pet has been diagnosed with a catastrophic illness or injury and you want to avoid a traumatic ending
You have to clean up often because your pet soils himself/herself
Death is imminent and your dog is struggling
You are worried that the choice to euthanize may have to be made suddenly following a sharp (and possibly traumatic) decline in health.
Your pet is no longer responsive to you or is becoming agitated, scared or withdrawn.
The unfortunate reality is that our dogs will never live as long as we want them to. Prolonging their time with us must be done thoughtfully and humanely.
At some point, it is up to us to choose their comfort over ours; that decision can be extremely heart-wrenching, and it is ok to feel emotional.
The Best Last Day Ever
Once the decision has been made, we recommend giving your Great Dane the best last day ever (assuming that your dog is in good spirits and can participate).
Hire a professional photographer to document your dog at home and with your family.
Visit your dog’s favorite place such as the beach or a park. Sit on a blanket and enjoy this time.
Spend all day with your dog, even if it means laying on the floor all day long or sitting in the grass together, just watching the world go by.
Talk to your dog. Tell stories. Look at old photos. Touch your dog all over and remember every spot, the shape of the paws and the tail. Tell your dog how special they are, and what they mean to you.
Make a clay imprint of your dog’s paw.
Give your dog the best treat ever. If your dog can handle it; raw meat or a hamburger are favorites.
It’s ok to be emotional and sad. Talk to your dog, they understand more than you know.
What to Expect During Euthanasia
Whenever possible, we highly recommend using an at-home euthanasia service.
Ideally, a veterinarian will come to your house or meet you in a park and help your dog make this transition on his or her own bed, in the comfort of your arms.
You will find that your veterinarian is very compassionate and will give you as much time as you need.
When you are ready, the veterinarian will often first administer a sedative.
This is done by injection and simply makes your pet comfortable and relaxed. Your pet will feel sleepy and all of the pain will be gone. Most pets quietly go to sleep.
Many people will say at this point how grateful they are to see their pet looking so comfortable, especially if the pet had been in a lot of pain or suffering.
At this time your veterinarian will allow you to use this time to say goodbye to your pet before performing the actual euthanasia.
For some pets who are especially ill, the sedative may be enough to euthanize them. However, in most cases, your sedated, sleeping pet will still be breathing.
When you say that it’s time, the actual euthanasia will be performed.
In most cases, the veterinarian will shave a bit of hair off of a leg and will insert a small catheter tube. This does not hurt your dog because your dog will be sedated.
Most dogs pass very quickly and quietly once the euthanasia drug is administered.
Your dog may shudder or let out a loud breath. This is not a sign that your dog is in pain, and is a normal part of even a natural death process. Once your veterinarian determines that there is no heartbeat, they will leave you with your pet to say your final goodbye.
The entire process should be very calm, respectful, and peaceful. Your dog should feel no pain or fear.
Processing Grief when Losing a Pet
There is absolutely nothing that will take away the hurt and pain of losing a loved pet. Everybody will process this grief in their own way.
You may feel that the house feels quiet and empty. Your other pets may act distressed or sad. Children may be especially heartbroken; it is ok to talk about this and to seek professional help if needed.
Each day that goes by will get better and better. Your dog will always be in your heart.
The decision to get a new dog is yours and yours alone. Some people may get a new dog very quickly, others need more time. Both choices are ok and are not an indication of love or healing.
If you are struggling to make a decision about wheter or not it’s time to let your pet go, know that you are not alone! This is a complicated and emotional decision with no wrong or right answer.
We hope you find peace in your decision, and that helping your dog transition is a peaceful process full of love.
