Nutritional Needs of Great Danes
First of all, you need to understand the dietary needs of your Great Dane. While the Great Danes may have almost similar nutritional needs with other dog breeds, these dogs require a significantly large amount of food for every serving given their massive body size. They usually need oversized canine accessories, such as large dog crates or large dog beds.
On the other hand, while the other breeds would prefer to follow a high-protein diet, the Great Dane has some specific nutrient requirements that you must address.
So take note of the following:
Moderate To Low Amount Of Protein
Great Danes must only receive a moderate to low amount of protein. Generally, it shouldn’t be more than 24% of its overall diet.
Since protein is used mainly for building tissues most especially the muscles, feeding your Great Dane with more proteins could lead to weight issues. This is not due to fat or excess amount of carbs, but mainly because of the significant muscle mass. Remember that too much weight could strain your Great Dane and affect the development of its joints and bones.
Excessive muscle mass is also said to be the most common cause of hip dysplasia among Great Danes. It is for this reason that animal nutritionists always advise pet owners to go slow on proteins.
Low Fat
Great Danes should have about 12% to 20% of fat on their diet. But there are others that think that it shouldn’t be more than 14%.
Moderate Amount Of Calories
Great Danes should consume a moderate amount of calories. Originally, these giant dogs were used for hunting wild boars. But it’s important to understand that Great Danes don’t really require a high level of energy.
They prefer to simply lie all day long on their bed, which is why they are also a great choice for apartment dwellers. Thus, you have to feed your Great Dane with a moderate amount of calories because too much of it could make them suffer from diabetes and hyperglycemia. If your Great Dane is overweight, do consider these dog food that is specially formulated for weight loss.
There’s also an option of getting an automated dog feeder & dispenser so that you are able to regulate the feeding of your Great Dane even more.
Issues To Be Aware Of
While Great Danes might be considered the “giants” in the dog world, they are also prone to some health issues.
Here are some of the main ones:
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
This condition happens when the muscles of your pooch’s heart grow relatively thinner. This could lead to insufficient pumping of the heart that would eventually lead to oxygenation problems in the various parts of the body.
Gastric Torsion
This is usually a result of frequent bloating. This issue requires a veterinary emergency because there’s a tendency that the stomach could twist onto itself and will potentially cut-off blood circulation. There are no medications prescribed for gastric torsion. However, surgery may be the best option to cure your Great Dane of this condition. But this issue must not be taken lightly since it is said to be the number one killer of Great Danes.
Hip Dysplasia
This condition will happen if your pup grows at a faster rate. This is why you should moderately feed your Great Dane. Otherwise, it could suffer from hip dysplasia, which causes unnecessary strain on its hip joints.
There are certain supplements such as fish oil and multivitamins that can be beneficial to your Great Dane’s health.
Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
This happens when the bones of your puppy grow unusually fast and could lead to a painful bone as a result of the pressure that the surrounding tissues exert. To avoid this condition, the dog must be given only a moderate amount of proteins.
Other Potential Health Issues
Aside from the conditions above, Great Danes are also at high risk of developing Wobbler syndrome, arthritis, hypothyroidism, and elbow dysplasia.
One of the most common mistakes that pet owners make is to overfeed their beloved dogs believing that giant dogs like the Great Danes need to be fed regularly. Unfortunately, this can only jeopardize the health of your Great Dane. Overfeeding can lead to a wide range of health issues, so be very careful with this.
Getting a slow-feed dog bowl is a quick and easy solution to curb overfeeding of your canine buddy.
