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Great Dane - Specific Wellness Program |
 Cardiovascular Conditions
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
About the condition:
- A condition in which the heart walls are thinner than normal and the heartbeat is not as strong.
- Increased prevalence with age and is more common in males.
How to detect this condition:
- An ultrasound/ECG is recommended to help diagnose.
Endocrine Conditions
Hypothyroidism
About the condition:
- A deficiency in the secretion of thyroid hormone
How to detect this condition:
- A blood test can determine whether your pet is within the normal range of thyroid hormone.
Gastrointestinal Conditions
Gastric Dilatation-Volvus (GDV)
About the condition:
- This critical condition can occur due to the rapid accumulation of food, fluid, or gas which causes twisting of the stomach.
How to detect this condition:
- If your dog seems bloated, painful, reluctant to move, or has excessive vomiting, they need to be treated immediately.
How to prevent this condition:
- Preventative surgery can be done at the time of spaying/neutering.
Lympocytic-Plasmacytic Colitis
About the condition:
- This is a gastrointestinal disease caused by inflammatory cells of unknown origin.
- This is one cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
How to detect this condition:
- Signs include chronic vomiting, diarrhea, change in appetite, and/or weight loss.
- A endoscopic biopsy of the lining of the stomach and/or intestinal tract is required for diagnosis.
Neoplastic Conditions
Primary Bone Tumors (most commonly Osteosarcoma)
About the condition:
- The absolute cause of malignant (capable of spreading to other parts of the body) bone tumors is still unknown, but it is known that genetics may be a factor in the development of these tumors. These tumors most likely occur in the bones of the extremities in large breed dogs.
How to detect this condition:
- The most common symptom of this condition is limping. If you notice that your pet begins limping, we recommend that they be seen for an examination. X-rays will most likely be recommended to determine the cause of limping.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Great Danes, but instead lists those that we have found to be most common at Hillside Animal Hospital. Please let us know if you have further questions regarding these or any other conditions.
Wellness Recommendations
We recommend six month wellness exams for the life of your pet since they age so much faster than humans do. Frequent visits allow us to discuss recent changes, detect potential problems, tailor diagnostic recommendations, and initiate therapy that will benefit your pet long term.
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Your Pet’s Age in Years
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Great Dane
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115
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Numbers within the chart are your pet's age in human years
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Juvenile
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Adult
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Senior
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A series of wellness consultations and vaccines are required as a puppy develops. Problems can be addressed early based on a breed's disposition. Early findings may dictate the path of future wellness.
The primary wellness consultation is scheduled for routine vaccines, the first line of prevention. The second wellness consultation is meant for vaccine boosters and basic wellness blood work. Wellness blood work is essential in early detection and treatment of medical conditions. Each consultation allows us to spend time with you to discuss any changes that may have occurred as your pet ages and make recommendations accordingly. Factors such as size, sex, age, lifestyle, and breed will dictate a patient's recommendations. Radiographs may be recommended for some patients as baseline evaluations for future comparisons.
Adult wellness blood work includes a basic chemistry (8), a complete blood count, and a heartworm test. We recommend evaluating wellness blood work annually for the lifetime of the pet.
With senior patients, each wellness consultation is for routine vaccines and boosters, along with a physical examination. Changes for seniors can be subtle, so maintaining a healthy senior pet requires an owner's observations along with twice a year physical examinations to evaluate these changes. The doctors recommend annual comprehensive wellness blood work and urinalysis for all of our seniors. Doctors rely on blood and urine tests to provide important information about a pet's health to determine appropriate therapy. Radiographs may also be recommended as these changes occur to again ensure appropriate therapy.
Senior wellness blood work includes a comprehensive chemistry (25), a complete blood count, thyroid hormone level, urinalysis, and a heartworm test. Depending on medications, some prescriptions require frequent blood monitoring in addition to routine wellness.
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FAX: 480-551-1738
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