Great Dane
Breed description - see AKC for detailed standard
Breed problems can be both inherited or diseases and disorders seen frequently in a breed and mode of inheritance unknown. Both are listed.
Breed problemsAcne: affects the muzzle and lip areas.
Acral lick dermatitis
Aortic stenosis
Bloat: a condition where a dog's stomach produces excessive gas and enlarges severely enough to cause death without immediate treatment. Usually associated with gastric torsion
Calcinosis circumscripta: the development of lumps of hard calcium deposits in the skin.
Cardiomyopathy
Cataracts
Cerebellar hypoplasia:
Cervical disc disease
Cervical vertebral malformation or instability: a malformation of the vertebrae in the neck usually leading to nerve damage. Commonly seen in Doberman pinschers and causes a hackneyed gait
Color mutant alopecia: a condition where certain colored areas of a dog's skin grows less or no fur. Commonly seen in Yorkshire terriers, blue Doberman pinschers and fawn Irish setters.
Cystinuria: an abnormal excretion of a substance (cystine) in the urine
Deafness (Harlequin coat color)
Demodicosis
Dermoid cyst: a small growth composed of skin-like structures
Distichiasis: abnormally growing eyelashes.
Ectropion
Elbow dysplasia (ununited anconeal process)
Entropion
Eversion of nictitating membrane: a condition where the third eyelid is protruding.
Gastric dilitation-volvulus
Glaucoma
Hemeralopia: inability to see in daylight.
Hip dysplasia
Histiocytoma
Hygroma: a fluid-filled sac usually occurring on the elbows of large breed dogs such as the Great Dane or Irish wolfhound.
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy: a condition of rapidly growing giant breeds where there is an abnormal inflammation of bones with pain and development of excessive bony growths.
Hypothyroidism
Iris heterochromia: a condition where one iris is a different color from the other or has more than one color to it.
Lymphocytic thyroiditis: an autoimmune disease causing inflammation and destruction of the thyroid gland, which becomes infiltrated with lymphocytes (white blood cells) and leads to hypothyroidism. This is the most comon endocrine disease of the dog and has an inherited predisposition
Megaesophagus
Metabolic bone disease: any of a number of diseases affecting the bones due to an abnormality of metabolism.
Microphthalmia - ocular dysgenesis in harlequin Great Dane, and with partial hearing loss in predominantly white dogs (albinism)
Mitral valve disease
Muscular dystrophy: a congenital and often inherited form of generalized muscle dysfunction which causes signs such as poor growth, weakness, abnormal gait, difficulty eating and swallowing, and muscle atrophy. Affected animals have serious health problems and may die or be euthanized.
Necrotizing myelopathy: a condition where the spinal cord gradually dies.
Osteochondritis dissecans: a specific form of inflammation of the cartilage of certain joints which causes arthritis.
Osteochondrosis: a group of developmental diseases resulting in abnormal formulation of joint cartilage. Commonly involves the shoulder, stifle, hock or elbow.
Osteosarcoma: a cancer arising from the cells of the bones.
Persistent right aortic arch (vascular ring anomaly)
Pododermatitis: a skin infection of the paws.
Progressive ataxia: a condition where the animal's sense of coordination deteriorates.
Progressive retinal atrophy
Retinal dysplasia
Spondylolisthesis (Wobbler's syndrome): a condition where the vertebrae of the neck slip out of joint and are malformed causing progressive incoordination of the rear legs.
Stockard's paralysis: a degeneration of parts of the spinal cord causing paralysis.
Thyroiditis: an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the thyroid gland.
Tricuspid dysplasia
von Willebrand's disease: a type of bleeding disorder caused by defective blood platelet function. Occurs in 59 dog breeds but most often in Doberman pinschers. An autosomal trait affecting both sexes.
Zinc-responsive dermatosis
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy causes lameness and extreme pain in young growing dogs, usually of a large breed. Great danes, German shepherds, dobermans, retrievers and weimaraners are examples of breeds that may be affected by this condition. It appears to occur in weimaraners as a vaccine reaction and this may also affect mastiffs and great Danes. In this case, it usually occurs a few days after vaccination and may appear to be worse than the "average" case on radiographs.
HOD usually shows up as an acute lameness, often seeming to affect all four legs simultaneously. Affected dogs may stand in a "hunched up" stance or refuse to stand up at all. They may have a fever but this is not consistently present. They usually have painful swellings around the lower joints on the legs. Some puppies will die from this disease, some suffer permanent disablity but many recover later. The disease is so painful that many owners elect to euthanize the puppy rather than watch it suffer, despite the reasonably good chance for recovery, long term. Affected dogs may be so ill that they refuse to eat.
X-rays confirm this diagnosis in most cases. There are very typical X-ray changes, although it can look a little like bone infection from a septic condition. There is some evidence at this point that viral or bacterial infections may underlie some cases of HOD as canine distemper virus has been found in the affected areas in some dogs. There can be high white blood cell counts and the alkaline phosphatase level in the blood stream is often elevated.
There is also a theory that this condition may occur with excessive dietary levels of calcium or protein. I am not sure what the current status of this theory is.
Treatment usually consists of analgesic medications such as aspirin or carprofen (Rimadyl Rx). Since a viral or bacterial agent may be involved in this problem the use of corticosteroids is questionable. Many people try switching to a diet that is lower in calcium (the puppy foods for large dogs may be a good choice now that they are available. Previously many people switched to adult dog foods which didn't always result in lower total calcium in the diet). Even more potent pain relief medications may be indicated in some puppies. Hydrocodone and aspirin may be a more effective combination than either one alone. Antibiotics are often given for this condition. There is a persistant rumor that vitamin C supplementation is beneficial in dogs with HOD. This appears to be a false rumor and there is some evidence that vitamin C may actually promote abnormal calcification in these puppies. It is not a good idea to supplement vitamin C.
Hypertrophic osteodystrophy may resolve spontaneously in as short a time as a week or so. It can be a recurrent, cyclic infection that goes on for a long time, too. If there are severe secondary bone changes, surgical correction of these may be necessary for normal future function of the limbs.
There is no reason not to control pain as effectively as possible with this condition. That definitely needs to a primary goal of treatment.
Mike Richards, DVM
This page was last edited 04/29/08
