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Great Dane - Health Characteristics

Dog Breeds

Great Danes typically live 8-16 years, with average being around 10 years. Like most giant dogs, they have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in smaller dog breeds. Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds. These include: bloat, hip dysplasia, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

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Lifespan

Great Danes typically live 8-16 years, with average being around 10 years. Like most giant dogs, they have a fairly slow metabolism. This results in less energy and less food consumption per pound of dog than in smaller dog breeds.

Common Health Issues

Great Danes have some health problems that are common to large breeds. These include:

• Bloat - a painful distending and twisting of the stomach that rapidly results in death if not quickly addressed
• Hip dysplasia - an inherited joint disorder common in large dog breeds. Typically an x-ray of the parents can certify whether their hips are healthy and can serve as a guideline for whether the animals should be bred and are likely to have healthy pups.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) - a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently.