Let's talk Great Danes

When choosing food for a Great Dane, there are many factors to consider: their age, lifestyle, activity level, physical condition, and health including potential sickness or sensitivities. Food provides energy to cover a dog’s vital functions, and a complete nutritional formula should contain an adjusted balance of nutrients to avoid any deficiency or excess in their diet, both of which could have adverse effects on the dog. As giant-sized breed dogs have a higher risk of a condition called gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), where the stomach becomes overstretched and rotated because of excess gas, usually caused by overfeeding during a meal, it’s recommended to split the daily allowance into three meals for puppies and try to keep this routine into their adult years. Clean and fresh water should be available at all times to support good urinary regularity. In hot weather and especially when out exercising, bring water along for your dog’s frequent water breaks. Energy intake may also have to be adapted to the climatic conditions. A dog that lives outdoors in winter will have increased energy requirements. The
following recommendations are for healthy animals. If your dog has health
problems, please consult your veterinarian who will prescribe an exclusively
veterinary diet.

A Great Dane puppy’s
requirements, in terms of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins, are greater
than those of an adult dog. They need energy and nutrients to maintain their
body, but also to grow and build it. During their growth, Great Dane puppies’
immune system develops gradually. A complex of antioxidants – including vitamin
E – can help support their natural defences during this time of big changes,
discoveries, and new encounters. Their digestive functions are different from
an adult Great Dane’s,
too: their digestive system is not mature yet so it is important to provide
highly digestible proteins that will be effectively used for the building of
bones, tissues, and organs. Prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides, can
support digestive health by helping balance the intestinal flora, resulting in
good stool.

Giant-sized puppies,
whose growth period is long and intense, are especially susceptible to skeletal
and joint problems, including limb defects, bone deformities, and joint
lesions.

The first part of
growth (up to 8 months) is mainly concerned with bone development, although the
muscles also start to grow. This means that a puppy that eats too much (takes
in too much energy) will put on too much weight and grow too quickly. A food
with an adjusted calorie content to support a high growth rate while at the
same time avoiding excess weight gain will help minimise these risks. A balance
of energy and minerals (calcium and phosphorus) during this first phase of
growth will contribute to bone mineralisation in order to support bone
consolidation and the development of healthy joints. Although the calcium
content in the food needs to be increased, giant-sized breed puppies are more
sensitive to excessive calcium intake. It’s important to understand then that
adding any ingredients to a complete food formulated for the growth phase is at
best unnecessary and at worst dangerous for the animal, unless prescribed by a
veterinarian.

As many giant-sized breed dogs, Great Danes are prone to
digestive sensitivity, and their body weight can create stress on their joints
throughout their lifetime. Great
Danes’ nutritional needs then should include high quality protein and a
balanced supply of dietary fibre to help promote optimal digestibility, as well
as glucosamine, chondroitine, and antioxidants to help support the health of
their bones and joints. A formula enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, such as
EPA-DHA, will help maintain healthy skin. An adapted taurine content is also
important to support healthy
heart function.

It
is important to avoid feeding
Great Danes human foods or fatty snacks. Instead, reward them with
kibble taken from their daily meal allowance, and strictly follow the feeding
guidelines written on the package.

Clean and fresh water should be available at all times. In hot weather and especially when out exercising, bring water along for your dog’s frequent water breaks.