Heart Problems & Great Danes

 

Great Dane & Heart Problems

So here’s the deal: us Great Danes have what you might call a “big heart” problem, and I don’t mean we love too much (though we do). About 40-50% of my buddies over five years old get something called dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, if you want to sound fancy at the dog park.

Think of it like this – our hearts get stretched out like an old tennis ball that’s been chewed too much. It gets bigger but doesn’t squeeze as well, which makes it harder to pump blood around our already massive bodies. And apparently, us boy dogs get it more than the girls. Typical, right?

The sneaky thing about DCM is that it runs in families. Thanks a lot, Great-Great-Grandpa Rex! But here’s the good news – you humans have some pretty cool gadgets to catch this early. There are these things called echocardiograms (basically ultrasounds for our hearts) and Holter monitors (like wearing a heart fitness tracker for 24 hours).

If we do get diagnosed, don’t panic! There are medicines with big names like ACE inhibitors, diuretics, and positive inotropes that can help us feel better and live longer, happier lives.

The bottom line? Get us checked regularly, watch for weird symptoms like getting tired super easily, and we’ll keep being your lovable couch-surfing companions for years to come!

Understanding Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Great Danes

Hey there, fellow four-legged friends and the humans who love us! My name is Duke, and I’m a Great Dane who wants to talk to you about something pretty important. This heart condition affects us gentle giants called dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM for short (because that’s way easier to bark out!).

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Duke, why are we talking about heart problems? That sounds scary!” Well, here’s the thing: about 40-50% of us Great Danes over five years old can develop this condition. That’s like half the dogs at my favorite dog park! So it’s pretty standard, and knowing about it can help.

Think of DCM like this – imagine your heart is like a balloon. In a healthy heart, that balloon squeezes well to pump blood around your body. But with DCM, the heart gets bigger and stretched out, kind of like an old balloon that’s lost its bounce. When this happens, our hearts can’t pump blood as well as they should.

The tricky part is that us dogs are pretty good at hiding when we don’t feel great – we’re tough like that! But there are some signs to watch for. If I start getting tired during our usual walks to the mailbox (which used to be a piece of cake), or if I’m feeling dizzy and wobbly, those could be early warning signs. My human might notice I’m not as excited about playing fetch or that I’m sleeping more than usual.

When things get more serious, some of us might start coughing or have trouble breathing. Our bellies might get swollen too. These are signs that our hearts need help from the vet.

The good news is that vets have some pretty cool ways to check our hearts! They can do something called an echocardiogram – it’s like taking a movie of your heart beating. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt at all! They just put some gel on our chest and move a little device around. Sometimes they’ll also take X-rays to see how our heart looks, or hook us up to a machine that listens to our heart rhythm.

There’s also this thing called a Holter monitor – it’s like wearing a heart detective device for a day or two. It can catch sneaky heart rhythm problems that might happen even before we feel sick. Regular cardiac screening protocols, including annual monitoring, can help catch heart health issues early on.

I know this all sounds pretty serious, and it is. But here’s what I want all my Great Dane buddies and their humans to know: catching this early makes a huge difference! Regular checkups with the vet, especially once we hit our golden years (around five years old for us giants), can help spot problems before they get too big.

How Common Are Heart Problems in This Breed

Woof! Let me tell you about something serious that affects us, Great Danes – our big hearts. And I mean that literally, not just because we’re sweethearts!

About 4 or 5 out of every 10 Great Danes like me will develop something called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM for short – we dogs love abbreviations almost as much as treats) after we turn five years old. That’s like being 35 in human years! DCM means our hearts get bigger and weaker, which isn’t the good kind of big like our paws.

Woof! 4 or 5 out of 10 Great Danes develop DCM after age five – that’s our hearts getting bigger but weaker!

Us boy dogs seem to get DCM more often than the girls – typical, right? The ladies are always showing us up! Most of us who get it will notice problems when we’re between 5 and 8 years old, which is right when we’re hitting our stride as distinguished senior pups.

The good news is that our humans are getting smarter about this stuff. Smart breeders now do genetic tests to find out which dogs might pass on DCM to their puppies. It’s like a report card, but for our DNA!

What we eat and how much we exercise might make DCM worse if we already have it. So maybe I shouldn’t have stolen that whole pizza last week… oops!

Here’s the sneaky part – vets can find early signs of DCM in about 1 out of 4 Great Danes who seem perfectly healthy. That’s why regular checkups are super important, even when we’re feeling great and ready to knock over small children with our enthusiasm! Additionally, bloat is a significant risk factor for Great Danes, which can further complicate heart health.

Genetic Factors and Family History

My Family Tree and the Heart Thing

Woof! Let me tell you about something pretty important that runs in Great Dane families like mine – it’s called DCM, which is a fancy way of saying some of us get heart problems. Don’t worry, though, I’m here to explain it in a way that won’t make your head spin!

So here’s the deal: DCM is like a family trait that gets passed down, kind of like how I got my dad’s massive paws and my mom’s goofy personality. The science folks call it “autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance,” which means if one of your parents has the gene for it, you might get it too, but not always. It’s like a genetic coin flip that doesn’t always land the same way.

In our Great Dane families, about 40-60% of us pups might inherit this heart condition from our parents. That sounds scary, but the good news is that the humans have gotten really smart about tracking this stuff! They do what they call “family screening,” which is basically like making a detailed family tree to see who might be at risk.

Check out my family’s numbers:

Generation	Boys with DCM	Girls with DCM
Great-great grandparents	2 out of 4	1 out of 3
Great grandparents	3 out of 8	4 out of 7
Grandparents	5 out of 12	3 out of 9
Parents	2 out of 6	1 out of 4
My generation	1 out of 3	2 out of 5

Humans have even figured out which parts of our doggy DNA make us more likely to get DCM. Pretty cool, right? This helps them advise breeders about which of us should have puppies and which ones should focus on being excellent pets instead. Additionally, understanding heartworm disease can help in preventing other cardiovascular issues that affect Great Danes.

The best part is that knowing about this stuff early means we can get better care and live our best Great Dane lives!

Recognizing Symptoms and Getting a Diagnosis

So here’s the thing – sometimes we start feeling a bit off, but we mightn’t tell you right away because we’re tough cookies. At first, I mightn’t want to chase that tennis ball as long as usual, or I might feel super tired after we walk to the mailbox. My human thought I was just being lazy (which sometimes I am!).

Sometimes we might even faint – and no, it’s not because we saw our vet bills! It’s called syncope, and it’s our heart acting up. Our hearts might also start beating funny, like they’re doing the cha-cha when they should be doing a steady waltz.

If things get worse, we might start breathing hard even when we’re just lying on the couch (our favorite spot, obviously). Some of us might get a big belly full of fluid, which is not from eating too many treats – though we’d never say no to more treats! Humans need to recognize behavioral changes that could indicate we are not feeling well.

The good news is that our vets have some pretty cool gadgets to figure out what’s going on. They can take pictures of our hearts and run special tests to see how we’re doing.

The sooner they catch this stuff, the better they can help us keep being the gentle giants you love!

Early Warning Signs

Woof! Watch Out for These Warning Signs in Us Big Dogs

Hey there, human friends! It’s me, your friendly neighborhood Great Dane, and I need to tell you something super crucial about our big hearts – literally! You see, us gentle giants can sometimes have heart problems, but the good news is you can catch them early if you know what to look for.

First thing – if I’m getting tired way faster than usual during our walks, that might be a red flag. I mean, I know I’m huge and sometimes lazy, but if I’m panting like crazy after just a short stroll when I used to bound around the dog park for hours, something might be up with my ticker.

Listen up for any weird coughing sounds I might make, especially after I get excited (which happens a lot because, well, everything is AMAZING!). If I start coughing after we play fetch or when the mail carrier shows up, it’s not because I’m trying to talk – my heart might need some attention.

You should also watch how I breathe when I’m just chilling on the couch. If my breathing looks weird or different from normal, don’t ignore it.

And if I seem weak sometimes or I’m suddenly acting like stairs are my worst enemy, that’s definitely worth checking out.

The sneaky thing about heart problems is they creep up slowly, so you mightn’t notice right away. That’s why those vet visits are super important – they can hear things with that cold stethoscope that you can’t! Regular veterinary check-ups can help catch any heart issues before they become serious.

Diagnostic Testing Methods

What Happens When I Go to the Vet for Heart Tests****

Okay, so my humans noticed I’ve been acting a little weird lately – maybe panting more or not wanting to chase squirrels as much. Now they’re worried about my big Great Dane heart! The vet says they need to do some special tests to figure out what’s going on inside my chest.

First up is something called an echocardiogram, which sounds super fancy, but it’s basically like when humans get ultrasounds for babies. Except instead of looking for tiny humans, they’re looking at my heart! They put this cold gel on my chest (brr!) and move a wand around to take pictures of my heart beating. It shows them how big my heart chambers are and if my valves are working right. Pretty cool that they can see inside me without cutting me open!

Then there’s the ECG test, which involves sticking little stickers all over my chest. I look like a science experiment! These stickers pick up the electrical signals from my heartbeat. Sometimes my heart does weird things that nobody can hear with a stethoscope, but this machine catches everything.

They also take X-rays of my chest to see the shape of my heart and check if there’s any fluid in my lungs. I’ve to lie still, which is hard when you’re as big as me and the table seems so small!

The blood test is probably my least favorite part, but it tells them if my heart is stressed out. Compromised skin barrier function can also lead to other health issues that can affect my overall well-being.

And sometimes I get to wear a special vest with a monitor for a whole day or two – it’s like having a heart computer strapped to me! It records every single heartbeat to catch any problems that only happen sometimes.

All these tests help the vet figure out precisely what’s going on with my ticker and how to help me feel better. Pretty amazing what they can do these days!

Treatment Options and Expected Outcomes

My humans keep talking about all these fancy pills I need to take for my heart. Let me tell you about the medicines that are supposed to keep this giant ticker of mine pumping strong!

First up are these things called ACE inhibitors. I’ve no idea what ACE stands for, but these little pills help my heart work more easily. It’s like having someone carry my food bowl for me instead of me dragging it around the yard. The vets say they help my blood flow better, which sounds pretty crucial for a dog my size.

Then there are diuretics – fancy word for “pee pills.” Trust me, I learned this one the hard way when I suddenly needed to go outside every five minutes. My poor humans thought I was just being dramatic, but these pills do make you need more bathroom breaks than a road trip with puppies.

The last ones are called positive inotropes. I like that they’ve “positive” in the name because that sounds cheerful! These help my heart squeeze stronger, much like the extra-strong hugs I give when I’m excited to see my family come home.

Now, here’s the thing about survival rates – the earlier humans catch their heart problems, the better they do with treatment. It’s like finding your favorite tennis ball before it gets lost under the couch forever. Additionally, having a close relationship with a veterinarian is essential for preventive measures to ensure we stay healthy and happy throughout our lives.

And if we take our medicines (sorry, humans, for spitting them out sometimes), we’ve much better chances.

The best part about getting good treatment is that I can still chase squirrels, play with my toys, and go on walks without getting as tired. Sure, I mightn’t be able to run marathons anymore, but let’s be honest – I was always more of a “sprint to the food bowl” kind of dog anyway!

Current Medication Protocols

My Medicine Cabinet: A Great Dane’s Guide to Heart Meds****

Woof! So apparently, we Great Danes have hearts that like to cause drama more than smaller dogs. Thanks, genetics!

But don’t worry – the fancy heart doctors (my human calls them “veterinary cardiologists”) have figured out some pretty good medicine tricks to keep us tail-wagging happy.

Let me tell you about the pills I might’ve to take. First up is something called enalapril – it’s an ACE inhibitor, which sounds like a tennis thing, but it’s actually for helping my blood vessels chill out.

Then there’s pimobendan, which gives my heart muscles a little pep talk to pump better. And furosemide? That one’s the “bathroom break” medicine because it helps get rid of extra water when I’m feeling bloated.

Now here’s the tricky part – the dosing has to be just right for us big guys. The pimobendan gets calculated at about 0.25-0.3 mg per kilogram of my magnificent body weight, twice a day.

The furosemide can range from 1-4 mg per kilogram, depending on how grumpy my heart is that day.

The best part? My vet keeps checking my blood work and doing those weird ultrasound things on my chest to make sure the medicine is working great and not causing any problems.

It’s like having a personal trainer for my heart! Pretty cool, right? Also, regular veterinary care is vital for managing food allergies in Great Danes, as it can help ensure holistic health alongside heart treatments.

Survival Rate Statistics

My Big Heart Problems (And Why I Need Extra Treats)

First up is something called dilated cardiomyopathy – try saying that three times fast! Our hearts get all stretched out like a balloon that’s been blown up too many times. When we get diagnosed with this, most of us stick around for about 6 to 24 months. But hey, if our humans catch it early and give us the good medicine, some of us lucky pups make it to 36 months or even longer!

Then there’s aortic stenosis, which sounds way scarier than it is. Think of it like having a narrow doorway that our blood has to squeeze through. The worse it gets, the more challenging things become. Most of us with the bad kind live about 12 to 18 months after finding out about it.

The third troublemaker is arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. I can’t even pronounce that one! This one’s super sneaky because nobody knows when it’s going to cause problems. It’s like playing fetch, but you never know if the ball is going to bounce usually or go completely sideways.

Here’s the good news, though – if you humans catch these problems early, we do way better! Our age when you find out what medicines we take, and how well we can still chase squirrels all matter a lot. Additionally, managing our diabetes complications can make a significant difference in our overall health and longevity. The sooner you help us, the more belly rubs we’ll be around to enjoy!

Quality of Life

My Life with a Heart Condition: A Great Dane‘s Story

Sure, my heart doesn’t work as perfectly as it used to, which means I mightn’t live as long as some other dogs. But my humans and the vet folks have this fantastic plan to keep me feeling great for as long as possible. And let me tell you, when you’re already the size of a miniature horse like me, feeling great is pretty essential!

My doctors do all these cool tests to see how I’m doing. They make me walk on a treadmill (which is hilarious because I’m bigger than the machine), take pictures of my heart with a special camera, and check my blood for clues about how my ticker is working. I pretend I don’t like the tests, but honestly, the treats I get afterward make it all worth it.

The best part? My humans learned precisely how to take care of me. I get special exercise time that’s just right for my heart – no more crazy zoomies that leave me panting like I just ran a marathon. My food is pretty tasty, even though they cut back on the salt (apparently, too much salt makes my heart work harder, and nobody wants that).

They even moved my food and water bowls so I don’t have to bend down so far with my giant body.

I take some pills every day that help my heart pump better and get rid of extra water in my body. My humans are sneaky good at hiding them in peanut butter, so I look forward to medicine time. The vets keep checking on me and changing my pills when needed, kind of like how you might adjust your bike seat to make riding more comfortable.

The coolest part is that even though my heart needs extra help, I can still do most of my favorite things. I can still play fetch (just for shorter times), still give the best hugs by leaning my entire body weight on people, and still steal food off the counter when no one’s looking (don’t tell my humans I admitted that).

Also, my humans keep a close eye on my health, especially since Great Danes can be prone to serious health complications like heart issues, ensuring I stay strong and happy!

Prevention Strategies and Future Research

How Us Great Danes Can Keep Our Big Hearts Healthy

We have some special heart problems that us giant dogs need to watch out for. But don’t worry! There are lots of things we can do to stay healthy and keep our tails wagging.

Here’s what the intelligent humans in white coats say we should do:

1. Get our hearts checked every year starting when we’re about a year and a half old. It’s like going to the vet for a special heart photo called an echocardiogram. Don’t worry – it doesn’t hurt at all! They just put some gooey stuff on our chest and roll a little camera around. Easy peasy!
2. Get a DNA test to see if we might pass heart problems to our puppies. It’s just a simple cheek swab – way easier than when they take our temperature the other way, if you know what I mean!
3. Eat the right food with good stuff like taurine (it’s not just for cats!). The vets also say we should probably skip those fancy grain-free foods. I know, I know – we don’t get to pick our dinner anyway, but maybe we can give our humans some puppy dog eyes when they’re shopping.

The brilliant dog doctors are working on new ways to catch heart problems super early and find better treatments just for us big guys. Regular veterinary care is also vital for managing our health and preventing issues before they arise. Pretty cool, right?

With all this help, we Great Danes can keep being the gentle giants we are for a long, long time!

Final Thoughts

You see, us Great Danes have hearts as big as our personalities, but sometimes that causes problems. There’s this sneaky thing called dilated cardiomyopathy that likes to mess with our ticker. It’s basically when our heart gets stretched out like an old tennis ball that’s lost its bounce. Not fun!

The good news is that our healthcare professionals have become smart about catching this heart trouble early. They use these cool machines called echocardiograms that let them peek inside our chests without having to crack us open like a piggy bank. Pretty neat, right?

Now, I can’t change the fact that my parents might have passed down some wonky heart genes – trust me, if I could have a chat with them about their life choices, I would! But my vet has all sorts of tricks up their sleeve. Some special medicines and check-ups help keep my tail wagging and my zoomies zooming.

Sure, having heart problems isn’t ideal when you’re already dealing with the daily struggle of fitting through doorways, but we Great Danes are tougher than we look!

References

• https://gesunde-dogge.de/en/information-en/frequent-diseases-in-great-danes/the-heart-disease-dcm
• https://www.ufaw.org.uk/dogs/great-dane-dilated-cardiomyopathy
• https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/dilated-cardiomyopathy-in-dogs
• https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
• https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/218/5/javma.2001.218.729.pdf