Archive for the 'Health' Category
Dog Ramps for the Great Dane
It is not arguable that great danes are some of the best dogs out there. Anyone who has owned a great dane has absolutely no doubt that they have excellent temperament and fabulous personalities. They instantly become part of the family and before too long have usually convinced you that they belong on the furniture as much as you. If danes have a downfall it is their short life spans. Their large bodies unfortunately age faster than many other breeds so it is imperative that they be well taken care of.
Of the many things you can do to extend the life of a great dane such as proper diet and making sure they get plenty of exercise a dog ramp is also a fabulous option. While children often think that the big beast are perfect for ridding their backs are one of the most vulnerable points on a big dog like this. They have lots of weight pulling down in the middle and a long span to hold up. Because of their large size they commonly step up and down onto pretty large things which adds a high level of stress to the spine.
As big dogs age common things like getting up onto a bed or into a car can begin to be very difficult and painful. Hips and backs suffer the most and to extend life, improve quality of life, and avoid future problems it is imperative to use all of your options.
Aside from the benefits to the dog there are benefits to the owner as well. Lifting a large dog into a care can be a challenge and cause you to have back problems of your own. Possible injuries to your large pet are costly and traumatic, not to mention time consuming. Avoid these issues with dog ramp and see your pet into old age
Skin Allergies
While a healthy Great Dane may remind you of a chiseled Olympic athlete Danes are not famous for their health. Their short hair is a blessing and a curse. It is easy to take care of, requires little maintenance, no cutting, does not hold dirt, but as a rule short haired dogs are more prone to skin allergies.
The most common of the allergies which I appropriately call bald butt, not sure about the scientific name, seems to appear during hotter weather or when a Great Dane is stressed. I have seen it happen with both of our adopted Danes the first year we had them and return only mildly in following years. The only remedy that I have found to work for any extended period of time is a steroid sot administered by the vet. This is not the cheapest option and you have to watch out for accidents afterwards but it is effective. Repeated bathing seems to make the problem worse.
Another common problem is the muzzle acne, which I have also seen in both Danes in their first years and is aggravated by similar circumstances. Acne is pretty gross and is characterized by pustules around the mouth and on the chin. Danes usually seem oblivious to pain but they seem to be bothered by this particular affliction. The steroid shot is temporarily effective for this outbreak but thankfully it is more easily treatable. A simple application of vinegar, usually just once or twice should clear this up no problem. I just wet a paper towel and wipe down the muzzle. The Great danes don’t appreciate this much but it does work like a charm.
Ingrown hairs are also fairly common and not easily diagnosed by someone unfamiliar with Danes. They most commonly occur on the hip (high friction areas) and appear as big growths, almost like a tumor. The best solution for these suckers is simple. Put on safety glasses and squeeze. The dog is usually oblivious and when it pops it is freakishly cool, blood, pus and hair pop out. Not for the faint of heart but a small price to pay for a Great Dane lover and sickenely addictive. After the eruption apply some antibacterial ointment and do it again in a few days. When the growth flattens out and softens to the touch quit with your sick addiction and let the poor beast grow some hair.