It’s fairly common knowledge that as a general rule, Great Danes grow until they are 3.
They will typically gain height for the first 2 years, and then ‘fill out’ until age 3.
A lot of people, however, seem to mistake ‘getting fat’ with filling out!
Great Danes are NOT supposed to be a heavy, weighty breed. Even ‘Euro’ built Danes should be lean and have a defined waist.
OVERWEIGHT GREAT DANES ARE PROBLEMATIC
Overweight Great Danes are not ‘cute’ or ‘funny’.
Overweight Great Danes cause Great Danes to live shorter and less healthy lives.
Back yard breeders have been breeding ‘Euro’ Great Danes, which has made many people think it is normal to have Great Danes be floppy, droopy and ‘fat’.
It is around age 2 when many Great Danes have their spay or neuter.
Spay and neuter causes a shift in hormones that for many dogs also leads to a slower metabolism and weight gain.
Many people see this happen and assume their dog is ‘filling out’, when really…their dog is just getting fat.
It’s important to work with your veterinarian following a spay/neuter to make sure your Great Dane stays active and at a healthy weight. We recommend waiting to spay/neuter until your dog is at least 18 months of age.
WEIGHT IS BAD FOR DANES
There seems to be a contest to have the biggest, heaviest Great Dane.
Excess weight, however is extremely hard on them.
Most Danes are not built to be 170+lbs. Adding food, satin balls and coconut oil to their diet to ‘bulk them up’ or ‘fill them out’ is extremely unhealthy.
Most Danes may look lean, but very few actually need help gaining weight.
Dogs that are kept at a health weight live on average 2 years longer than their overweight counterparts.
Lean, fit dogs have an easier time playing, walking, running, and getting around.
As a society we are so used to seeing heavy dogs that we may find it alarming to see a dog that has been kept lean and at a healthy weight!
There is nothing cute about letting your Great Dane get fat.
Overweight dogs are more likely to suffer from:
Diabetes
Bladder Stones
Heart Disease
Hypertension
Cancer
Osteoarthritis
Anesthesia complications
(An overweight Great Dane, above)
WHAT IS FILLING OUT?
In Great Danes, filling out refers to the process of the dog developing breadth/width in the chest and hips, as well as developing muscle mass.
Neither one of those things has to do with becoming heavy. Good muscle development is extremely important for Great Danes!
As your Great Dane matures and finishes filling out, you may notice a broader chest and hips, stronger more developed shoulders and larger more defined hip and thigh muscles.
Their face will mature quite a bit and you may notice an increase on the scale, but that’s not necessarily from fat!
Keep your Great Dane active. ***Many people believe that Great Danes should be restricted from exercise as a means to reduce the risk of bloat. At this time, studies indicate that there is no advantage to restricting water or activity, even following meals. There are, however, many advantages to allowing your Great dane to move naturally on soft, varied terrain (fields, hiking trails, etc.)
Below is a health, well-muscled 17 month old intact male Great Dane that is just beginning to ‘fill out’. He is still very lean and gangly and has a lot of maturing left to do:
Below is a photo of his Grandfather, a mature AKC CH. Great Dane that has been kept at a healthy weight. This gives you a good picture of what a Dane may look like as a young pup and then later as a more mature, filled-out adult.
You can see that an outline of the ribs may be visible, and the dog has a waist that can be viewed from both the side and above. His head, chest and hips have become broader and have matured. He is not heavy or overweight!
GENETICS MATTER
Genetics really matter when it comes to size! Don’t compare the weight of your Dane to the weight of others.
Even two Danes of the same weight can look massively different, depending on their body fat ratio, muscle development and overall structure.
Run from any breeder whose focus is on creating the largest, droopiest, heaviest dogs out there.
If they are advertising weights as a means to prove their breeding stock, they may not have the best interest of the dogs in mind. A healthy, well-bred Great Dane is the Apollo of dogs, and will be large without being uncomfortably heavy.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR GREAT DANE AT A HEALTHY WEIGHT
Choose a high quality, nutrient dense diet and don’t over-feed
Keep dietary fat content at or below 14%
Keep your Great Dane active! A short walk each night on pavement is not enough exercise for most dogs to stay lean, fit, and mentally healthy.
Free play and exploration on varied terrain (grass, sand, gravel, hills, rocks, etc.) is important for physical & mental health, and we believe is more important than leashed walks on the sidewalk.
Tug of war, flirt poles (for dogs age 2+), and hiking can be wonderful ways to bond with your dog and keep them in great shape!
Take a FitPaws class with a qualified instructor.
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. We do our best to present the most up-to-date research, however it is up to the reader to make decisions regarding the health and well-being of their dog. We make no claims here to prevent or treat bloat or any other condition related to Great Danes. Find a veterinarian with GIANT breed experience, and chat with them.
Some of the products we list on our website contain affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase, we may receive a small commission for referring you. We only recommend products that we truly believe in. This commission does not affect the price of the product and is used to fund our content and expenses related to operating this website.
If you are concerned because you have a Great Dane puppy with knuckling, crooked paws, bowed-out legs, or bumps on the front legs, you’ve come to the right place. It is important to understand what causes knuckling over, and how to quickly fix knuckling in Great Dane puppies.
Knuckling over, better known as “Carpal Laxity” is one of the challenges that may arise during the explosive puppy growth phase.
As you are now aware, giant breed puppies, known for their rapid growth, can sometimes face orthopedic concerns that affect their front legs. This post is a big one, and in it, we are providing the most up-to-date information based on science & research! Use our table of contents to navigate.
In this post we will discuss:
How to determine if your Great Dane puppy is knuckling
What causes knuckling in giant breed puppies
How to fix knuckling over, flat feet, and carpal laxity in Great Danes
A Great Dane puppy knuckling over, with carpal laxity
What is Knuckling Over in Puppies?
Knuckling, or Knuckling over is the layman’s term for a large or giant breed puppy when their front limbs collapse. You can see in the image above that the knuckle joint is bowed over the foot.
This condition is a result of fast growth and while it looks alarming, it is one of the least concerning growth disorders that big puppies can face!
Is Puppy Knuckling & Carpal Laxity the Same Thing?
The WORD “knuckling” and carpal laxity go hand in hand. However, the word “knuckling” is medically incorrect for this condition.
In other words, the use of the word ‘knuckling’ is actually a misnomer!
When people say ‘knuckling’ in reference to bowed legs on a giant breed puppy, what they really mean is “Carpal Laxity”.
True knuckling is actually a neurological condition, usually associated with more serious disorders in older dogs. To be clear, the use of the word ‘knuckling’ in reference to Great Dane puppy feet is basically slang.
Now that that is out of the way, it’s important to note that I will be using the terms “Carpal Laxity” and “Knuckling” interchangeably in this post.
When you speak to your vet, mention that you have concerns about carpal laxity. This will make much more sense to them, and their diagnosis will make much more sense to you, too!
Is Knuckling Over in Great Danes Serious?
Knuckling over is one of the most common growth complications in Great Danes and other giant breed puppies.
With carpal laxity, the dogs weight becomes too much for the quickly developing bone and cartilage, and the legs ‘buckle’ or go flat in response to the stress.
Some puppies have a mild case of knuckling over, others have a more severe case. Either way, this is a notable (and reversible) condition that requires treatment.
It often pops up with very little warning, and puppies can be normal and then wake up from a nap buckling over. Other puppies show early signs, such as having shaky legs and flat feet.
While the exact cause of knuckling is unknown, it is believed to be related to dysfunctional (too fast) growth, often brought on by improper nutrition. Excessive or improper exercise and slippery or hard surfaces can cause further damage to the lax joints.
It is a condition that requires swift action and treatment, however, it is NOT a serious condition requiring life-saving measures. Don’t stress! With the right treatment, this problem resolves quickly.
This photo above is of an 8-week-old Great Dane puppy who was diagnosed with HOD and knuckling. This is a severe case. Knuckling can look more mild or more severe than this.
Normal Great Dane Puppy Growth vs. Knuckling
Many people mistake normal, knobby growth plates, flat feet, or angular limb deformities with knuckling!
Healthy Great Dane puppies will often have large, knobby growth plates on their front paws. These growth plates may swell a little bit before a growth spurt; this is normal!
However, excessive swelling is indicative of problems such as HOD and PANO which are much more serious than carpal laxity. Always monitor the condition of your puppy’s growth plates and report to your veterinarian; if there seems to be pain, limping, and/or a lot of swelling.
What are the Signs & Symptoms of Puppy Knuckling?
This photo above is a fairly severe case: notice the bowed appearance and toes.
It’s important to understand the warning signs that may indicate early or developing bone growth problems in your puppy, and see a giant-breed-knowledgeable veterinarian ASAP. Left untreated, puppy knuckling can lead to permanent damage and deformity.
Symptoms of puppy knuckling over and carpal laxity include:
Weak limbs that ‘shake’ on soft surfaces
Flat toes/splayed feet
Ankles that rest over the top of the foot
Bowing out
Flat feet (another form of carpal laxity)
Crooked front limbs or ‘ballet feet’ (which may also indicate growth plate damage and angular limb deformity, more serious than knuckling)
We’re going to dig more into how diet affects bone growth in large and giant breed puppies below, but before we get there, check your food! If the calcium level is above 1.2% it should NOT be fed.
How to Quickly Fix Puppy Knuckling in Great Danes
I’m going to deep dive into the nutritional and environmental issues related to knuckling below, but if you are reading this article you may be looking for a quick fix.
Here is the long and the short of how to QUICKLY fix puppy knuckling:
Encourage lots of free play on soft, varied terrain such as grass, sand, and gravel
Do NOT use a harness, which can restrict natural movement
Put runners and rugs down in your home
Avoid slick or hard surfaces and jumping
Utilize orthopedic bedding
See your veterinarian for further instruction and monitoring
Here is our heavily researched list of the best foods for Great Dane puppies, especially if they are suffering from any kind of growth or orthopedic disorder:
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
What Causes Knuckling in Giant Breed Dogs?
While the exact mechanism behind the cause of knuckling still needs more research, there are strong correlations to diet and exercise practices. If you have a puppy that is knuckling over, you MUST immediately address the diet.
A proper diet for a giant breed puppy should be like this:
Large or Giant Breed Puppy OR All Life Stages Formula, NEVER adult-only foods
AAFCO Large Breed Growth Statement – this is a MUST-have
1.2% or less calcium, no exceptions
3.5g of calcium or less per 1000kCal
We’ve partnered with the Giant Dog Food Project to develop a search tool that allows pet owners to sort through nearly 700 brands and formulas, and find the ones that match those values. Visit the Giant Dog Food Project Pet Food Search Tool HERE.
Feeding an unbalanced diet can cause knuckling over
Feeding an unbalanced, nutrient-dense fussy diet is thought to be the leading cause of knuckling. Too much calcium and feeding too much food or too many toppers, treats, and supplements cause the puppy to grow unevenly.
Here is a list of things that cause a diet to be unbalanced:
Poorly formulated kibble (see our recommendations)
Regular puppy foods that were not designed for large+ breed growth
Adding supplements such as calcium or multivitamins
Adding too many unbalanced toppers such as yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, and meat
Offering too many treats and training treats
Feeding a food that was not formulated for large or giant breed dogs (the ratios are different)
Mixing two or more types of kibble
Home-cooked or homemade raw diets (which are rarely formulated correctly)
Switching diets, especially when doing so often
Feeding a kibble that is not formulated by a veterinary nutritionist or Ph.D. in Animal Nutrition
Do any of the things on the list above apply to you? We will outline them in detail below.
Feeding the wrong kibble
We believe in science.
Science tells us that the only appropriate kibble for a Great Dane puppy is a LARGE or GIANT breed puppy or “All Life Stages” formula from a brand that meets veterinary guidelines for ethics, sourcing, testing, research and responsibility.
You may have heard that Great Dane puppies should “only have adult food”. This information is outdated in 2022 and may actually be dangerous. We’re digging more into the science of this below!
Choosing an appropriate food for your Great Dane puppy means that it should be:
Ideally be formulated by an on-staff, full-time, board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist
A large or giant breed puppy or “all life stages” formulation that was created to support slow, even growth of large and giant breed puppies
Be rigorously tested, researched and subjected to feeding trials
Come from an established brand with lots of peer-reviewed research behind it
Meet nutritional guidelines through feed trials and testing, not just be ‘formulated to meet minimums’ on paper
Less than 3.5g of calcium per 1000kCal
1.2% or less calcium
Calcium to Phosphorus ratio of as close to 1 : 1 as possible
AAFCO’s statement that the food was formulated for the growth of (70+lbs) large breed dogs <—important, although not, AAFCO sets minimums. A food can ‘meet the minimum’ and still not be the healthiest choice.
The following brands and formulations are the only ones that meet the requirements listed above. We do not recommend feeding any other food brands to Great Dane puppies, though many people recommend other foods.
Many pet parents will switch their puppy’s food often in an attempt to resolve chronic loose stools, itching, or ‘pickiness’.
All this does is create a puppy who will refuse to eat until toppers or a different food is offered.Picky dogs are created by, you guessed it, US!
This practice also contributes to poor overall gut health, itching, and loose poop.
People mistake these health issues with ‘allergies’ when really, their pup just needs the right amount of correctly balanced food and some time for their gut to adjust.
Choose a proper science-backed food, measure it with a scale, don’t overfeed, and stick with it.
No matter how ‘healthy’ it may seem to offer ground meat, rice, and veggies in lieu of kibble, home-cooked dog food is rarely balanced correctly. Imagine if you ate that kind of diet every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It wouldn’t take long before you started to suffer from malnutrition!
Dogs need correctly balanced meat, bone, and organs in their diet in addition the the right ratios of protein, carbs, fiber, amino acids, nutrients, and minerals.
The website www.balanceit.com allows you to plug in your home-cooked food recipe and see what it’s deficient in. Even recipes made by “canine nutritionists” and celebrity veterinarians are often wildly incorrect.
Homemade diets should only be made under the guidance of a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and NEVER for growing giant breed dogs.
Overfeeding Great Dane Puppies is Bad for Growth
Feeding too much food to a puppy can cause uneven, fast growth, loose stools, and knuckling.
Your puppy does need to eat a LOT of food. But too much is a problem.
Puppies that are offered poorly balanced puppy or adult foods, who then overeat to try and get the nutrition they need, can suffer from chronic loose stools, knuckling, HOD, growing pains, and permanent joint deformities.
Great Dane puppies that are offered ‘adult only’ food in particular may need to eat much more than necessary.
Adult food doesn’t provide them with enough nutrition for their energy levels and muscle development.This is one reason why we see so many teenage Danes with ongoing loose stools that look like walking skeletons with no muscle: they are literally starved for nutrients and will over-eat to try and compensate.
We no longer recommend choosing adult formulas. All Life Stages Large and Giant Breed Formulas are ok.
A science-backed large or giant breed puppy food from Purina, Royal Canin, Hill’s, Eukanuba, or Iam’s are excellent choices.
Puppy kibbles have more nutrition in the form of calories, fat, and protein. This can make it easy to overfeed, especially if you are used to seeing your Dane pups have to gorge themselves on adult formulas.
Watch your puppy’s body condition and adjust accordingly.
Poor nail maintenance and slick floors
Great Dane puppy nails should be trimmed weekly. Do not ever let them get so long that they touch, scrape or click on the ground.
Hard, slick surfaces contribute to early joint damage.
Encourage your puppy to play freely on soft, varied terrain in lieu of walks on hard pavement. Use runners and throw rugs to eliminate slipping and sliding in your home.
Nutrition & Knuckling in Giant Breeds
It is believed that nutrition is a key factor in bone and growth disorders in giant breed dogs. Current research shows that excess calcium is among the most damaging nutritional problems. Because giant breed puppies utilize every bit of calcium offered to them in their diet (they are unable to get rid of it), their bones take all of it in. That would seem like a good thing, except it’s not!
Excessive calcium is linked to a whole slew of bone growth issues including osteochondrosis, hip and elbow dysplasia, angular limb deformities, retained cartilage cores, and more. Some researchers understandably also speculate that these damaged bones are more susceptible to developing things such as Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and Wobbler disease later in life.
It is extremely important to find and stick to an appropriate balanced diet for your puppy! Unfortunately, the giant breed community still promotes many myths. These myths are NOT rooted in current research and science.
Common Great Dane puppy food myths include:
“Great Dane puppies should never have puppy food”
“Purina, Royal Canin, and Hill’s Dog foods are trash”
“Protein levels MUST be below 24%!”
“Fresh roasted deboned meat, fruits, and veggies are healthy and more nutritious for dogs than meat meals made of muscle, bone, organ, and cartilage”
We recommend:
Protein – ignore this number if you are choosing a professionally balanced food recommended on this page. This is a myth that was disproven by peer-reviewed research. The protein level does not matter. The bioavailability of amino acids, as well as calcium and phosphorus levels, DO matter.
Fat – ignore this number as well, for the same reason as above
Calcium 1.2% or lower (1.3 – 1.4 can also be okay if you do not add any toppers or supplements). Overall calcium intake should never exceed 3.5g per 1000kCal.
Phosphorus is close behind calcium.
The following brands are correctly formulated and tested for the growth of our gentle giants.
There are 300-400 new boutique food brands offered each year in the U.S. When you choose science instead of fancy bags and marketing, it’s easy to narrow the options down.
Foods with fresh ‘deboned meat’ paired with peas, potatoes, fruit and veggies. These foods sound nice but in reality are likely to be heavy in starch and low in meat.
Choosing the correct food for your Great Dane puppy is extremely important! Chat with your breeder and a giant-breed knowledgeable veterinarian for more advice.
Vitamin C for Treating Puppy Knuckling
Many people swear by Vitamin C to aid in the treatment of knuckling in Great Danes. Vitamin C is a known antioxidant that is important in bone formation. However, some researchers say that adding too much to the diet can have the opposite effect.
In addition to addressing the nutritional aspect of knuckling (we recommend switching food immediately with a short transition period), there are other things you can do!
Change the diet ASAP. This is the MOST important step you can take. Stick with what you choose.
Put runners down, everywhere. Your puppy should not be jumping, sliding, running or walking anywhere with a slick surface, especially while treating knuckling.
Do not allow your puppy to jump up or to launch themselves off of furniture. Use ramps, training, crates, and gates to prevent this behavior.
Avoid hard pavement and leashed walks, which are hard on joints and don’t allow the puppy to move naturally.
Don’t run or bike jor with your Dane puppy until they are age 2+, have good hips and feet and are well conditioned to exercise.
Avoid training methods that use physical force and pressure for down/sit, alpha rolls/pinning, extended down-stay or long ‘pack/structure walks’. None of that is healthy, natural or necessary, especially for giant breed puppies.
Limit crate time, which can lead to weakness and poor orthopedic development.
Unless your veterinarian prescribes rest, allow your puppy to freely walk, move, run and explore varied terrain every single day. Grass, sand, gravel, hills, and dirt are great examples. As a bonus, this is great for socialization! Use a long leash or a fenced yard.
Work with a certified Canine physical therapist to strengthen the feet, toes, ankles, shoulders and core.
Choose orthopedic beds, like the BIG BARKER (our personal favorite).
TALK TO YOUR BREEDER! They can be the best resource, especially if you’ve done your research and chosen an ethical breeder that supports your puppy for life.
We always believe that you should also work with a giant-breed experienced veterinarian!
Some bone growth issues are much more serious than knuckling (angular limb deformity, HOD, and Wobblers for example) and it’s important to rule them out.
Have more questions about knuckling or want to share your experience? Leave a comment below!
