Bloat in Great Danes is a deadly condition that requires immediate veterinary care, even if your dog has had a Gastropexy (stomach tacking) procedure. Read below for more information, including myth-busting, science, veterinary medicine, and dog bloat prevention.
Bloat is no joke, and the stakes are higher when you’re dealing with larger breeds. So, grab a cup of coffee, get cozy, and let’s chat about how we can proactively ensure our big buddies steer clear of this deadly condition! No fluff, just the stuff that matters.
In this topic, I’m covering 5 ways to prevent bloat in big dogs.
What is Bloat in Dogs?
Bloat, scientifically known as gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV), is like the canine version of a stomach nightmare. Picture this: your big, lovable goofball is happily going about the day when suddenly, things take a twist – literally.
The stomach fills up with gas, fluid, or air, causing it to swell like a balloon. That’s not even the worst part. That inflated stomach can twist on itself, cutting off blood supply and playing havoc with your pup’s well-being and internal organs.
It’s a serious medical emergency, and our oversized companions are particularly prone to it.
It is believed that around 20% of dogs over 100 lbs will experience this in their lifetime. That’s 1 in 5!
So, in a nutshell, bloat is the kind of party we want to avoid in the doggy digestive system. Stay with me, folks – we’re just scratching the surface.
What Are The Signs that a Dog is Bloating?
If you are at all concerned that your dog is bloating, you must visit a veterinarian ASAP. Mere minutes can be the difference between life and death, even if your pet has had a gastropexy (more on this later).
Here are the signs of bloat in dogs:
Swollen Belly: Keep an eye out for a rapidly expanding midsection, a sure sign something’s amiss.
Unproductive Vomiting: If Fido’s trying to vomit but nothing’s coming up, it’s a red flag.
Restlessness: Excessive pacing, unable to find a comfy spot – a sign of discomfort.
Excessive Drooling: More slobber than usual can signal a problem in the belly department.
Difficulty Breathing: Labored breathing or rapid panting – breathing should never be a struggle.
Pale Gums: Check those gums – if they’re losing color, it’s time to act fast.
Collapse: In severe cases, your buddy might collapse – an emergency.
1. Keep Your Pup Happy to Prevent GDV
Statistically speaking, anxious, nervous, and aggressive dogs are more likely to bloat. Regarding the risk of bloating in our colossal canines, temperament plays a surprising role.
Why is this? A confident pet tends to keep the digestive system in harmony, while the anxious types might unknowingly set the stage for gastric drama.
Think about a time when you were nervous. Did you get the classic symptoms of “bubble gut”? Anxiety causes digestive issues in humans and pets!
Anxious, fearful, and aggressive dogs tend to gulp their meals down. This is a form of stress that may increase their risk of bloat.
Here are some common sense ways to reduce stress, anxiety, and aggression in your pet:
Choose Good Breeders: Temperament is largely genetic. Nervous, flighty, anxious, and aggressive dogs often receive these traits from their parents.
Routine Rules: Dogs love a schedule. Stick to regular feeding times, walks, and play – predictability is their happy place.
Cozy Safe Spots: Create a haven where your pet can retreat when the world feels overwhelming. A comfy bed or cozy corner works wonders.
Exercise Galore: A tired dog is a happy dog. Regular walks and playtime help burn off excess energy and keep anxiety at bay.
Positive Reinforcement: Reward good behavior with treats and affection. Positive reinforcement goes a long way in building a chilled-out attitude. Ditch the outdated intimidation-based training methods that instill fear.
Gentle Introductions: Socialize smartly. Gradual introductions to new people, pets, and environments can prevent stress-triggered meltdowns.
Mind Games: Keep those brains buzzing with puzzle toys and games. Mental stimulation is a secret weapon against boredom-induced anxiety.
Consistent Rules: Be clear on the rules and stick to them. Consistency breeds confidence, reducing uncertainty and stress.
Managing meals and feeding habits is a key to bloat prevention in dogs.
Your dog should not consider mealtime a speed-eating contest! Encourage slow, stress-free meal times by offering more frequent meals and feeding from puzzles and slow feeder bowls.
I love this stainless steel slow feeder because it holds 4 cups and can be properly washed and sanitized (so you prevent chin acne). The Kong Wobbler is also a huge hit in our house! It’s easy to fill, fun to use and only allows the dog to eat a few kibbles at a time.
Discourage your big dog from inhaling their meals. If you have a dog that also tends to resource guard food (snarling, growling, and snapping), manage the environment to prevent that behavior and the anxiety that comes with it.
Never feed a single large meal, as it increases the risk of bloat. We recommend offering 2-3 meals/day instead.
Because big dogs tend to have sensitive digestive systems, you may find that slow eating and more frequent meals help resolve chronic loose stools, too!
3. Surprising New Science – Movement After Meals is Good!
It’s long been promoted that large and giant breed dogs should rest before and after meals to prevent bloat. It turns out, this might be nothing more than an old wives tale! Worse, resting after meals may have the opposite effect than intended.
A fascinating discovery has emerged that challenges conventional wisdom—movement after meals may play a crucial role in preventing bloat
While the subject is still under scrutiny, early findings suggest that moderate exercise following meals could aid in reducing the risk of bloat by as much as 50%.
It’s important to approach this evolving insight with cautious optimism, acknowledging the need for further research to solidify these claims.
However, I believe this makes a lot of sense. After a big meal, a lot of people will move or walk. This helps the digestive system do its job and move things along. We want our dogs to digest their food, not have it hang out in their stomach pulling on their gastric ligaments.
Rest doesn’t prevent bloat, no matter how much people want to believe it does. Most dogs who present to the veterinarian with bloat/GDV were resting when symptoms began.
Take a common sense approach to this. Don’t run a marathon after a large meal, but there is no need to lock down all movement, either.
4. Meat Meals & Fresh Foods to Reduce Bloat in Dogs
Research shows that feeding kibble with rendered meat or bone meal as a main ingredient can reduce the risk of bloat. It is also believed that adding canned or fresh foods to the diet plays a key role!
In the pursuit of promoting optimal health for Great Danes and other large-breed dogs, the choice of diet emerges as a critical factor.
For example, Royal Canin Giant Breed dog food was researched and developed to reduce the risk of bloat in dogs over 100 lbs. It is a formula based on a rendered meat and bone meal, with large kibble pieces that encourage slow eating.
Here are links to other foods that are recommended for feeding large and giant breed dogs. Look for a named meat meal in the ingredients list!
Canned foods and fresh foods can also be added to the diet to promote good digestion and health. While the exact mechanism behind this is unknown, studies do show that dogs fed only kibble are at a higher risk of bloat.
When adding fresh foods, stick to the 90/10 rule. Unbalanced foods must make up 10% or less of the diet. For dogs under age two, 5% or less is a safer ratio.
Most canned food is balanced, so it can make up a larger portion of the overall intake. Just Food for Dogs is also a great way to add fresh foods that are balanced!
For fresh options straight from your kitchen, consider the following:
Plain yogurt (in moderation, use sparingly for dogs under the age of 2)
It may be tempting to overdo it with the beautiful fresh foods or to even go all in and start making your pet food in your kitchen. However, we caution heavily against doing this. Most home-cooked diets are nutritionally deficient (or worse, dangerously high in certain minerals and vitamins). This will lead to more health problems than it helps! Read here for more information on homecooked food for dogs.
5. Gastropexy & Bloat in Big Dogs
Gastropexy is the single proven method for reducing complications associated with bloat in dogs.
A “Pexy” refers to a surgical procedure in which the stomach is affixed to the abdominal wall. This simple stomach tack serves as a preventive measure against bloat, preventing the stomach from potentially flipping over, a condition known as torsion.
When performed by a skilled veterinarian, this minor yet life-saving procedure aligns with statistically improved outcomes for larger dog breeds, making it a prudent choice for their well-being.
While the procedure may not eliminate the possibility of bloat, it significantly lowers the chances of torsion, providing peace of mind for both dog owners and their beloved, large canine companions. Veterinarians who work in emergency medicine overwhelmingly support this procedure, which should be done at 18-24 months of age.
Consulting with a veterinarian about the potential benefits of gastropexy for specific breeds and individual dogs is always advisable.
It is typically done during routine spay and neuter or dental cleaning surgeries. Work with an experienced veterinarian who has done the procedure many times!
No matter what, always listen to your veterinarian. Enjoy your pet and don’t stress! Bloat is going to happen or it’s not, it’s much more important to know the signs of dog bloat and be ready with emergency funds to treat it.
Unfortunately, you can do everything right and still have a dog experience bloat. Don’t beat yourself up, and don’t stress. Dog’s lives are short compared to ours, and we must enjoy them while they are here with us!
Leave a comment below! Has your dog experienced bloat?
Bloat in Great Danes is deadly. It’s painful, dangerous, and as many as 1-in-4 Great Danes are likely to experience it in their lifetime.
For decades now, people have cited that resting after meals would prevent bloat from happening.
The occurrence of bloat in large and giant breed dogs has increased dramatically in the last decades, despite ‘resting after meals’ being cited as the most common preventative.
I mean, I hate to say this…but it’s pretty clear here that resting after meals is not working.
Not only that, but research has emerged which indicates that moderate movement after meals may actually help prevent Great Danes from developing bloat!
In other words, have people had this all wrong? Have we actually been increasing our dogs risk of bloat by diligently resting them after meals?
Does Resting After Meals Prevent Dog Stomach Bloat?
We’ve been reading journals and publications for a while, and it’s actually fascinating to learn that there is absolutely NO research or science (that we’ve found) proving that resting after meals prevents bloat.
As a matter of fact, I have yet to find anything that shows that it could even reduce the risk of bloat.
Of course, if you google this, there are 100’s of blogs and social media posts, even from veterinarians, who say that large and giant breed dogs should always rest after meals.
But none of it is backed by science, research, or data.
It’s all anecdotal. Speculation.
The Great Dane community has eaten this up, too. Some people are so dedicated to resting their dogs that they do so for an entire hour before meals and two hours after.
Imagine the heartbreak when their dog experiences deadly bloat and torsion despite the caution that had been taken.
It happens more often than you might think…
Should Great Danes Rest After Meals?
We’re going to take a scientific, although controversial approach to this and make a statement that may rattle everything you think you know about keeping Great Danes safe from GDV bloat and torsion.
The practice of resting dogs after meals to prevent bloat is hopelessly outdated and may actually contribute to higher bloat risk.
A 2013 study, done as part of ongoing bloat research, found something alarming and interesting.
Dogs that received moderate exercise (for example a walk or playtime) after eating were less likely to suffer from bloat!
This is the exact opposite of what we’ve all been told for decades.
Combing through the 2,551 questionnaire responses, what the researchers found is that moderate physical activity after eating, including playing with other dogs or “running the fence,” appears to reduce the chance for developing bloat by almost half.
Moderate exercise, including running the fence and playing, may reduce the chances of bloat by 50%!!!
Does Exercise Cause Bloat in Dogs?
It’s been said for years that dogs who exercise on a full tummy can get bloat and end up at the veterinarian in dire straits. As we can see from the research, this issue isn’t quite so cut and dry.
To further back up our claim that resting after meals is outdated and even wildly inaccurate advice, I’m looking towards another study that was done by Tufts University. (Remember, we like science here, not anecdotes).
Several popular theories regarding bloat were not substantiated during the study. There was no correlation of bloat risk to exercise before or after eating, as most dogs bloated in the middle of the night with an empty, gas-filled stomach.
In other words, not only have they found that moderate exercise after eating can potentially cut bloat risk in half, they found that movement has no correlation to bloat occurring.
Food and movement are not the enemythat they’ve been made out to be!
Common Sense for Bloat in Great Danes Prevention
This is not to say that you should feed your Great Dane a big fat meal and send them off-leash on a wild adventure.
Humans don’t like hard exercise on a super full stomach, either. Doing this can also stretch the hepatogastric ligament, which over time might increase bloat risk as a whole.
Great Danes should never be fed single large meals. Smaller, more frequent meals are healthier.
So let’s use some common sense here when it comes to bloat prevention in Great Danes and other large or giant breed dogs.
Feed a normal sized meal (we recommend 2-3 meals each day) and then let your dog be a dog.
Because bloat risk is affected by many factors, I’ll outline some other (science-backed) risk reduction techniques below.
How to Prevent Bloat in Great Danes
Prevention is a misnomer. You cannot prevent it from occurring. You can, however, drastically reduce the chance that your Great Dane has bloat or dies from it.
Bloat in Great Danes are influenced by three major factors: genetics, temperament, and gut health.
All Great Danes are at risk. However, Great Danes with the highest risk of getting (and dying from) bloat include Danes that:
Have a 1st degree relative that got bloat
Are timid, unsure, flighty, aggressive, nippy, anxious, or unstable
Have poor gut health, including chronic loose stools or IBD
Are fed only a dry-kibble diet and no fresh or canned foods
If you want to reduce the chance that your dog bloats, go down the high-risk check list above and remove as many factors as possible. We’ll outline more of this below.
Bloat GDV Risk Reduction
Let’s dig into this a little further!
It’s critically important when purchasing a Great Dane puppy from a breeder that your breeder can prove that the pedigree is free of bloat, DCM, and unstable temperaments.
Talk to your veterinarian to address issues with gut health. There are many things that cause chronic loose stools in Great Danes including poor quality food, unbalanced nutrition, low fiber diets, adult foods fed to puppies, overfeeding, health problems, and parasites.
Add balanced canned, fresh, or raw food toppers to the kibble, and feed 2-3 small, stress-free meals each day.
Remember to keep toppers balanced. If they cannot be served as a fully nutritious meal, they are considered treats and should be less than 5% of overall intake.
Lastly, consider a preventative Gastropexy for your Great Dane. This simple procedure can help keep the stomach from flipping (also called torsion) and save your dogs life if bloat were to occur. Statistics show much better outcomes for dogs who have had a Gastropexy.
Did you know that your Great Dane may be missing out on important nutrition that could reduce their risk of experiencing bloat? If you are looking for the best nutrition to prevent bloat in dogs, this post is it. We’re looking at the actual science and research to help ensure that you and your Great Dane are happy, healthy, and stress-free!
There are two things your Great Dane needs in their diet if you want to reduce their chance of GDV Bloat.
Bloat is the #1 killer of Great Danes. It can happen suddenly when you least expect it. Bloat in giant breed dogs is painful, traumatic, and often results in death.
Let’s dig in…
What is Bloat in Dogs?
First, you have to understand what bloat is. I’ll keep this short.
Bloat is when the stomach fills up with gas, fluid, or air. Left untreated, the stomach can then flip over on itself. This is called torsion. Torsion is deadly.
37% of Great Danes might experience bloat in their lifetime.
RUN, don’t walk, to your nearest emergency veterinarian if you see any of these signs of bloat in your dog:
Bloated stomach
Distress including pacing, crying, whining, head hanging
Foaming at the mouth or excessive drool
Attempting to vomit (but may be unable to)
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Two Things Your Great Dane Needs in Their Diet to Prevent Bloat
I mentioned there were two things you can add to your Great Danes’ diet right now to reduce their risk of experiencing bloat. Here they are:
A kibble with meat meal or meat by-product meal as a primary ingredient
Canned or fresh foods
I’m going to dig into BOTH of these in depth below, but here is the scientific study I am referencing:
“Conversely, feeding a dry food containing a rendered meat-and-bone meal decreased risk by 53 percent in comparison with the overall risk for the dogs in the study. Mixing table food or canned food into dry food also decreased the risk of bloat.
During the past 30 years there has been a 1,500 percent increase in the incidence of bloat, and this has coincided with the increased feeding of dry dog foods.“
Meat meal and meat by-product meal are GOOD in kibble! Reduced bloat risk aside, let’s talk a bit more about why.
Fresh meat or fresh deboned meats (not meat meals, in other words) are 70% water. This makes them heavy before cooking, so they show up on top of the ingredients list, but not after.
Just imagine what happens to fresh meat when it’s extruded into kibble! Only 30% of it will be left, even if your kibble brand says ‘meat is the first ingredient‘.
Yikes!
Meat meal and meat by-product meals are rendered and dehydrated before they go into the kibble. At just 10% water, that means your kibble will contain a LOT more actual meat and meat-based nutrition!
Not only that, but unlike fresh meat, meat meals (including those made with by-products) contain organ meat, cartilage, bone, and skin which are highly nutritious and species-appropriate.
No wonder meat meals reduce the risk of bloat!
If your kibble brand is mostly ‘fresh meat’, it’s time to find something better.
What dog food brands reduce the risk of bloat?
While no correlation between specific dog food brands has ever been made when it comes to bloat in Great Danes, the information we’ve learned about meat meals can certainly help point us in the right direction.
The second important thing mentioned in the Tufts University Bloat Study was that canned or fresh foods may reduce the risk of bloat!
What does this mean? Your dog gets a TASTY topper on their food, and you can feel good knowing that you are not just feeding a dry kibble (which is correlated with an increased risk of bloat).
You don’t need expensive, fancy ‘toppers’ from the natural pet food store. As a matter of fact, most of those are, expensive, unbalanced and a waste of money. We have much better ideas for this, including helpful links below!
When choosing unbalanced toppers of any kind, including table scraps, meat, goat milk, eggs, treats, or incomplete raw blends, they must be less than 5% of the overall intake.
Encourage SLOW eating! Toppers may be fun and enticing, but fast eating increases bloat risk. Use puzzle feeders (like this one on Amazon) to slow your pup down.
The Best Canned Foods for Great Danes
I personally use and love Purina ONE canned food, because it’s economical and full of meat! Depending on your budget, you can offer a spoonful or an entire can. Anything is likely to be better than nothing!
Address poor gut health, nutritional deficiencies, and the gut microbiome by choosing a quality well-formulated diet and sticking with it. Poor gut health is a major risk factor for bloat.
A dog stomach flip may sound like a harmless thing, when in reality it is actually deadly and an extreme emergency. Commonly referred to as bloat, this condition occurs when the stomach fills with gas, twists on itself and traps the gas inside. If not treated immediately, bloat can cause shock, organ damage and even death.
While any dog can develop bloat, there are certain breeds that are more susceptible such as Great Danes, Weimaraners, German Shepherds, and other bigger breed dogs or deep chested breeds.
WHY ARE DEEP CHESTED BREEDS SUCH HIGH RISK BREEDS FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING CONDITION?
Predisposed breeds typically are deep chested dogs, which means that they have a long torso and their stomach sits further back in their body. This anatomical difference is what contributes to the increased risk of bloat. Deep chested dogs are at a higher risk of bloat because their abdominal cavity is much larger compared to their chest cavity. This difference in size creates a space called the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), which is where the stomach and esophagus connect.
This anatomical difference is what allows the stomach to more easily flip over on itself or twist, which then traps gas inside and prevents it from being released, creating a life threatening disorder.
LARGE BREED DOGS AND STOMACH FLIPS
As previously mentioned, large breed dogs are more prone to developing bloat. This is due to their deep chest cavity.
While any size dog can develop bloat, large breed dogs are more at risk because they have a larger abdominal cavity. When the stomach fills with gas, it creates an enlarged stomach. The stomach pushes against the body wall, moving organs out of their normal position.
When bloat occurs, air pushes the stomach outward, causing stomach distension. The excessive air and distended abdomen causes stomach torsion, which means that the stomach twists on itself, trapping gas inside and cutting off blood flow / blood supply to the dog’s vital organs.
The first thing that pet owners need to know if they own giant breed dogs or large dogs who are able to bloat is about gastric dilatation volvulus.
Gastric dilatation volvulus is another way of saying that the stomach is filling up with gas. Gastric dilatation volvulus is just one portion of this condition, and is referred to as a ‘dog bloating’.
The stomach can fill with gas for many reasons, and unfortunately there are many myths surrounding the life threatening condition of gastric dilatation volvulus.
When a dog’s stomach fills with excessive air, it is called Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, and it can be as small of an issue as acid reflux. However, with an extreme bloated stomach, gastric dilatation volvulus can lead to a swollen stomach, bloated stomach, distended stomach and ultimately to gastric torsion.
WHAT ABOUT GASTRIC DILATATION OR TORSION IS MOST DEADLY?
The truth is, when dogs bloat, dogs die. However, the truth also is that they do not always die from the gastric dilatation itself. Typically, a dog’s life is at risk due to the blood supply being cut off in the affected dog when the stomach twists after the gastric dilatation volvulus and gastric torsion takes place.
REGARDLESS: A bloated stomach is a life threatening disease that requires immediate treatment. Even healthy dogs should be rushed to the vet immediately to be checked out and possibly treated surgically.
Pet owners should be aware of any developing GDV in their dogs, especially if they have dogs who are at high risk for developing this serious condition.
The signs of gastric dilation include:
A bloated, distended abdomen
Distended stomach
Stomach upset
Unsuccessful attempts to vomit
Vommiting white, foamy substance / vomit
Excessive drooling
Restlessness or pacing
Panting or increased respiratory rate
Pale gums
If you notice any of these signs in your dog or suspect bloat, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Gastric dilation can turn into a life threatening disorder in a matter of minutes. Pet owners do not have the time to monitor their dogs for a few hours in the event of bloat, but rather need to seek emergency treatment and possibly emergency surgery immediately.
TREATING BLOAT IN DOGS
If your dog is showing any signs of bloat, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately as this is a life-threatening condition.
There are several things that can be done to treat bloat in dogs. The treatment and surgical procedure will depend on whether or not your dog only has gastric dilatation (bloat: air in stomach) or if they have gastric torsion (if the dog’s stomach twists).
TREATMENT FOR GASTRIC TORSION
Sometimes, if the dog is brought to the vet immediately and the gastric dilatation is caught VERY QUICKLY, the dog will not need surgery. The veterinarian team can remove the air from the dog’s stomach without having to go in surgically. This is very rare, however, because typically a veterinarian will opt to perform the Gastropexy to prevent the risk of bloat from happening again.
TREATMENT FOR TORSION
If the stomach has already twisted, then the dog will need surgery to untwist the stomach and to put it back into place. This is a dangerous surgery with a high risk of complications and death, but if it is done quickly enough, the dog may be saved.
When the dog’s stomach fills up with air, it pushes the stomach wall against the abdominal wall. The excess movement and air will cause the stomach wall to begin twisting itself. The risk factors include decreased blood flow to vital organs. Your dog will go into shock and will die if the stomach is not untwisted and put back into place.
As the twisting continues and decreases blood flow, the stomach wall will die and the dog’s condition will continue to decline. If your dog is showing any signs of bloat, it is important to seek medical attention immediately as this is a life-threatening condition.
SURGERY TO PREVENT GDV
The best way to prevent gastric dilatation volvulus from happening is to have a surgery called prophylactic gastropexy. This is a surgical procedure where the stomach is tacked down to the abdominal wall to prevent it from being able to twist.
This surgery is often done at the same time as another stomach-related surgery, such as a spay or hernia surgery. It is a relatively simple procedure that can be done laparoscopically or through a small incision in the stomach. Breeds like Great Danes are encouraged to take preventative measures such as this surgery by professional veterinary surgeons.
The gastropexy surgery could help to prevent the need for prompt treatment due to an emergency bloat or twisted stomach situation.
Unfortunately, you cannot prevent bloat or torsion in big dogs completely. However, by avoiding the myths associated with a dog’s twisted stomach, knowing the risk factors and being proactive, dog owners can take their dog’s health into their own hands as best as possible.
There are several data-driven and proven risk factors for a dog bloating or getting a twisted stomach.
Knowing that genetics impacts bloat means that pet parents can indeed get bloat treated proactively by choosing wisely where they are purchasing their animals from, researching the genes and health risks of their chosen breed and not purchasing from backyard breeders with no health tests.
There are several things you can do to keep your dog’s gut healthy and strong, which in turn will help to reduce the risk of bloat. Avoiding processed foods, feeding a raw diet, adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to their food, and avoiding sudden changes in diet.
The digestive system is interconnected and it is no surprise that a strong and healthy gut leads to a strong and healthy stomach wall, which will be less likely to bloat or twist.
Anxiety is another big risk factor for bloat. Temperament begins with socialization training, confidence training and exposing your animal to different environments from a young age.
Dogs that are anxious are more likely to gulp their food, which leads to swallowing air and bloating. If you have an anxious dog, work with a professional trainer on how best to socialize and calm your pet.
There is much debate in the pet world about whether dry food or wet food is better for dogs. Some experts say that dry food leads to bloat because the kibble expands in their stomach when mixed with water.
Others say that it does not make a difference and that any type of food can cause bloat if the dog eats too fast or gulps their food.
The best way to avoid bloat is to feed your dog smaller meals throughout the day instead of one large meal. This will help to prevent them from overeating and swallowing too much air.
Adding something like raw or canned food on top of water soaked kibble is the best way to expand your dog’s food outside of the stomach, to avoid it expanding inside of the stomach.
We Feed Raw provides complete mixes in a variety of proteins including Beef, Venison and Turkey.
Avoid foods with citric acid in the first three ingredients, as this will be a contributing factor to bloat.
Rapid eating is one of the most common risk factors for bloat. Dogs that eat too fast are more likely to gulp their food and swallow air, which leads to bloating.
There are several ways to slow down your dog’s eating. One is to purchase a slow feeder bowl, which will make it more difficult for your dog to eat their food quickly.
You can also try adding canned or raw food on top of their kibble, so that they have to eat around the wet food in order to get to their kibble. This will naturally slow them down. Find a raw food that is balanced and complete, like Raw Paws:
You can also try adding a little bit of water to their food, which will make it more difficult to eat quickly.
DOES A RAISED FOOD BOWL HELP TO PREVENT A TWISTED STOMACH?
There is an old wives tale that using a raised food bowl will help to prevent your dog from bloating.
More recent studies, actually, have shown that using a raised bowl to feed your dog actually increases the chances of them bloating / their stomach twisting.
Bloat and torsion, unfortunately, are a part of owning a big dog. The best thing that you can do is to know the signs, be prepared, and do your best to prevent it.
If your dog does start to show signs of bloat, seek prompt treatment from a veterinarian. Early intervention is key in these situations and can be the difference between life and death.
Gastropexy surgery is a procedure that tacks the dog’s stomach to the abdomen body wall. The gastropexy is a preventative procedure that veterinary surgeons perform on deep chested dogs affected with bloat and torsion risk.
I am a lover of giant breed dogs. Any other lovers out there know that these dog breeds are unique and probably know all about the increased risk factors of bloat. Here I will tell you about my experience with having the gastropexy performed on my Great Dane.
Do you have a dog that suffers from bloat? If so, you may be considering gastropexy surgical procedure. This is a procedure that can help keep your dog safe from bloat, and it’s something that more and more large dog owners are choosing to do.
WHAT IS A GASTROPEXY PREVENTATIVE SURGERY?
I had the gastropexy procedure performed on my healthy 2 year old female Great Dane. I opted to not have her spayed- but that’s another blog for another day.
Meet Birdie:
The gastropexy is commonly performed on dogs with a deep stomach with risk factors for bloat. Bloat happens when a dog’s stomach fills up with air. When a dogs stomach is filled with air, it moves from its normal position, pushes against the abdominal wall and twists. The twisting of the body wall of the stomach is called torsion. Torsion kills, and torsion kills FAST!!!
The gastropexy surgical procedure is used to prevent gastric dilatation. In other words, if your dogs stomach is sewn to the abdominal wall, when they bloat, their stomach will be unable to twist. Without the torsion/twisting, the blood flow will remain flowing, they will remain breathing, and you will have time to drive your dog to the emergency room to relieve the bloat.
DOES GASTROPEXY PREVENT BLOAT?
Unfortunately, gastropexy does not prevent your dog from bloating altogether. The abdominal cavity can STILL fill up with air. However, most dogs do not die from bloat itself. Instead, they die from torsion and require emergency surgery to fix the problem. (Read more)
Gastropexy will not prevent your dog from bloating, but it will give you time to get them surgery to remove the air from the stomach, prevent twisting and possibly save their life.
There are a few different types of ways that a veterinarian will perform gastropexy.
The two most common are the laparoscopic gastropexy and the traditional open method (prophylactic gastropexy).
Laparoscopic assisted gastropexy is a minimally invasive technique. This means that when performed laparoscopically, your dog will have a few small incisions as opposed to one large incision. The surgeon will then pass a small camera through one of the incisions to help guide them as they place the sutures. The laparoscopic assisted gastropexy leaves a smaller incision, but isn’t done by as many vets.
The open method is just that and is often called the prophylactic gastropexy. One large incision is made in the abdomen, and the stomach is tacked to the abdominal wall. Typically when done by a professional with experience, there are minimal complications with a prophylactic gastropexy.
There are also a few other ways of incorporating gastropexy such as:
The belt loop gastropexy: this is done in addition to a traditional spay. A small incision is made and the stomach is looped through and sutured to the body wall.
The trans-coelomic gastropexy: This is performed through a small incision in the abdomen and the stomach is sutured to the inside of the abdomen.
Circumcostal gastropexy: The circumcostal gastropexy is performed through an incision made along the lower ribs. The stomach is then sutured to the body wall below the last rib.
THE INCISIONAL GASTROPEXY THAT I CHOSE FOR MY GREAT DANE
I chose to do a traditional surgery for my dog, Birdie. Great Danes are very much so a breed that is prone to bloating. They are large breeds and deep chested and I wanted to prevent gastric dilatation as well as torsion. In my opinion, others with large breed dogs should consider doing the same.
I didn’t feel the need to do a laparoscopic preventative gastropexy as I knew that the incision site would be small regardless and she is a healthy dog who was capable of recovering quickly. I felt confident having my vet have her eyes on my dog rather than not.
THE PROCESS FOR GETTING THE PREVENTATIVE GASTROPEXY DONE FOR MY DOG
Since sedation is pretty unhealthy for Great Danes, I decided to go ahead and schedule her a dental cleaning at the same time. (Other breeds extremely prone to gastric dilatation: German Shepherds, Basset Hounds, Standard Poodles, Mastiffs, Labs, Weims, Other Big/Large Dogs and Golden Retrievers.)
I spoke with my vet about everything in length. The gastropexy, large breed dogs, does gastropexy prevent GDV (NO), and what to do if I noticed any signs of her bloating in the future after her surgery.
Then, I dropped her off for surgery!
IS GASTRIC DILATATION VOLVULUS AN EMERGENCY SURGERY
Gastric dilatation in and of itself is an emergency that requires veterinary medicine intervention and very fast. If the gastric wall fills up with enough air, your dog can die!
However, the surgery that I did for Birdie was scheduled and was NOT an emergency! It was actually planned out to PREVENT the gastric dilatation volvulus from causing torsion which WOULD BE a medical emergency.
FIRST THING FOR GASTRIC DILATATION VOLVULUS SURGERY
First thing my vet did in incisional gastropexy was to sedate Birdie, clean her up really well, and make an incision about 3 inches big. Now, remember that Birdie was not being spayed. Dogs who also get spayed or neutered at the same time will have a longer incision than the one from a simple pexy surgery.
THE INCISION
The incision in the stomach is something that some pet owners are scared of. But, what you have to realize is that dogs are pretty resilient.
With some pre op bloodwork, I felt much better sedating her. It’s an incision that goes through muscle, so we do need pain medication for helping her recover as pain free as possible. But because the gastropexy reduces the chance that she will develop gdv, IT IS WORTH IT.
THE STOMACH BEING SEWN
I have to admit, when I imagined dogs going through this surgery, I thought that the ENTIRE stomach would be sewn onto the abdominal wall. But, after I saw the picture of the gastropexy itself, I was shocked. Just a TINY bit of the stomach is actually sewn!
The stomach wall is now being held on by about 12 stitches (6 on the inside and 6 on the outside).
LASER THERAPY
In order to help my pup recover best, my vet did laser therapy on her tummy and her incision. This will not only help her heal quicker from her prophylactic gastropexy, but it can help her gastrointestinal tract stay calm while she heals from having it irritated by stitches.
WAKING UP
It takes dogs awhile to wake up from general anesthesia. Birdie was tired the entire day while she rested at the hospital.
When I picked her up, she was still pretty sleepy. But, I know that I did the right thing by providing permanent adhesion of her stomach to the right abdominal wall which could save her life. Gastric dilation kills big dogs, and I want to do everything in my power to prevent that from happening.
SHES HOME
When your dog comes home, you want to feed them something light and small. You don’t want the stitches to pop open on the inside of her stomach. Your vet may send you home with a prescription diet, or just tell you to feed smaller meals for a few days.
Either way, you will want some sedatives like Trazadone and some pain meds like Gabapentin. They need to rest anywhere from 10-14 days, which can be a lot for an active dog like Birdie.
If we can continue to learn more about bloat and torsion and prevent recurrence of these dangers in our dogs, I know that the breed will continue to get better and better.
Unfortunately for Dane owners, Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) / Bloat, can happen at absolutely any age. Giant breeds experience bloat because they have deep chest cavities which can easily fill up with air, causing bloat. (Read more here)
The following image is from Thedogplace, and shows an example of how the stomach fills up with air when a dog is bloating. For more information from Thedogplace, click here.
When a giant breed dog’s chest fills up with air, this is when dogs bloat.
However, the ‘torsion’ or ‘twisting’ of the stomach, is when the dog is at high risk for death.
Bloat can happen in any age dog from a young dog to a senior, although it is more rare to see dogs bloat as puppies.
Affected dogs range from any age, but tend to be breed predisposed and have a family history of bloat.
DOG BREEDS THAT ARE MOST PRONE TO DEVELOP BLOAT
While any breed of dog can develop bloat, there are certain factors that make some dogs more prone to it.
Dogs with deep chests, like Great Danes, are at a higher risk because their anatomy makes them more likely to experience stomach torsion.
Other dog breeds that are prone to developing bloat are:
Irish Wolfhound
Borzois Gordon Setters
Newfoundlands
St. Bernards
Rottweilers
Great Pyrenees
Weimaraners
German Shepherds
Standard Poodles & other poodle mixes.
While any dog can get bloat, these are the breeds that are most at risk. If you have a giant breed dog like a Great Dane or a German Shepherd, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of GDV so you can get your pup to the vet immediately if they start to experience them.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF A BLOAT EVENT IN DOGS
The signs of a dog bloating can be mild to severe.
Great Dane owners should be WELL VERSED in knowing what bloat looks like so that they can catch it at the first, early sign.
A distended stomach in large breed dogs means that their stomach is ‘full’ and ‘hard’.
The distended stomach is caused by air pushing against the abdominal wall. This air is extremely dangerous and will require emergency surgery to be removed. A distended stomach can cause something called Torsion, which is when the stomach begins to twist, possibly causing a lack of blood supply to vital organs.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to get your dog to the vet immediately. The risk increases the longer your dog goes without getting the air relieved and Great Danes are at risk of a potentially deadly condition, especially without medical care.
OTHER SIGNS OF BLOAT IN GREAT DANES
Another very common sign of developing bloat in Great Danes is white, foamy drool.
Great Danes will often ‘try’ to vomit, but nothing will come up.
The reason for this white, foamy puke is because your dog is attempting to throw-up, but they are unable to do so, due to the torsion (or stomach flipping).
White, foamy puke should be an immediate red flag for any Great Dane owner and should be a ticket to the veterinarian immediately to receive medical intervention.
WHAT IS TORSION IN GREAT DANES?
Torsion in a Great Dane happens when the stomach twists, cutting off the dog’s blood supply.
Torsion is also known as GDV (gastric dilation and volvulus).
However, there is extreme confusion between ‘bloat’ and ‘torsion’. Bloat CAN happen without torsion (twisting) but torsion cannot happen without bloat.
Torsion puts your Great Dane at the highest risk for death.
IS BLOAT GOING TO KILL MY GREAT DANE?
Great Dane bloat is a life threatening condition that can cause death within hours if not treated immediately.
READ MORE BY CLICKING THE PICTURE BELOW:
Torsion usually occurs when the stomach is full of food and gas. The extra weight in the stomach causes it to twist, cutting off the blood supply to vital organs like the heart and lungs.
Torsion can also be caused by stress, exercise, or a genetic risk allele.
Because bloat and torsion have a genetic factor, it is absolutely crucial to choose wisely when you are choosing a Great Dane breeder.
Great Danes are especially prone to torsion because of their deep chests and large stomachs.
When a dog’s stomach twists, it is an emergency situation and they must be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
Treatment for GDV usually involves surgery to untwist the stomach and remove any gas or food that is present.
After surgery, your dog will need to be monitored closely for 24-48 hours to make sure they don’t experience any complications.
While bloat can be a scary condition, it is important to remember that it is treatable if caught early. The key is to be aware of the signs and symptoms so you can get your pup the help they need as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions about bloat or torsion in Great Danes, please feel free to reach out to us! We are always happy to help educate our Great Dane community.
TREATMENT FOR BLOAT IN DOGS
Once at the vet, they will start by doing a physical examination and working on stabilizing your dog. This may include giving them IV fluids and oxygen. On the xray, your vet will diagnose bloat.
The only way to treat your bloat in dogs is with bloat surgery, and the surgical procedure needs to happen quickly or there is an increased risk of health issues and even death.
Bloat surgery in Great Danes happens by making an incision in the dog’s side and then untwisting the stomach. The vet will also put a tube down your dog’s throat to help remove any gas or food that is present in their stomach.
If bloat has not caused twisting of the stomach (torsion), the Veterinarian will treat bloat by decompressing the stomach with a needle or tube.
After surgery, your dog will need to be monitored closely for 24-48 hours to make sure they don’t experience any complications.
While bloat can be a scary condition, it is important to remember that it is treatable if caught early. The key is to be aware of the signs and symptoms so you can get your pup the help they need as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions about bloat or torsion in Great Danes, please feel free to reach out to us! We are always happy to help educate our Great Dane community.
Preventing bloat is something that all dog owners want to be aware of. Knowing the risk factors for bloat is the best way to prevent bloat. However, there is also a surgery that can be done prior to a dog bloating that can help to somewhat ‘prevent bloat’.
Gastropexy surgery is a surgery that is conducted, usually at the time of desexing, where the stomach is tacked to the body wall. This prevents the stomach from being able to twist in the event of bloat and can be lifesaving.
While this surgery does not prevent bloat from happening, it can help to prevent torsion (twisting of the stomach) which is often fatal if not caught in time.
Many owners believe that if their dog has had a stomach tack, they are no longer at risk for their dogs bloating. This is not true.
Gastropexy surgery will help to prevent TORSION, but not the actual bloat from occuring.
This means that even if your dog has had a Gastropexy surgery, they are still at risk for bloating, especially if they have other risk factors.
There is a lifetime risk of bloat in dogs who have any contributing factor of the disease.
However, having a Gastropexy surgery CAN save their life- because it can prevent the stomach from twisting which will cut off blood flow to vital organs.
THE RISK FACTORS FOR DOGS BLOATING
The risk factors of dogs bloating are genetics, gut health and stress. Many myths and lies float around about why dogs bloat. However, it has been proven that more dogs bloat who are genetically predisposed, have weak or failing gut health, or are stressed / fearful dogs.
Genetics has been proven to contribute to bloat. There are risk alleles in genetic lines that show that if a grandparent, etc, has bloated, that the future dogs in the lineage are more likely to bloat as well.
If you are bringing home a Great Dane puppy, it is crucial that you check both the male and females pedigree and ask a lot of questions to the breeder about whether any dog in the lineage has bloated.
STRESS AND BLOAT
Stress is also a big risk factor for bloat. Dogs who are fearful or anxious are more likely to bloat than dogs who are confident and have no fear.
This is because when a dog is stressed, their body produces cortisol- which can contribute to an upset stomach and can cause the dog to bloat.
There are many ways to prevent stress in dogs- such as training, socialization, providing a calm environment, etc.
Gut health is also a big risk factor for bloat. Dogs who have weak gut health are more likely to bloat than dogs with strong gut health. (READ MORE HERE)
There are many ways to improve gut health in dogs- such as feeding a high quality diet, adding probiotics, etc.
MYTHS ABOUT BLOAT IN GREAT DANES AND OTHER BREEDS
Unfortunately, many myths are spread everyday about bloat and why it happens. The more myths that are spread, the further veterinary medicine gets from finding a cure for the disease.
MYTH 1: RAISED FEEDERS WILL HELP TO PREVENT BLOAT. Raised feeders are something that big dog owners LOVE to talk about! However, did you know that recent science/data actually says that they are INCREASING the rate of bloating dogs?
MYTH 2: FEEDING BEFORE OR AFTER EXERCISE IS GOING TO CAUSE BLOAT. If only it was this simple! Unfortunately, although fast eaters ARE more prone to bloating, allowing your dogs to run around before or after a meal is NOT a contributing factor to whether or not they are going to bloat!
MYTH 3: GASTROPEXY WILL PREVENT BLOAT. The truth is, Gastropexy will only PREVENT TORSION- which is when the stomach twists and cuts off blood flow to vital organs. Gastropexy will not prevent bloat from happening.
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Giant breeds of any age are susceptible to bloating and if you have a giant breed in your life you should know exactly what to look for.
Should your large breed dog exhibit symptoms of bloat, you should get them to the emergency veterinarian immediately for treatment.
Great Dane bloat can be terrifying. We put together 9 crucial things you NEED to know to stay informed and prepared.
Do you have a Great Dane? If so, you need to be aware of the dangers of bloat. Bloat is a serious condition that can kill your dog if left untreated. In this blog post, we will discuss the five crucial things you need to know about Great Dane bloat. We will also provide tips on how to prevent your dog from developing this condition.
What is Great Dane Bloat (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus)?
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (bloat) is a life threatening condition that can affect any dog, but is most common in large breed dogs like a Great Dane.
Bloat occurs when the stomach twists on itself, trapping air and gas inside. This can cause the stomach to bloat, which puts pressure on the other organs in the abdomen. If left untreated, bloat can lead to death.
When the stomach fills with air, it causes the stomach wall to twist, which cuts off the blood supply to the stomach.
When the stomach wall twists, it is called torsion. Torsion and gastric dilatation are two separate health conditions, however they are related. Torsion (twisting of the stomach) can pull the internal organs with it, creating major issues within the body wall including the lack of blood flow.
The lack of blood flow can cause the stomach tissue to die. In addition, the pressure on the diaphragm makes it difficult for the dog to breathe.
Bloat is a medical emergency and requires immediate veterinary care. If you think your dog is bloated, call your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately. It is likely that your dog will need emergency surgery.
Bloat Myths
There are many myths that people believe to lead to bloat in healthy dogs.
Although it is natural to rest for awhile after or before eating, a dog’s eating and drinking is NOT necessarily correlated with bloat. No study has ever shown efficacy at all in resting as a ‘preventative’, and one study from Tufts University found no correlation at all between exercise and bloat happening.
If a dog is going to bloat, it will happen whether they are resting OR moving, in other words.
“Several popular theories regarding bloat were not substantiated during the study. There was no correlation of bloat risk to exercise before or after eating, as most dogs bloated in the middle of the night with an empty, gas-filled stomach. There was also no correlation to vaccinations, to the brand of dog food consumed, or to the timing or volume of water intake before or after eating.”
Tufts University Study
It will not likely ‘prevent’ gastric dilatation to make your dog rest for an upward of 45 minutes to an hour before you let your dog play, but resting your dog isn’t necessarily harmful, either.
Myth Number 2: A Raised Food Bowl Will Prevent Bloat
Unfortunately, feeding your dog from a raised bowl will not prevent gastric dilatation in your dog.
Your dog’s risk of getting bloat actually seems to be very minimally increased when they eat from a lifted bowl.
There is so much controversy on this topic that many pet parents often argue whether a heightened bowl is a contributing factor that causes a Great Dane to bloat or whether eating from floor surface level is better.
The most recent research in veterinary medicine suggests that there is little to no correlation between bowls of any height and bloat.
What Causes Bloat?
The exact cause of bloat is unknown, but there are several risk factors that have been identified. Large and giant breed dogs are most at risk for developing bloat. Other risk factors include:
We will dive into these risk factors later, but one thing to note is that often times gastric dilatation is like tearing an ACL. Great Dane parents can do everything in their power during their dog’s life to prevent this dangerous condition from happening and minimize the risk of bloat, and it can still happen.
Why Do Dogs Bloat?
The cause of bloat is still unknown, but there are several theories as to why it may occur.
Genetics
The genetics of your Great Dane has been shown to be correlated to the affected dogs. Genetic correlation of bloat in Great Danes means that if you are buying a Great Dane puppy from a breeder, you should inquire if they have had family history of bloat.
Anxiety
Another theory suggests that anxiety may play a role in the development of bloat. Dogs who are anxious or stressed may be more likely to lead to the development of bloat.
Fearful Great Danes can be at higher risk of having bloat. The American Kennel Club even states that dogs who experience anxiety are at double the risk of bloating as dogs who do not experience anxiety. Helping fearful dogs overcome their anxiety can help to lower the risk of bloat.
There are many ways to work to improve your dog’s anxiety including :
Working with a certified professional dog trainer, behaviorist or your veterinarian to find the best solution for your dog
Using calming supplements
Having a regular routine including daily walks, playtime, and mealtimes
Creating a safe space in your home for your dog
Using a crate to allow your dog to find and feel safe
Socializing your dog to the best of your ability with creative socialization ideas
Gut Health
Gut health and overall health of a Great Danes microbiome has been linked to the development of bloat. A dog’s gut microbiome is the collection of all the microbes that live in their gastrointestinal tract.
The health of a dog’s gut has been linked to everything from allergies to cancer. A healthy gut microbiome helps to protect against inflammation, maintains a strong immune system, and aids in digestion.
Dogs with an unhealthy gut microbiome are more likely to develop bloat. This can be caused by many things such as stress, poor diet, antibiotic use, and more.
Click to read the clinical study conducted by Purina Pro Plan that scientifically linked genetics, anxiety and gut health as three of the top indicators in dogs with the highest lifetime risk of bloat.
Predisposed Breeds
There are certain breeds of dogs that have been shown to be predisposed to developing bloat. These breeds include:
Adding any amount of moisturized/raw food into their dry food has been shown to decrease the risks of bloat in a dog
We Feed Raw provides complete mixes in a variety of proteins including Beef, Venison and Turkey.
Gastropexy Surgical Procedure
The Gastropexy surgery is conducted on high risk breeds with deep chests , and is a preventative measure to keep the stomach from torsion (Twisting).
In this surgery, the surgeon will tack the stomach to the body wall in order to prevent it from twisting. This is a major surgery that requires anesthesia, but has been shown to be effective in preventing bloat.
The Gastropexy surgery is not 100% effective in preventing bloat, as there are other factors that can contribute to bloat (such as anxiety), but it can help to minimize the risk.
The gastropexy surgery works as a preventative surgery for the twisting stomach (torsion), but does NOT stop the process of air filling the dog’s stomach if bloat does happen.
The reason it is important that the twisted stomach is prevented is that the twisting of your dog’s stomach (torsion) can be deadly within minutes, whereas when the dog’s stomach fills with air (bloat). Therefore, conducting this surgery with veterinary surgeons can buy you time to get your dog to the Emergency Room when you see the very first early signs of bloat.
What it DOES: Gastropexy: Fights to stop Torsion, which is when the stomach of the affected dog begins to twist.
What it DOES NOT DO: Gastropexy: DOES NOT treat bloat, prevent bloat or give an ‘out’ for always being on the look for signs of bloat.
What Should You Do If Your Great Dane Is Bloating?
If you notice ANY clinical signs of bloat in your Great Dane, it is a severe medical emergency.
Look to see if their stomach is in a normal position, and if it looks distended at all, you should take them to the emergency room as soon as possible in order for them to perform veterinary surgery while it is in the early stages.
Your dog will receive a quick physical examination, they will diagnose bloat, and then they will conduct surgery to remove the excessive air from the stomach of your Great Dane. While they are conducting surgery, they should make sure that the abdominal wall has not been twisted.
Additionally, if your dog has not already had the Gastropexy surgery, they will likely attach the abdominal wall to the stomach so that future cases of bloat in your Great Dane can be prevented.
In Conclusion
To wrap it up, yes, the Great Dane is one very affected breed of dogs. However, other dogs can bloat as well. Older dogs seem to be more prone to bloating, but again, any dog of any breed or age can bloat.
While there are things you can do to help prevent bloat, such as the Gastropexy surgery and feeding multiple small meals per day, the best thing you can do is to be vigilant and always on the lookout for early signs of bloat.
If you think your dog may be bloating, don’t hesitate to take them to the emergency room so that they can receive treatment as soon as possible. Bloat is a serious medical condition that can be deadly if not treated in a timely manner.
Staying knowledgable and informed is one of the best ways to keep your dog safe and healthy, so make sure to do your research on any health concerns that may affect your dog.
Have you ever dealt with bloat in a dog? Let us know in the comments below!
If you have any questions or concerns about Great Dane bloat, please contact your veterinarian as they will be best equipped to help you and your furry friend. Bloat is a serious medical condition and should not be taken lightly. Thanks for reading!
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Is your Great Dane not eating enough? This can be concerning and it’s a popular topic in the Great Dane community! There are various reasons why a Great Dane might become picky or stop eating, ranging from temporary issues like stress, changes in the environment, or minor digestive upsets, to more serious health conditions such as dental problems, gastrointestinal disorders, or metabolic issues.
Before we dig more into this, I have to remind readers that if a dog is truly not eating and is losing weight, this is considered a medical emergency. Always see your veterinarian if you are worried about your Great Dane not eating enough, or not eating at all.
Great Dane Not Eating Enough…or At All!
Buckle up, this is a big one! If your Great Dane is picky, acting strange, or just not eating much, the answers are here for you. There are times when a loss of appetite can absolutely be a concern.
Here is a list of reasons why a dog won’t eat, that require veterinary care ASAP. If any of these could be true for your dog, do not read the rest of this article, call your veterinarian or if life-threatening, GO!
Anxiety (if it results in withholding food for more than 24 hours)
Bloat or other gastro-based emergency
Cancer
Here are some less serious reasons why your Great Dane isn’t eating enough:
Tummy upset
They are eating enough, you just think they need more (common!)
They just finished a growth spurt
It’s hot out and their appetite is down
Anxiety & stress
They are not receiving as much exercise as usual
The feeding area is dirty, noisy, or scary
The food is bad (read about the recent Victor recall, they had been selling contaminated food for months and many dogs had refused to eat it before the recall was finally issued)
They are receiving too many toppers, treats, and chews
Notice I didn’t mention picky eating! We’ll get more into that later.
What to do if a new Great Dane puppy won’t eat
It can be alarming if your new Great Dane puppy won’t eat! We all know that Dane pups NEED a lot of food to grow, so it can be scary when they aren’t ravenous for their food.
Great Dane puppies grow fast and a loss of appetite can be alarming, but keep this in mind: for growing large breed dogs, overnutrition is just as dangerous as undernutrition! Overfeeding Great Dane puppies leads to orthopedic growth disorders, too fast growth, and problems such as carpal laxity that are hard on the joints.
Always go by your veterinarian’s advice regarding overall body condition; Dane puppies should be lean, not round.
What if my Great Dane Puppy is a picky eater?
You’ll notice that ‘picky’ is not listed here as one of the reasons why a puppy dog won’t eat! Many people believe that they have a picky dog on their hands, but it’s actually very rare.
Picky eaters are most often a symptom of the environment, and the harsh, honest truth here is that your picky pooch has likely trained YOU!
Every time you add a topper, canned food, boiled chicken, table scraps, or dog treats to encourage eating, your Great Dane puppy learns that if they ignore their food better things will come.
Most dogs are very smart this way, and the only way to solve this problem is to be strong. Our Stop Picky Eating post is super helpful for picky pups!
Stop bribing your puppy
To put this simply, stop bribing your dog to eat unless your veterinarian has encouraged you to do so following an illness! Your puppy will not allow itself to starve to death, and will eventually eat the dog food that was presented to them as-is.
Every time you switch foods to try and appease your ‘picky pup’, you also risk upsetting the stomach more. Many people start to believe that the resulting chronic loose stools are ‘allergies’, change foods again, and thus will begin a never-ending cycle of gut issues.
These problems can be brought on by constant changes to food and nutrition while the puppies’ digestive system was still maturing.
When you switch foods, the balance of nutrition and gut flora is thrown off again; it can take up to 12 weeks for a dog to acclimate to a new food. Every time you find your dog not eating the way that you think he should, we encourage you to look at health first before making changes.
We cannot state this enough: if you are feeding an appropriate, science-based large breed kibble and your puppy is not knuckling or experiencing growth disorders, STICK WITH IT!
Stop switching foods. It’s really not healthy.
What to feed a Great Dane puppy so that they eat
The best dog foods for a Great Dane puppy will be science-backed, highly researched, formulated for the growth of large and/or giant breed dogs, and from a company that employs a veterinary nutritionist (or team of them) to formulate, oversee, research and test the diet.
Many boutique food brands that sound ‘healthy and holistic’ are often the creation of great marketing, not necessarily of great research and excellent nutrition.
We recommend checking the credentials of any food brand you are considering as your pup’s main diet. The wrong food can cause heart problems, kidney problems, issues with vitamin and mineral levels and more.
Thankfully, the Pet Nutrition Alliance did the work for us and compiled the important information on each brand on a spreadsheet. This makes dog food brand decisions super easy!
We recommend a Large Breed Puppy formula from Purina Pro Plan or Eukanuba, and as above, STICK WITH IT! For more information on how to feed a Great Dane and the best dog dry food and amounts for growing Dane pups, read our famous Ultimate Great Dane feeding chart post here!
Here are our favorite science-backed foods for Great Dane Puppies. Click to shop on Chewy. Pro tip: autoship saves you money and time!
Check out THE GIANT DOG FOOD PROJECT to compare brands and values.
Your puppy is overwhelmed, fearful, or scared
It’s not uncommon for Great Dane puppies to feel a little overwhelmed during the first days in a new home. An overwhelmed, overtired, and overexcited dog won’t eat reliably, and that’s ok.
Not only have there been several changes to their life and routine, but they’ve likely had vaccines and possibly even ear cropping. Veterinary care like this can make them feel a little icky for a few days, so you may just need to be patient.
Your puppy has parasites
As above, worming medication can cause tummy upset, and so can parasites!
Your veterinarian will likely do a stool sample and worm your puppy with an oral medication. If your puppy has worms, this medication can make your puppy feel not-so-great while the worms die.
Common worms and parasites include tapeworms and roundworms, which you may see in their stool! There is another very tiny parasite called giardia that is a very common cause of loose stools in Great Danes.
If you are struggling with your puppy’s stomach upset, ask your veterinarian to test for Giardia, which requires antibiotics to treat.
Parasites are very common in puppies and treatable. As long as you have gotten your puppy from a reputable Great Dane breeder and had your first vet visit, this should be no big deal.
Your puppy has a stomach upset
Another common cause of stomach upset in Great Dane puppies is switching foods! Many pet parents are excited to switch foods and may immediately jump to a food brand that the puppy had never had before.
We ONLY recommend that puppies be fed a science-based and highly researched large breed puppy kibble diet formulated for large and giant breed growth (our favorites are below).
If your breeder was feeding something else, switch slowly to avoid further stomach upset.
Note: If your puppy is knuckling or experiencing HOD, Panosteitis or other orthopedic growth problems, your puppy must switch to an appropriate, science-backed large breed puppy kibble immediately.
Too many treats can make a dog eat less
Training treats can also cause a puppy to become full or overloaded with the wrong nutrition! Too much of a good thing can result in a decreased appetite, which can be alarming AND lead to loose stools, growth disorders, and more.
Take it easy with dog treats. Keep bites teeny tiny and consider doing as much training as you can with your puppy’s kibble, instead!
(No, your dog will not bloat if you feed them kibble for training! Contrary to popular belief, ‘resting’ before and after eating is not reliable for preventing bloat in Great Danes).
Too many training treats can also throw off the important balance of nutrition needed for proper growth. Too much food, fat, nutrition, and unbalanced amino acids and calcium and phosphorus levels are dangerous for growing puppies.
Here are some of our favorite holistic whole-food training treats for Great Danes. Use in moderation!
Your puppy is sick
Unfortunately, illness can be devastating for young Great Dane puppies. If your Dane pup has any of the following symptoms, seek veterinary care immediately:
Excessive amounts of diarrhea
Blood in stool
Pale gums
Vomiting
Low or high body temperature (use this thermometer to check)
Lethargy (no energy, even while awake)
Weakness, stumbling, unable to stand, walk or play
Cloudy or watery eyes
Discharge from the nose or mouth
Foul smell
Large, distended abdomen
Crooked paws
Showing pain signals including limping, whining, crying, chewing paws, aggression, etc.
Parvo in Great Dane Puppies
Parvo, for example, could be one reason that your puppy is not eating. While there are vaccines for Parvo, puppies are at risk until they are fully vaccinated.
This particular disease is extremely difficult to treat and also deadly. Early diagnosis is key; if you see any signs your puppy needs to see a veterinarian immediately.
A thorough physical examination is warranted anytime you feel something is ‘off’ with your puppy, including crooked paws (which could be a sign of knuckling).
Other symptoms of poor health can include whining while going potty, weight loss, and limping. A urinary tract infection is a common problem for Dane pups and one that can result in a reduced appetite in dogs.
Not only that, but a Dane pup can become dangerously dehydrated very quickly, so if your puppy is having trouble with loose stools and throwing up, get to the vet immediately.
Even if he or she’s drinking water, it may not be enough.
Your Great Dane Puppy is Full
Many times, a puppy that has no appetite is actually full!
Too much nutrition can lead to knuckling and loose stools, so keep that in mind if your dog loves to scarf food and eat too much.
Great Dane puppies grow fast and need a lot of nutrition, and your dog’s eating habits will change often throughout the first several months. As a matter of fact, you may find that your puppy is at the food bowl asking for food at odd times, and turning its nose up at other times!
Your pup will need more dog food before and during a growth spurt as well.
We say feed them and let them guide you! The goal with puppies is not to stuff them with an exact number of cups of food, but rather to give them the nutrition they need to grow slowly and with excellent body condition.
Our Great Dane puppy feeding chart can give you a rough idea of how much you might expect to feed, but only your puppy really knows what he needs.
Do not let your puppy (or adult Great Dane) gain excess weight. If your dog scarves food down and eats without stopping, it’s time to step in and strictly monitor intake.
Is it normal for puppies to not eat all of their food
Assuming that your healthy puppy has a quality, age-appropriate science-backed dog food and is otherwise vibrant, robust, and active it can be perfectly normal for your pup to leave food in the bowl.
As above, this is not a sign that your Great Dane is one of the reported ‘picky eaters’. A dog that is self-regulating its intake is very different than a dog that has had an actual loss of appetite.
It’s important to monitor your puppy and keep tabs on growth, overall health, and energy levels; this matters more than actual food intake!
As a pet parent, it’s normal to worry, but unless your dog recently suffered illness, is losing weight, or is showing other sights of stress or health problems, try not to stress. Keep your puppy on the same dry dog food and stick it out!
Having interest change from meal to meal and day to day is totally normal and to be expected. This chart below is just a guide; the food you choose and your puppies appetite will change these amounts.
When should I worry about my puppy not eating?
Of course, there does come a time when you should worry about your puppy not eating!
You definitely want to see medical attention for your dog if it is losing weight, acting lethargic, distressed, or having difficulty chewing.
Sometimes a stick or bone has become lodged inside of the jaw and it can make it difficult for a puppy to eat and drink water normally.
If your dog’s stool has blood in it, you will need to see your vet immediately as this can be a sign of foreign bodies or Parvo. Pale gums, coughing, and dehydration are also indicators of physical distress that will require immediate veterinary care.
If your puppy ate something they shouldn’t have such as socks, jewelry, or toxic foods such as grapes or Xylitol you will likely notice a reduction in appetite.
These things are a medical emergency and cause for concern.
At times, excessive treats, table scraps, or stolen food from the counter can lead to a condition called Pancreatitis. This can make your puppy stop eating and show signs of nausea, tummy upset, and weakness.
However, if your puppy is bright, vibrant, and playful while awake with nice tight feet and a great nap schedule (remember, Great Dane puppies need a LOT of sleep!), chances are everything is fine. Let your puppy sleep, they will eat when they are hungry!
A healthy Great Dane pup should be curious, friendly, active, and ready to go when awake!
Bonus Tip: Monitor water intake when your dog won’t eat
We do not recommend limiting water intake or withholding water for ‘potty training’.
This dated practice can lead to dehydration and may actually teach your puppy to gulp, hoard, and guard water as a valuable resource.
Of course, a pup doesn’t need to be drinking water overnight. But if you are taking up the bowl at dinner time so you don’t have to let your puppy out to pee at 2 in the morning, stop.
Let your puppy drink water as needed and desired until you all go to bed for the night.
Take your puppy out for one last late-night pee (use LOTS of treats and yes, kibble to reward this behavior!) and then quietly, calmly go out as needed through the night.
They will outgrow the need to go out and pee overnight once their bladder is mature, and you’ll be getting restful sleep again!
What to do when your puppy isn’t eating?
Many people start adding wet dog food, boiled chicken, treats, canned food, or other tasty toppers to entice their puppy to eat.
Others will attempt hand feeding or hydrating the food in warm water. It’s important to remember that appetite in dogs can and will fluctuate!
Note: some studies show that food moistened in warm water, that has citric acid in the formulation may increase bloat risk.
As we mentioned before, bribery is a dangerous path that will lead to a lot of frustration.
We believe in offering up to 5-10% of the diet as healthy toppers because, for Great Danes, it may reduce bloat risk.
However, there is a big difference between adding healthy foods to increase the intake of fibers and omegas and adding unbalanced junk food to make the dry kibble somehow more appealing.
We recommend rehydrated Olewo carrots for loose stools.
Balanced raw, fish oil, the occasional raw egg, or a few scoops of Dr. Harvey’s are also welcome additions to the Great Dane food bowl!
As above, these items should be added for health reasons, not as bribery.
Best Foods for Great Danes & The Appropriate Diet
Once your puppy learns that skipping meals means you bring out the good stuff, all bets are off. We promise, that if you are feeding an appropriate dry food diet, you do NOT need to switch to a new food so that your dog will eat!
If you are feeding a science-backed, highly respected solid food that is formulated for the growth of large breed dogs, stick with the same food. We recommend choosing brands that invest heavily in research, professional veterinary nutritionist formulation, development, ingredient sourcing, and formula testing. These brands include Purina, Eukanuba, and Iams.
Scheduled Feedings to Reduce Pickiness
If your dog won’t eat and there are clearly no health issues, wait it out. Put the bowl down, offer the meal, and walk away. Don’t make a fuss.
Pick it up again if your dog refuses it after 15-30 minutes. Offer it again later for a mid-day meal, and repeat this process until your dog gives in and eats their solid food.
Another trick you can try when your dog won’t eat is to make eating FUN. Use your dog’s normal food as training treats, and reward your dog throughout the day with a few pieces for awesome behavior.
The KONG WOBBLER can also be very engaging for dogs that need their food to ‘run’ so they can hunt for and chase it! We always love seeing food used as enrichment. If your dog won’t eat, this is a great trick to try!
Reasons for the loss of appetite in dogs
Like puppies, there are many reasons why an adult Great Dane will have a loss of appetite.
Here are just a few things to look for if you have a dog not eating:
A foreign body such as a sock in the digestive tract
Stomach upset from eating something toxic or irritating, including chocolate, grapes, certain house plants, and xylitol
Stomach upset from counter surfing things such as butter, roasts, cookies, or treats that are unbalanced, fatty, sugary, and sit heavy in the stomach (watch for signs of pancreatitis! See below).
Toxicity from exposure to essential oils such as eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil, cinnamon, citrus, peppermint, pine, wintergreen, and ylang-ylang that are not safe for dogs
Boredom. Like humans, bored dogs can become depressed, suppressed, and may turn their noses up at food. Make eating fun by using a puzzle feeder and food as training treats!
Congenital problems such as heart or digestive system defects that haven’t been diagnosed
Liver disease or kidney disease
New food (switching too quickly can cause stomach upset, OR the new dog food has more nutrition and your dog won’t have to eat as much as they did with the previous food.
A senior dog will have a reduced appetite and will require a different dry dog food formulation than a puppy or adult.Dental disease in senior dogs can also cause decreased appetite; your veterinarian can address this with you.
Some dogs with advanced dental disease may need canned food or a liquid diet.
Signs of pancreatitis in Great Danes
Here are some signs of pancreatitis, which is a life-threatening illness that can happen when dogs ingest too many things that are fatty such as too many rich treats, roasts, butter or bacon.
Scavenging for food is one of the leading predictors of a dog experiencing pancreatitis; however other things may cause it.
Diarrhea
Abdominal Pain
Distress, including laying with the rear end high in the air
Fever
Lethargy
Vomiting
Decreased appetite
Nausea
Pancreatitis in dogs has other factors and causes as well, and the prognosis is based on severity and treatment. If your dog is showing these or other symptoms that are alarming to you, it’s important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
Counter surfing and trash surfing is a real problem for Great Danes! Learn how to solve this dangerous and annoying behavior.
Your pet’s health is at risk if you don’t implement training and management.
Balanced training is the most humane choice for dogs because it teaches and rewards them while also giving them all of the information they need to make mature decisions. This includes NO, a simple thing that can save your dog’s life.
A picky Great Dane dog with a decreased appetite is often caused by, get this, poor handling!
Biologically, dogs don’t want to starve. Let your dog’s eating habits be your guide here: many dogs are incredibly good at self-regulating intake, just by nature! Appetite in dogs is fluid and will change day-to-day, too.
If they don’t eat, it’s because they don’t need the food, have a medical problem, the food is bad, OR we’ve trained them to hold out for the good stuff. A dog not eating because they’ve learned this is a dog that is making the rules.
That last part…read it again.
We’ve trained them to hold out for the good stuff, and they’ve trained us to give it to them!
Every time you add toppers or change foods to encourage your Dane to eat, you teach them that if they turn their nose up at the food bowl better things will come. A dog not eating may actually be a dog that figured out a neat trick to eat treats with every meal.
If you’ve ruled out medical problems and you are feeding a fresh (not stale) high-quality, science-backed kibble that is correctly formulated for your Great Dane, chances are your Dane is either full or totally playing you.
Now of course it stands to reason that your Great Dane may get tired and bored of a certain food. We recommend changing proteins on occasion but stick with the food that is working for you.
When you change proteins, stick with the same formula
Example for an adult dog:
Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Chicken and Rice, switch to Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Beef and Ric
Are Great Danes picky eaters?
By nature, Great Danes are not picky eaters!
However, the myriad of health problems that plague this breed resulting from bad genetics and incorrect foods can make them seem picky or intolerant of certain foods.
Great Danes are unfortunately prone to a number of health issues that can result in a dog’s loss of interest in food.
When a dog won’t eat or flat out refuses, it might be helpful to rule out these common health issues:
Allergies. While dietary allergies are actually extremely rare, environmental allergies can make a dog uncomfortable.
Thyroid disorders.
Diabetes
Painful orthopedic problems including wobblers, HOD, Dysplasia or arthritis
Poor structural conformation that leads to painful joints and movement
Chances are, your Great Dane is not actually picky and other things are going on.
If you think it’s just general pickiness, wait it out! You might be surprised to find that your dog starts eating again after a day. If not, seek medical advice just in case.
When should I be concerned that my dog is not eating?
Anytime your dog’s appetite seems to have decreased drastically, you will want to watch for other signs and symptoms. A loss of appetite in dogs can be alarming, and it’s good that you are paying attention!
A dog that normally loves its dry dog food and that is suddenly refusing food of any kind may have medical problems that go far beyond a simple loss of appetite.
If your dog stops eating altogether and you aren’t sure why we recommend seeking professional help from your veterinarian before switching foods again.
Older dogs that stop eating
Older dogs that are not eating and that have other health problems may be towards the end of life; just like humans, a dog in hospice will often experience a loss of appetite and stop eating before passing away.
It is important to keep senior dogs in hospice staying hydrated, drinking water, and being as comfortable as possible!
A dog’s loss of appetite in the latest days of life is normal and may be an indication that it’s time to say goodbye.
Did you know that there are now canine hospice options? Chat with your veterinarian for referrals and advice. They can help guide you towards making sure that your elderly dog is drinking water and staying hydrated before you have to make any other end-of-life decisions.
How do I make my Great Dane eat more?
In most cases, you don’t actually need your Great Dane to eat more!
Many people are alarmed to see how ‘thin’ their Great Dane is. The truth here is that a little rib showing is normal and desired. Very few dogs are actually underweight, and very few dogs actually need to eat more.
The written breed standard for Great Danes in all Countries, including Europe and the U.S. defines them as being an athletic breed, never stocky.
For truly underweight dogs that need more nutrition, medical attention is needed first to rule out underlying causes such as disease, parasites, cancer, or congenital deformities such as megaesophagus.
Great Dane puppies in particular can be very lean and lanky as they grow. They will fill out once they are more mature, usually between 2 and 3 years of age.
Here is an image of three Great Dane dogs. One is underweight and malnourished. One is at a perfectly healthy weight. The third is overweight.
An Underweight Great Dane
A Healthy Weight Great Dane
An Overweight Great Dane
A malnourished, underweight dog will lack vibrancy and won’t have much energy. Many ‘thin’ dogs that are labeled as ‘underweight’ have shiny coats, muscle tone and lots of energy! Those dogs need to be left as-is.
Adding weight to a Great Dane is hard on the joints and can shorten the life span by 2 years, on average. For giant breed dogs that tend to have short lifespans in the first place, that is devastating.
If you think your dog is underweight and needs to eat more, talk to your vet first! Most people are so used to seeing ‘fat’ dogs that they don’t know what an appropriate waistline is on a dog.
A lot of ‘thin’ dogs can actually use some muscle building as well. Muscle and activity will nearly always come with an increased appetite, as the added nutrients are needed to build muscle.
We highly recommend that all Great Danes are off-leash trained and have the opportunity to move, explore, run and play freely without physical restraints such as harnesses, head collars, prong collars, or long leashes.
These natural activities help them build muscle and can improve balance, strength, and motor coordination. For off-leash training, modern E-Collars cannot be beat. We have tons of resources on this topic here.
When should I worry about my dog not eating?
If your dog is acting lethargic, it’s time to worry.
A dog that has no energy, dull eyes or that is weak needs medical assistance.
Muscle wasting is a problem for dogs that have begun to lose weight due to a too-low intake of food. Without the nutrition or fat reserves needed for survival, muscle tone will diminish.
Some dogs may be coming from rescue situations where severe neglect led them down this path.
A veterinarian can advise on the best course of action for food intake, water intake, and nutrition in dogs that are severely underweight. A new food will typically be advised, as there are certain dry dog food formulas that have more of the kind of nutrition a dog like this will need to rebuild their strength.
Some healthy dogs may eat less and begin to lose weight. This can be concerning to dog owners, especially when it’s clear that the dog’s appetite has changed or been reduced.
Many dogs are actually overweight, and a heavy dog not eating as much of their normal food may actually be a good thing. For those dogs, they may appear to look ‘too thin’ because their new body condition looks different, but it doesn’t mean that you need to be alarmed.
Always chat with your veterinarian to rule out health problems, including cancer, diabetes, thyroid issues, and heart problems if your dog’s appetite seems unusually different.
Is it normal for a dog to not finish their food?
It is very normal for a dog to not finish its food! If your dog won’t eat the entire bowl, consider that it could just be a matter of ‘too much’.
Think about how this applies in the wild. A dog is naturally inclined to not overeat because instinctually dogs know how much nutrition their body actually needs.
In most cases, we recommend trusting your dog here. If your Great Dane is eating but doesn’t finish their food, they are probably full and don’t need anymore!
Many people worry about food because they are concerned about bloat. They want their dog to eat on a schedule so that they can strictly monitor meal and rest times.
There are definitely much bigger things to be concerned about when it comes to bloat risk and minimizing the chance that your dog experiences it.
Genetics, gut health, and poor temperaments are key factors. For more information on bloat in Great Danes and how it relates to nutrition, read our Great Dane Bloat articles below.
If your dog has no aggression, food-scarfing, hoarding, training, or temperament issues it’s actually fine to allow your dog to graze on the food they leave in the bowl. As a matter of fact, frequent, smaller meals are correlated with a DECREASE in bloat risk!
If your dog is overweight, obese, frantic, aggressive, frustrated, or needs a lot of training, however, this is not recommended. For those dogs, 2-3 scheduled meals per day, served in a low-stress environment for just 15-20 minutes is ideal.
Monitoring your dog’s body condition is extremely important, and avoiding food scarfing, fights over food, and frustrating behaviors at the bowl is part of being an educated, dedicated Great Dane owner.
You know your dog best!
The case of too many treats
Many dogs are full and uninterested in food because they are getting too many treats!
Treats may be coming from cute puppy eyes at the treat jar, table scraps, bones, chews, table surfing, and yes, even your treat bag during training.
If you are working on training your Great Dane, try mixing some of your dog’s dry food ration for the day into your treat bag.
Use food as a reward so your dog receives correct, balanced nutrition and gains confidence doing a job well done.
Not only will this make their food more enticing because they have to ‘work for it’, but the variation of treats between high value (such as Ziwi Peak) and their kibble will work to make your dog that much more interested in working for the good stuff.
Every time they get a higher-value treat, it’s like hitting the jackpot!
Freeze-dried meats and organs (small amounts, don’t overdo it)
Cheerios
A trail mix made up of hotdogs, dry food, Ziwi peak, blueberries, and freeze-dried chicken
When your dog is eating dry food as a reward during training, you will find that your dog starts to really enjoy their meals! By nature, dogs want to ‘work’ and that includes hunting, searching, sniffing, sitting, and doing tricks.
As a matter of fact, a lot of behavior problems in Great Danes including destruction, chewing, separation anxiety, anxiety, lunging, barking, and pulling like a freight train are directly related to, get this, frustration and BOREDOM!
When we ask our dogs to work for their dry food, we are providing them with enrichment and mental games that will help them thrive.
Does your dog turn its nose up at kibble when used as a training treat? Make it a little more ‘enticing’ by spraying it with bone broth or warm water and as above, mixing it up with higher value treats.
PRO TIP: If you use hot dogs, the kibble will naturally become more appealing because the hot dogs will ‘scent’ the kibble in the treat bag!
If your dog likes to eat treats but not their normal food, you can also ‘trick’ them into thinking their dry food is a treat by using it as a filler for fun puzzle toys such as the West Paw Topple.
We believe Great Danes should have fun with their food, and that a dog’s appetite is often linked to how hard it was for them to get that food.
Sometimes it really is a matter of making a dog eat through the use of brain games and puzzles.
If your dog is not ok when you leave the house, you can actually use their meals, canned food, and dry food to your advantage!
We recommend creating a mixture of kibble, wet food, rehydrated Olewo carrots and a few high-value tidbits such as Dr. Harvey’s freeze-dried treats or Ziwi Peak.
Take this mush and stuff it into a Dane-sized West Paw Wobbler and stick it in the freezer!
Offer this frozen treat to your dog while they are in another room and confined away from you. Practice this daily, so your dog learns that you being in a different room and out of sight is ok!
They will enjoy the wet food as they work to get it out of the stuffed toy, and with practice, they will begin to have positive associations when you are away. You can make this puzzle even more enticing with the addition of canned food, something that many dogs love.
Separation anxiety is unhealthy for Great Danes and can increase their risk of experiencing bloat. Anxiety and stress have strong ties to bloat occurring!
It’s important to take steps to work on it, but it does take time and patience. If your dog won’t eat or work on the puzzle toy during these short practice sessions, lower the criteria. Leave for only 10 seconds, then 45, and so on.
The more time your dog can spend having a positive, no-stress experience with you out of site, the better.
What to give my dog if she is not eating?
The last thing you want to do is to bribe your Great Dane into eating.
A healthy, normal dog will not allow itself to starve to death! Decreased appetite in dogs happens for many reasons and many times the reason is both simple and benign.
It’s important to rule out medical reasons for reduced appetite in dogs such as parasites, pain, foreign objects or cancer, however!
If your Great Dane is not eating because of illness, your veterinarian may be able to offer an appetite stimulant in addition to treatment that will get your pup well again.
Canned food is highly palatable and many dogs experiencing a loss of appetite associated with illness will benefit from it.
Sick dogs need extra support: in this case, your veterinarian will advise you on an appropriate diet for your dog while healing. Dehydration is one of the biggest dangers for dogs that are not eating or drinking water.
You can encourage your Great Dane to drink water by adding a little bone broth or Nulo hydrator to make it more palatable. (Have you ever had a cold where water just didn’t taste good but you could chug orange juice? This happens in dogs, too!).
Cottage cheese, boiled bland chicken and rice, bone-broth, commercially available re-hydrators (such as NULO), hand-feeding, canned food, or a prescription liquid diet may be advised.
However, if you’ve determined that your dog is healthy, there are things you can do to encourage eating that will also benefit overall health!
We recommend the following options as toppers for kibble:
Rehydrated Olewo Carrots
This is the best remedy for loose stools and tummy upset! Not only that, but the added fiber may help reduce bloat risk.
For an adult Dane, measure 2 TBSP of dehydrated pellets and rehydrate in warm water before serving. You can use this mixture as stuffing for food puzzles or toys or as a mix-in or topper for kibble.
Dr. Harvey’s
Dr. Harvey’s food mixes contain dehydrated whole food ingredients such as oats, carrots, spinach, and blueberries. There are several options to choose from and dogs LOVE them!
Rehydrate a scoop with water and serve on top of your dog’s kibble as a way to encourage and entice eating. Remember to keep toppers, especially unbalanced ones to less than 10% of the diet.
Egg – any style!
It’s ok to occasionally offer eggs to your Great Dane. Raw is fine! Most dogs also love receiving a whole shell-on hardboiled egg that they have to open themselves. Scrambled eggs, poached eggs or sunny side up are fine as well, just make sure they are cool before serving.
We recommend offering no more than 1-2 eggs per week to Great Danes, unless part of a fully balanced and appropriately formulated raw diet.
Canned Food
Dogs love canned food. We recommend introducing canned food toppers slowly and using the same brand and formula as your kibble.
For example, an excellent pairing is Purina Pro Plan Large Breed paired with Purina Pro Plan Large Breed canned wet food.
(Note, most wet dog food is not recommended for growing Great Dane puppies, as it may not be formulated correctly for growth, only maintenance.
Always check the label! If you offer canned food to your Great Dane puppy, do so in moderation or look for an appropriate, science-backed formula that is appropriate for the growth of large breed dogs).
What if my dog won’t eat and is acting strange?
If your dog is acting strange, has had a loss of appetite, and seems unwilling to eat, it may be experiencing a medical emergency.
A Great Dane that is acting strange may be stumbling, pacing, foaming, crying, whining, shaking, hiding or unable or unwilling to get up. A dog won’t eat if they are in distress.
BLOAT in Great Danes is life-threatening and unfortunately common. If you see any of the following symptoms, it is imperative that you seek emergency care. This is true EVEN IF your Great Dane has had its stomach tacked!
Attempting to vomit
Pacing, whining, crying, and acting distressed
Distended abdomen
Foaming at the mouth
Excessive drool
Looking at the stomach area
Collapse
A dog may also act strange if they have ingested toxins or poisons, gotten into a fight with other dogs (internal injuries), or if they are in pain and have other symptoms such as shaking, coughing, excessive panting, or seizures.
It’s always worth getting checked out and not ever assuming that your dog’s decreased appetite is related simply to food.
Liver disease, kidney disease, dental disease, and even heart disease can be ‘silent’ before they are deadly.
Some dog owners find it helpful to keep a journal or notebook that documents health from week to week and year to year. This practice will be insanely helpful to your veterinarian, too!
If you notice a decreased appetite in your dog who is otherwise acting normal, start documenting their daily intake of food, treats and water.
You can also take note of body condition, activity levels, and any unusual gain or loss of appetite.
Are you having a problem with a dog not eating, but still unsure if you are doing the right thing or not? We always recommend seeking veterinary care when you aren’t sure about what is going on with your dog.
Bloat in Great Danes is a scary and unfortunately common and life-threatening emergency. Gastropexy (also known as ‘stomach tacking’) is a surgical procedure that may help lower the risk of death associated with bloat. What are the stomach tacking pros and cons?
Today we are sharing our thoughts on gastropexy so you can make an informed decision for your Great Dane!
Photo Credit to Chelsea & Harleigh at @mixedwithout
What is Bloat in Great Danes?
The term bloat is the common phrase for “gastric dilatation and volvulus”. Many people shorten this to ‘GDV’, which we will do throughout this article.
Bloat is a life-threatening condition where a dog’s stomach fills with gas, fluid, or air. Volvulus (AKA “torsion”) is the second (and most dangerous stage) when the bloated stomach flips over on itself.
A Great Dane stomach flip can cut off the blood supply and blood flow to the stomach, and may also result in damage to surrounding organs.
Unfortunately, like many other large and giant breed dogs, Great Danes are prone to bloat and torsion (GDV). Labradors, Boxers, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Doberman Pinschers, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds, and German Shepherds are just some of the deep-chested breeds that may also suffer from GDV.
Bloat is an emergency situation that is largely related to genetics, poor gut health, and poor temperaments.
GDV in Great Dane dogs will often be the cause of a sudden traumatic and painful death. For dogs that survive, stomach damage and damage to the surrounding organs are common complications.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus requires immediate treatment, even if your Great Dane has had a prophylactic gastropexy procedure to prevent twisting.
Unfortunately, you cannot actually prevent GDV, but there are things you can do to minimize the increased risk associated with owning a large or giant breed dog.
What is Gastropexy?
A prophylactic gastropexy (AKA “stomach tacking”) is an elective surgery where your Great Dane’s stomach will be surgically attached to the body wall inside of the abdominal cavity.
This is typically done when a Great Dane is under anesthesia for their spay or neuter surgery.
This elective stomach tacking procedure should, in theory, prevent your Great Dane or other large breed dogs from experiencing torsion.
Prophylactic Gastropexy will not necessarily prevent a dog from developing bloat (this is where the swollen, gas or air-filled stomach pushes against the abdominal wall), but it can help prevent the stomach from leaving it’s normal position if bloat happens.
Gastric dilatation and volvulus is a two-part event that begins with the bloated stomach. Preventative gastropexy aims to reduce the risk of torsion and stomach flipping.
The Different Types of Gastropexy
Prophylactic Gastropexy of ANY type is a medical procedure that requires anesthesia and a healing period of several days. Diligent post-operative care is required.
Science and minor technical modifications in veterinary medicine mean a quicker recovery and better results for any dog who undergoes the procedure.
It is exceptionally important that you choose a veterinary surgeon who is experienced with performing gastropexy procedures!
Your veterinarian may perform gastropexy on your Great Dane in one of three ways:
Laparoscopic Gastropexy
With this method, small incisions are made near the belly button and into the rib cage and the laparoscope is introduced into each to suture the stomach to the abdominal wall.
Endoscopic Gastropexy
With this method, an incision is made near the rib cage, and an endoscope is introduced via the dogs mouth. A needle is passed through and used for identifying the area and then suturing the stomach to the abdominal wall.
Traditional Gastropexy
With a traditional gastropexy, an incision is made near the belly button which allows the veterinarian access to manually suture the stomach.
Talk to your veterinarian about this preventative measure, which may save your dog’s life in the event that you see them developing a swollen stomach and bloat!
Stomach Tacking Pros and Cons
Should I have my Great Danes Stomach Tacked?
While choosing preventative gastropexy is a highly personal decision, we recommend that Great Danes with the following bloat risk factors definitely consider undergoing the procedure and have their stomach tacked:
A family history of bloat or bloat noted in the last 3-5 generations of the pedigree
Great Danes that are anxious, fearful, nervy, excessively ‘protective’ or aggressive
Dogs that eat quickly and scarf food
Dogs that a fed a dry-only diet without any canned, fresh, or raw foods
Danes that have poor gut health and struggle with chronic loose stools
Those that live without extremely fast access to quality emergency veterinary care, 24/7
Want more information on Great Danes and bloat? Check out our bloat myth-busting article below:
It is our belief, overall, that all Great Danes benefit from gastropexy. It is a minimally invasive procedure that can provide life-saving benefits.
Surgical complications of stomach tacking
Gastropexy can be beneficial to all Great Danes, however, it is also a medical procedure involving open surgery to the stomach layers, inside muscle and tissues, large blood vessels, the gastrointestinal tract, and the left or right abdominal wall.
Great Dane Gastropexy Risks
Most dogs experience very few complications, but these risks are important to note with any type of elective medical procedures.
Complications may include damage to the stomach wall or body wall, blood clotting issues, problems related to anesthesia and post-op recovery as well as damage to your dog’s stomach caused by improper surgical technique or error.
Finding an experienced veterinarian is key.
Always do pre-op bloodwork; this extra expense can save your dog’s life. An echocardiogram is also warranted for dogs with any sign of a heart condition.
Additionally, some dogs who experience bloat later in life may still experience torsion; as dog ages, their stomach tack may not hold up as well as it used to.
When considering this procedure, consider the costs associated with emergency surgery (which is typically required for Great Danes that experience bloat).
Recovery Time for Gastropexy in Dogs
Since incisional gastropexy requires sutures and the cutting of healthy tissue in your dog’s abdomen, involved post-operative care is required to prevent infections.
Your dog will need to wear a cone or a surgical suit and be under strict resting, supervision, and limited-movement protocols while in recovery, typically 7-14 days.
Your veterinarian will give you information about caring for the sutures, as well as a green light for when it will be ok to allow your dog to resume normal activity and bath, get wet, play in the mud, run and go for walks.
We recommend a Great Dane surgical suit. You will still need to supervise your dog so that they don’t chew or lick the incision, but this can be a much more comfortable option than a traditional cone.
A typical stomach tacking surgery will run between $400 and $4000!
The cost largely depends on your veterinarian, geographic region, pre-op testing, and the type of procedure that was chosen.
Some insurance companies may cover at least some of the expenses associated with Prophylactic gastropexy, including pre-op bloodwork. They may consider it a preventative procedure that may reduce the costs of emergency surgery and veterinary care when your dog is older.
Ask your veterinarian for a referral to see if a company offers this coverage in your area.
How old should a Great Dane be before stomach tacking surgery?
We recommend talking to your veterinarian, assuming that they are both highly experienced with GIANT breed dogs and have a lot of experience with the gastropexy procedure.
Our personal stance is that it should not be performed on puppies or immature dogs; ideally, you want to wait until 18-24 months of age and have it done at the same time as spay or neuter surgery.
Other ways to help prevent bloat in your Great Dane
Bloat is largely related to genetics, temperament, and gut health. There is no known way to prevent bloat, but there are things you can do to minimize risk.
Choose ethical breeders who actively breed for robust structure, health, and temperament.
Encourage your dog to eat slowly and offer small, frequent meals. A single large meal may actually increase the risk of bloat!
Discourage scarfing, gorging, and interactions or training that cause or increase stress, anxiety, frustration, or aggression.
How can I tell if my Great Dane has a flipped stomach?
It is important to understand the signs of bloat. If you are concerned that your Great Dane may develop GDV, memorize the following symptoms.
A dog that is experiencing GDV may:
Pace, whine, cry or act distressed
Look at their stomach damage noted
Have a distended abdomen
Drool excessively
Pant heavily
Heave and attempt to vomit
As the swollen stomach pushes against the abdominal wall or twists, the dog will eventually collapse
Great Danes and Bloat
We love our Great Danes for so many reasons. Losing one to bloat is devastating and our hearts go out to any owner who lost a dog this way. Do you have more questions about bloat? We’ve included some additional resources for you below!
Dogs may be just as likely to bloat when they are resting as when they are running!
It is often reported that many dogs bloat in the middle of the night and on an empty stomach. As a matter of fact, this was true for most of the dogs that participated in the Tufts University study. They weren’t exercising when bloat happened; they were resting.
That fact should put a lot of doubt into the validity of ‘resting’ as a legitimate ‘preventative’. Just because as a theory it ‘makes sense’, doesn’t mean it’s going to prevent bloat. At all.
Think about this.
If resting after meals actually worked as a reliable preventative, the rate of bloat incidence would be going DOWN in Great Danes, not up.
In the last 30 years, bloat incidence has increased by 1500%.
YIKES..and no, I did not accidentally add a zero. You read 1500% correctly.
HOW TO PREVENT BLOAT
Great Dane owners really hate this discussion. Making dogs rest after meals feels like the right thing to do, and perhaps it is a totally fine thing to do (why take the risk, after all?).
Where it becomes problematic is in the anxiety that it causes Great Dane owners.
Because this is so widely promoted as a ‘preventative’, people get nervous when their dog has a meal. To temper this anxiety, they may strictly limit food intake to once per day.
Tufts University Study: single large meals each day increase the risk of bloat.
Science shows as that smaller, more frequent meals are better for Great Danes.
However, if an owner offers 2-3 meals per day and requires rest for an hour before and after each, the dog may be given fewer opportunities for meaningful enrichment and exercise.
Oh, and they may still bloat anyways.
THE AWFUL TRUTH ABOUT BLOAT IN GREAT DANES
Time and time again we see Great Dane owners lose their dogs to bloat. They say “I did everything right, how did this happen?”, or “my dog was resting, I don’t understand”.
Honestly, that’s the worst part.
This is not to make Great Dane owners feel helpless! It’s meant to shed some light on a real problem that we have in this community where assumptions are being heavily promoted as preventatives.
FACT: They still don’t actually know what triggers bloat. Science so far can only show us what leads to higher and lower risk factors.
The side effect of this is 1000’s of heartbroken Great Dane owners who feel that they did something wrong, when they likely didn’t do anything wrong at all.
SHOULD YOU REST A GREAT DANE TO PREVENT BLOAT?
It’s honestly up to you. As above, there is nothing inherently wrong with it so long as you don’t take it too far.
Great Danes benefit from daily enrichment, exercise and training. Too much ‘rest’ or crate time isn’t necessarily the answer; we believe that there are other more impactful ways to minimize bloat risk. You can click on the links below to learn more about bloat.
Avoid foods with fat in the first four ingredients.
Use puzzle feeders to encourage slow eating.
If choosing elevated feeders, keep them on the lower side of things.
Add fresh food toppers and fiber to the diet. We like balanced raw food, Dr. Harvey’s and Olewo Carrots. Make sure the diet is balanced as a whole!
Do not encourage resource guarding by hovering, messing with food or taking food away. Prevent resource guarding by not making it a problem in the first place.
Feed multiple smaller meals, not one large meal.
Use modern positive reinforcement and humane, thoughtful balanced training methods, not aversive training (alpha rolls, hitting, intimidation, etc.) or alpha/dominance (debunked) that have been proven to lead to increased stress, aggression, fear and frustration.
Address anxiety, stress and aggression with a highly qualified humane trainer.
Address gut health issues by seeking veterinary care, adding probiotics and finding a diet that is appropriate for your dog.
Choose ethical breeders that are 1000% dedicated to the pedigree, health, structure & temperament, and prove it with papers, titles, activities and practices. Be part of the movement that no longer supports puppy mills, backyard breeders or ‘friendly backyard breeder’ unethical breeding practices.
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.
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