Do you think your Great Dane might be overweight, or did the vet just tell you that you have a chubby Great Dane on your hands? Do not feel bad; you are a long way from the only one who has a heavy dog.
In reality, 60% of all dogs are overweight, so you are not alone! As a giant breed, bearing extra weight will cause needless wear and tear on your Great Dane’s body and contribute to other conditions of health. So, you must recognize and fix their weight before it gets bigger and bigger!
Contents
- 1 Common signs of fat Great Danes
- 2 Gastric dilation syndrome
- 3 What are the fat requirements of a Great Dane?
- 4 Medical reasons why a Great Dane might be overweight
- 5 How to tell that the Great Dane is overweight
- 6 How much do Great Danes weigh
- 7 Ideal Dog Food for Great Danes
- 8 Special Diet Considerations for Great Danes
- 9 Feed the dog enough protein, calcium, and phosphorous
- 10 What calories should my fat Great Dane eat each day?
- 11 Final reflections on Great Dane weight
- 12 Can Great Danes get fat?
- 13 Should Great Danes be skinny?
- 14 Do Great Danes have big poops?
- 15 What dog food is best for Great Danes?
- 16 Final Thoughts
Common signs of fat Great Danes
There are some indications that you will find in an overweight Great Dane. Before rushing into the store after seeing the puppies for sale sign, make sure you have enough information about them and other nutritional know-how.
Here are the five most common indications that might mean that you have a fat Great Dane. You may need to consider doing more to help them lose weight!
1. They weigh more than they do naturally
This is the most straightforward way to know whether the Great Dane is overweight. The vets will measure your dog any time you take them to your clinic.
However, bear in mind that this would not function with the puppies while they grow up and weigh up to 2 or 3 years of age. When their weight continues to settle as an adult, this is the starting point that you can use as an indicator to go on.
You should track the weight to see if your doggy is overweight or if it is staying at the perfect weight for its breed. Naturally, a typical adult male Great Dane weighs between 140 and 170 pounds, while a female’s weight can be between 110 and 140 pounds.
If your dog weighs more than that, it will need to shed a couple of pounds!
However, there are exceptions, much like humans. There will be some fantastic Danes that are bigger (and heavier) than others. They can fall beyond their “normal” ranges and yet be deemed safe.
That takes out the second way to judge their weight!
2. You can not feel the ribs
While you are petting a Great Dane, you should be able to comfortably feel its ribs. Otherwise, they are overweight and you might not see them.
Softly run your palms along the side of the doggy’s stomach. You will not need to dig hard to feel their ribs. If it’s already overweight Great Dane, you have to push hard to feel the ribs, or maybe you can not feel them at all.
This easy method helps you better assess the perfect healthy weight for your Great Dane.
3. The waistline is not visible
Like humans, Great Danes are expected to have a pretty waist that you can see!
If you stand and look at the dog from above, you will note that its belly is likely to fall right below the ribs. Again, by looking while lying down on the ground, you can also find that there is a slope up from their chests to their hips. And, this is a major indication of an obese Great Dane.
In other words, if their bodyline is straight from the chest to the hip, the Great Dane is likely to be overweight.
4. Heavy breathing in regular exercise
When the dog goes out for a stroll, they are expected to pant a bit. But if they come back home exhausted, there is a chance that they are overweight! This additional coating of fat that your dog has to carry around can make it difficult for him to breathe.
Fat does not only grow under the skin but can also develop around the lungs and inside. Great Dane fat can clot in the blood too.
When you find the dog starts heavy breathing or panting more than usual while walking around the building, it is surely overweight.
So how to get rid of the extra fats?
Well, the easiest method is regular exercise.
Exercise is a healthy way for them to shed excess pounds. Be cautious, go gently with overweight pets.
However, leaping back into strenuous activity will trigger further health complications in your Great Dane. Make sure you start with a low-intensity workout like walking. Keep walking for a short distance at the beginning, and then steadily raise the time, pace, and distance.
When your dog appears to be experiencing respiratory difficulties, it is a smart decision to take the dog to the vet. They might have other medical conditions besides obesity.
5. Pendule abdomen
Whether the Great Dane has a swinging belly or fat pads on its hips, this is another symptom of excessive weight. And by running your hand over its lower body, you can feel that extra fat.
Gastric dilation syndrome
Not all the swinging belly grows from extra fat. A Great Dane might have gastric dilation syndrome. In a gastric-dilation-volvulus syndrome, the stomach is massively distended with gas and fluid and can spin around its axis by 180 or 360 degrees, such that, among other problems, the blood flow is cut off. It is an uncomfortable condition, and if it is not treated successfully, it can lead the dog to death within hours. It is a common disease in Great Danes; it is reported that 13 percent die of it. It tends to be the product of a large-scale collection and a deep-set conformation.
What are the fat requirements of a Great Dane?
Perhaps your Great Dane does not have a perfect weight, and they ought to lose a few pounds.
The doggy can be vulnerable to certain health conditions such as asthma, knee complications, arthritis, and cardiac failure from being overweight. This will leave your dog with a shorter life and more medical issues to cope with.
Although over-feeding is a common reason for being overweight, other medical problems could contribute to it as well.
Medical reasons why a Great Dane might be overweight
Some medical problems can make it impossible for your Great Dane to lose weight. If you are going to start a weight reduction schedule, you must talk to a professional vet.
They will conduct blood tests to get the exact reason behind the obesity. Based on the causes, they will advise you about the health plan that can be applied to the pet to lose its excess weight.
Diseases like Cushing’s Hypothyroid Disease will make things worse for your dog when losing weight. Great Danes usually suffer from disease or overeating.
Managing the usual illnesses would cause your dog to sleep better and have more stamina.
How to tell that the Great Dane is overweight
On many occasions, if you are asking if your Great Dane is overweight, the answer is YES.
The best way to achieve this is to maintain a chart of the weight every time they go to the vet. By continuing with regular data, you will find out if their weight is within the healthy ranges.
How much do Great Danes weigh
Great Danes’ average weight should be around 140 to 170 lbs. Here is a chart that will give you a rough idea of their weight at different ages.
Great Dane weight chart (by age)
| Age of Great Danes | Weight of Great Danes (lbs) | Height of Great Danes (Inches) |
| During Birth | 1 – 2 lbs | Not available |
| 1 Week | 2 – 3 lbs | Not available |
| 2 Weeks | 3 – 5 lbs | Not available |
| 3 Weeks | 4 – 7 lbs | Not available |
| 1 Month | 5 – 8 lbs | Not available |
| 2 Months | 15 – 30 lbs | 13 – 18 inches |
| 3 Months | 25 – 38 lbs | 17 – 23 inches |
| 4 Months | 48 – 57 lbs | 20 – 25 inches |
| 5 Months | 62 – 72 lbs | 24 – 30 inches |
| 6 Months | 75 – 85 lbs | 26 – 33 inches |
| 7 Months | 82 – 92 lbs | 27 – 34 inches |
| 8 Months | 86 – 100 lbs | 28 – 34 inches |
| 9 Months | 90 – 110 lbs | 28 – 35 inches |
| 1 Year | 100 – 120 lbs | 29 – 36 inches |
Male & female Great Dane comparative weight chart
| Gender of Great Danes | Weight of Great Danes (lbs) | Height of Great Danes (inches) |
| Male Dog | 140 – 170 lbs | 32 – 36 inches |
| Female Dog | 110 – 140 lbs | 29 – 33 inches |
Your vet will even help you decide whether your Dane is overweight. They will also give you a fair indication of the correct weight for your cat. You can check this video to see whether your dog is overweight or not.
Ideal Dog Food for Great Danes
Cut the Amount of Food: While you decrease the quantity of food you feed your canine by 25%, it helps the dog lose weight. However, first, be sure the vet runs the weight loss strategy and ensures it is not too extreme. Decreased weight, particularly if you are not attempting to get your dog to lose weight, may contribute to some diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure, and even cancer.
Increase Exercise: You can quickly assist with weight control by getting the Great Dane for a long stroll. Increase the workout period by 5 minutes every week. You may also adjust the walks for a climb or enjoy an hour in a dog park. Ample levels of training will quickly help your doggo lose a few extra pounds.
A perfect way to monitor their degree of operation is by using a GPS cap. It accomplishes a wonderful job of monitoring and showing the pet’s behavior level. So you know when they are slipping behind schedule. Plus, it has an incredible battery life; you do not need to charge it every week.
Special Diet Considerations for Great Danes
You should put your Great Dane on a weight-loss diet. These foods are lower in calories but higher in fiber. The higher fiber content can allow your dog to feel complete without adding calories.
There is also a prescribed dog diet for food. Many of the famous pet food brands are manufacturing low-calorie dog foods designed to help the Great Danes lose weight. Make sure you follow our next advice before you leap straight into this choice.
Feed the dog enough protein, calcium, and phosphorous
Speak to your doctor or vet before beginning a rigorous diet and exercise schedule. They might have tips and strategies to help your dog lose weight as well as look for any problems that could keep it from losing weight. Diseases such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease make it painful for the dog to lose weight.
What calories should my fat Great Dane eat each day?
The calories that a Great Dane has to ingest every day to sustain a healthy weight are much fewer than compared to human weight.
The typical 100-pound adult Great Dane would require between 2,000 to 3,000 calories a day. However, these figures are not constant and can vary by the dog’s maturity, exercise level, and metabolism.
A professional vet can determine how much you need to feed your dog every day to keep them fit and healthy.
Final reflections on Great Dane weight
When your Great Dane is overweight, the first thing you can do is speak to the doctor and make sure it is not related to a medical condition. They usually suffer from disorders.
Once your vet has done the inspections and advised you on the goal weight to achieve, you should start the weight loss program. By following the proper diet, applying the right medication, and doing regular workouts, you can help your Great Dane lose extra weight and keep fit.
Obese Great Danes are not healthy. The excess weight is nothing good, it only adds life-long complications and probably shortens their life expectancy. Keeping the dogs fit is the secret to ensuring they remain well.
Can Great Danes get fat?
Great Danes might get overweight. They are never going to get as round as a Dachshund would, but they can certainly have a lot of fat, especially elderly Danes who are not as active as they used to be. It always fed the same amount. Fatty Great Danes are disease-prone and lethargic.
Should Great Danes be skinny?
The Great Danes have a slim but muscular body. It is critical for long-term well-being if they are not overweight and to avoid orthopedic complications. Of course, some of the Great Danes would naturally have more muscle mass than others, yet these Danes can still stay reasonably slim.
Do Great Danes have big poops?
You might fairly expect a human-sized dog to take a human-sized poop. Although the Great Dane is pooping like a horse, two to four times a day.
What dog food is best for Great Danes?
The only thing you can do with a big breed like your Dane is to position them exclusively on high-quality, high-protein dog food.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to keep a close eye on your Great Danes to ensure they maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can lead to different health problems, including joint pain, heart issues, etc. A shorter lifespan might be always common for an overweight, fat dog.
Monitor their diet and exercise to help them stay fit and happy. Don’t miss the regular visit to your vet as they can guide their weight and overall health. Remember, the combination of a balanced and nutritious diet, along with regular exercise, is the key to keeping your Great Danes in healthy weight and great shape.