New here and looking for advise.

[shelly556]

Hello,

My name is Michelle. I currently have a household of pets; three dogs, three cats, a ferret, a lizard, and a snake. I have wanted a Great Dane as long as I can remember but the timing was never quite right, and I never did any reserch. So here I am, ready to learn all I can. So maybe in a few years when my older pets have passed on I may consider a Dane. First things first, I have heard horror stories about bloat. How common is it? Can you prevent it? And if you are new to the breed, how easy is it to see the signs. I don't want to get a dog and then do something wrong. Next, I know that big dogs can have hip problems and that this can be tested for. I'm just not sure if the "mom" and "dad" score okay does this mean that the puppies will test okay also?

Thanks for any help,
Shell

[oneilltv]

> First things first, I have heard horror stories
>about bloat. How common is it? Can you prevent it? And if
>you are new to the breed, how easy is it to see the signs.
>I don't want to get a dog and then do something wrong.

It CAN happen as w/ any large breed. If either of the parents ( or any history in the pedigree)have died young, that's a flag, not a definate. You can help to prevent it from happening. Raised bowls, no excersize 30 minutes before or 2 hours after eating. Good quality kibble (or raw fed) that doesn't expand too much when wet is a good indicater of good food.
and the signs are heavy panting w/ pacing, unable to get comfortable laying down, and you can see their abdomin expanding ( filling w/ air). If you were to see this happen you can possibly save them if you get them to a vet. there is also gastroplexy which is surgery that ties their stomach to the rib cage to prevent torsion( twisting of the stomach) which is the actual killer.
It's not SO common ( ifeel) that it should prevent yopu from getting a dane.


>Next, I know that big dogs can have hip problems and that
>this can be tested for. I'm just not sure if the "mom" and
>"dad" score okay does this mean that the puppies will test
>okay also?

Yes it helps but just as 2 normal healthy adults can have a baby w/ abnormalities, or down syndrom etc... it's not ever a gaurantee. But again it does help to ease the mind if both parents and the rest of lineage has good history.

Hope this helps!
>


Veronica
http://photos.yahoo.com/tloneill69mom

[Ellen]

Hope this site helps...its one of my favs.


http://www.great-danes.org/danecare.shtml

[PeverettandPhoenix]

Good post Veronica, but I wanted to add one more sign of bloat that I have never seen anyone else talk about but happened to my Phoenix. I gave her some soft-serve ice cream, and about 2.5 hours later she started breathing very quickly. There were no other signs that she was having problems, she could move around fine, didn't seem uncomfortable or anything, she was just breathing quickly. I called my friend (who happens to be a vet :) ) and she told me to meet her at the ER. Phoenix had bloated, but there was no torsion (thank god), but if I hadn't thought anything of that breathing, she might have.
I don't think that bloat should be a deterrent to the breed, you just need to be a little more diligent in knowing your dogs behavior. And there's nothing about soft-serve ice cream, Peverett can eat it with no problems :+ . I think Phoenix may be lactose intolerant.

[Pauline301]

Hi and Welcome to DOL:

Here are some other sites you might want to check out:

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles.htm
http://www.ginnie.com/DaDane.htm
http://www.doglogic.com/bloat.htm
http://www.seanet.com/~gtate/bloatbk/bloat.htm

Linda, Dave, Jesse, and Kitties, Cassie, Pekoe and Emma

http://sites.centralpets.com/mammals/yuccabean/personal.html

[shelly556]

Hello and thanks for the info. and web links. I was looking one link and checking out some things on there. I noticed that they have a lot requirements for purchasing one of her puppies, like you have to feed them what they tell you to feed them. I feel that this is good but only because I'm new to the breed, and would need the extra help. But if it was a breed I knew well, I don't know if I would follow it. I know it all comes down to that it is my choice in breeders, but is it good to have someone telling you how you have to do it? It may be better. No?

Shell

[danemaybe]

so i guess it is possible for a dog to bloat HOURS after eating????

[shelly556]

Which message are you replying to? #1 maybe?:-)

[Aggie]

Danes have very specific nutritionally requirements and with the added risk of bloat, any caring concerned breeder is going to have feeding requirements.
Don't look at it as a stranger trying to tell you what to do, look at it as an expert telling you what is best.
Sad truth is that many a first time dane puppy buyer thinks that by virtue of their birth they know more about the care of a dane puppy than a breeder who has been in the breed for decades.

If you have a specific preference of food that is not what the breeder is feeding, ask them. Maybe its just as good. Maybe its awful.

Sorry if I sound very passionate on the subject, but I have met an individual who got a pup from my breeder, thought he knew better than the breeder did on feeding and care, then the dog bloated at 5 and the man had all sorts of gripes about the breeder not repacing the dog and not supporting him after he plainly did not follow the feeding contract which we have all signed. This man has a byb baby now that he plans on breeding, and every day I hope that the dog is sterile and that he never gets another. ;-)

[danemaybe]

sorry...#3 actually

[PeverettandPhoenix]

Yes, it was at least 2.5 hours, if not closer to 3 that she bloated. I have heard many people say that they fed their dane at 7 at night only to wake up in the AM to a bloating Dane. I think bloat is so scary because you don't know the why's and the when's of it.

By the way, we were looking for you Saturday at Wilmington, but we did not have any cute dane puppies visit us...did the weather keep you away?:)

[danemaybe]

HEY....i thought it was september 16?!?!?!?!

and i have been waiting for september just for that reason. ;8

[dedane24]

Sad to say that there were no dane puppies.. But Pev & Phoenix made up for it.. They are great!!!
I know these are the ones I will be doing from now on.
be warned I dont have a dane (yet) either so I will spoil all that come!!)

PetCo in Newark, DE - 1st Saturday, 12-3 pm
PetsMart in Wilmington, DE - 3rd Saturday, 12-3 pm
there are some other in PA if you want to visit the website
http://www.padanerescue.com/events/events.htm

Are you coming to the walk??
Thanks
Nikki