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Great Danes are large, loyal, and sociable dogs that can defend their territory and family members when necessary.
They stand out in a throng of dogs because they look so distinct from the other breeds.
However, we are not here to discuss why they have such a unique body; rather, we want to know why some great danes are much thinner than others.
If you suspect your Great Dane is underweight, this post may assist you in determining the cause of his underweight.
Let’s get this started!
Great Danes are not as hefty or thick as the English mastiff or the Bullmastiff, and they tend to be slender; thus, it is conceivable that your great is fine and free of diseases, and you are just thinking too much.
The simplest approach to determining whether your great-dane is normal is to take note of his weight.
A fully developed male Great Dane should weigh between 140 and 175 pounds, or 64 and 80 kilograms.
While female Great Danes should weigh between 110 and 140 pounds (50 and 64 kilograms).
(Great Danes are considered fully grown between 18 and 24 months of age)
Check your Great Dane’s weight to find out. If the gap is significant, say your fully grown male Great Dane weighs just 110 pounds, there may be an issue.
However, if he weighs between 140 and 175 pounds, he is fine and not underweight.
We will examine what could be the cause of your great danes’ low weight further down.
Great Danes are often nice dogs who respond to their owners’ commands and do not have picky eating habits, but not all Great Danes are the same.
Some Great Danes develop a picky feeding habit at a young age.
If your great dane refuses to eat things that most dogs eat without complaint, you should take action since picky eating can limit calorie intake, causing your great dane to become underweight.
You may be wondering how a tooth problem might lead to a loss of weight; well, it can. Poor dental health can limit your dog’s food options, and issues like tooth pain can make it difficult for your dog to chew and eat dry food, resulting in a lower calorie intake.
Examine your dane’s dental condition to discover if there are any cavities or broken teeth. If you notice anything unusual, call a veterinarian.
This one is self-evident: if your Great Dane does not receive a high-nutritional diet, he will be skinnier than other Great Danes.
Puppies of Great Danes, in particular, require a high-protein diet to reach their full potential. Failure to provide a high protein and nutrient-rich diet will result in inadequate bone and muscle growth, and the great dane will eventually appear frail.
If your great dane is still a puppy, review the nutrition recommendations for developing great dane puppies and make any necessary adjustments.
If your great dane is already an adult, you can still change their food to make them bulkier.
There are several fantastic wet and dry foods on the market that may be beneficial. However, keep in mind not to overfeed and to avoid high sugar foods.
Stress and anxiety are not only detrimental for your great dane’s emotional health, but also to his physical health.
Low playtime and exercise for your Great Dane can lead to tension, anxiety, and destructive behavior.
To feel good, great danes require cerebral stimulation as well as physical exercise. Sometimes when owners have a great dane, they entirely forget about their dog due to their work, which causes their great dane to become lonely.
Take some time out of your hectic schedule to pamper your great dane, as he relies on you to feel good and combat separation anxiety.
A great dane will lose a significant amount of weight if he has a serious illness. Abrupt weight loss can result from chronic illnesses like Parvo, cancer, or organ failure.
You need a veterinarian in this case to monitor your Dane’s health.
Unfortunately, under these kinds of circumstances, there is nothing that can be done to stop weight loss. Unless the illness is totally eradicated, gaining weight is challenging.
Worm infestations such as hookworms or tapeworms can cause a dog’s weight to drop.
These parasites are extremely dangerous to your dog because they interfere with the digestive system, causing weight loss despite regular or even increased food consumption.
If your dog is suffering from this condition, you may notice not only weight loss but also inflammation, anemia, diarrhea, weakness, and dehydration.
If you notice any of the symptoms listed above in your Great Dane, see a doctor right away.
Diabetic dogs may lose weight despite increased appetite. Diabetes mostly happens to dogs who are obese or who don’t exercise much.
As your great dane isn’t obese, there is a low possibility that he has diabetes, but as diabetes can be the reason behind weight loss, we cannot totally neglect it.
Finding out whether or not your Great Dane has diabetes can be hard. It’s recommended to visit a vet in this case, as a vet can do a proper test.
Perhaps your great dane is allergic to specific foods and you are unaware of it. Food allergies can cause gastrointestinal pain, reducing your great danes food intake.
Great Danes are not built for rigorous exercise routines; in fact, they just need to walk for 40 minutes a day.
However, overtraining your great dane can prevent them from gaining weight.
Increased exercise increases calorie burn.
Steer clear of over-exercising your Dane since this could lead to joint problems in addition to making him even thinner.
Older great danes have a reduced metabolism as well as dental issues. The appetite to eat begins to wane with age, so if your Great Dane is old, he may not be in the 140 to 175 pound range.
However, seeing a veterinarian is critical because a veterinarian can determine whether the low weight is due to age or other issues.
It is always crucial to purchase a dog from a reputable breeder. Many people purchase dogs from unknown breeders in order to save money, but they later come to regret their decision.
Some dog breeders only care about making money; they don’t give a damn about the health of their dogs.
EPI, or Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, is a rare condition in dogs. If your Great Dane continues to lose weight while eating a lot, he may be suffering from it.
The pancreas fails to produce enough digestive enzymes in this illness, resulting in inadequate nutrient absorption and weight loss.
A fully developed, healthy great dane should weigh between 140 and 175 pounds; if he isn’t in that range, there may be a problem.
Low body weight is primarily caused by illnesses, excessive exercise, anxiety, and behavioral problems.
I hope you liked this post.
Thanks for reading!
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