Quick Links: Table of Contents
- How Long Great Danes Live. Great Dane Life Expectancy
- Lifespan of the Great Dane Compared to Other Dog Breeds
- Common Causes of Death in Great Dane, and how to Prevent Them.
- How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Great Danes
- How Old is Your Great Dane in Human Years
- How Long Do Great Danes Live in Human Years?
- More Ways to Make Your Great Dane Live Long
- Conclusion on Great Dane Life Expectancy
How Long Great Danes Live. Great Dane Life Expectancy
Generally, the lifespan of the Great Dane is from 7 to 10 years.
Moreover, a few years back, British Veterinarinan researchers performed a scientific study to determine the lifespan of the Great Dane. In this study, the scientists collected data on how long 171 pet Great Danes lived.
From the study, it was found that Great Danes have a average lifespan of 6.5 years. Furthermore, the study found that Great Danes can live for as long as 14.1 years.
Furthermore, researchers from the University of Georgia conducted a study to find out what are the top causes of death in Great Danes.
According to the study, the top 5 causes of death in Great Danes are:
- Gastrointestinal Disease: Any problems that affect the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, or rectum.
- Neoplastic Disease: Issues involving tumors
- Musculoskeletal Disease: Refers to any problems with bones or muscles
- Cardiovascular Disease: Encompasses heart problems, blood pressure issues, and bleeding/clotting problems. CV issues may also be related to lung and/or breathing problems.
- Neurologic Disease: Refers to problems with the brain, nerves, and spinal cord.
In this article, we will explain each of these diseases and discuss how to prevent the early occurence of each in your Great Dane to make your Great Dane live a longer.
Also, in this article, we will discuss other things you can do to ensure that your Great Dane have a longer than average lifespan.
Do you want to know how old your Great Dane is in human years? Then, check out our Great Dane age to human years calculator
Lifespan of the Great Dane Compared to Other Dog Breeds
See in the table below how the lifespan of the Great Dane compares to the lifespan of other dog breeds.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Lakeland Terrier Lifespan | 15.40 |
| Toy Poodle Lifespan | 14.60 |
| Norwegian Elkhound Lifespan | 13.10 |
| Papillon Lifespan | 13.00 |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel Lifespan | 12.50 |
| Japanese Spitz Lifespan | 12.20 |
| Tibetan Terrier Lifespan | 12.10 |
| Afghan Hound Lifespan | 11.90 |
| Irish Red & White Setter Lifespan | 11.40 |
| Basset Hound Lifespan | 11.20 |
| Sussex Spaniel Lifespan | 11.10 |
| Old English Sheepdog Lifespan | 10.70 |
| Chinese Crested Lifespan | 10.00 |
| German Wirehaired Pointer Lifespan | 10.00 |
| Akita Lifespan | 9.92 |
| Wirehaired Vizsla Lifespan | 9.83 |
| Greyhound Lifespan | 9.08 |
| Great Dane Lifespan | 6.50 |
| Miniature Bull Terrier Lifespan | 6.08 |
| Neapolitan Mastiff Lifespan | 2.33 |
Common Causes of Death in Great Dane, and how to Prevent Them.
We will now discuss the common causes of death in Great Dane, according to scientific research. Also we will provide you advice on how to prevent these problems in your Great Dane.
Here are the causes of death, starting from the most common cause
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Gastrointestinal Disease in Great Danes
Gastrointestinal diseases includes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, stomach upset, blockages, toothache, constipation, and more.
Gastrointestinal Disease is responsible for 25.6 percent of all deaths in Great Danes.
Causes of Gastrointestinal Disease in Great Dane
GI problems can be caused by a lot of different things. Often, GI problems like vomiting and diarrhea are caused by things that were eaten. It is best not to let your Great Dane eat human food or anything it finds outside, including garbage, plants and berries, fecal matter from other animals, and more. Vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset can also be caused by bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Another important sign of GI problems is when your Great Dane stops eating or eats less than usual. This can be caused by many things; sometimes it could be that your Great Dane is feeling nauseous, sometimes it could be that your Great Dane has mouth pain, and more. In these cases, it is best to see a veterinarian to get to the root of the problem.
How to Prevent Gastrointestinal Disease in Great Danes
An easy way to protect your dog from gastrointestinal problems is to make sure they are on heartworm, flea, and tick medicine all year long (no matter where you live). Many heartworm medications can also de-worm your dog every time you give a dose. This can prevent nasty parasites from settling into your dog`s intestines and causing pain, anemia, and other serious issues. Another way you can keep your dog feeling good is by taking good care of their teeth! This is especially an issue in small dogs. The best way to care for dog teeth is by cleaning them a few times a week. Here is a great brush for cleaning your Great Dane`s teeth. However, if your dog will not allow you to do that, dental treats like these are a good second option.
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Neoplastic Disease in Great Danes
Neoplasms, or tumors, can be benign (like a lipoma), or malignant (cancer).
Neoplastic Disease is responsible for 22.8 percent of all deaths in Great Danes.
Causes of Neoplastic Disease in Great Dane
Neoplasms in dogs, just like in people, are caused by either a genetic predisposition (like some breast cancers), an environmental factor (like smoking in humans), or a combination of both.
How to Prevent Neoplastic Disease in Great Danes
Just like in humans, there is little you can do to prevent cancers that are caused by genetic factors. You can, however, reduce the environmental risks that are associated with cancer. The `environmental` causes of neoplasia are chemical agents, infectious agents, and physical agents. An example of a chemical agent that could cause cancer in Great Danes (and humans) is asbestos. An example of an infectious agent that could cause cancer in Great Danes is the virus called canine adenovirus. An example of a physical agent that can cause cancer in Great Danes is UV radiation from the sun, just like in humans.
Another way to prevent neoplasms in Great Danes is to vaccinate them against harmful viruses, such as canine adenovirus (DHPP vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks and then once a year, every year). As in humans, early diagnosis is the key to supporting Great Danes with neoplasms, so talk to your veterinarian if you find any new lumps, bumps, or discoloration on your Great Dane. You should also talk to your veterinarian if your Great Dane`s gums look pale.
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Musculoskeletal Disease in Great Danes
Musculoskeletal diseases are the common problems associated with bones and muscles. These include arthritis, vertebral issues, loss of skeletal muscle mass, hip dysplasia, trauma and breakages, and more.
Musculoskeletal Disease is responsible for 21.7 percent of all deaths in Great Danes.
Causes of Musculoskeletal Disease in Great Dane
The causes of many musculoskeletal issues have to do with age, breed, and weight. Older Great Danes are more prone to musculoskeletal issues, as are large breed dogs, and overweight dogs. Just like people, Great Danes can get arthritis and other joint-related issues as they get older. Large-breed dogs tend to be prone to a condition called hip dysplasia, which essentially means that their hip joints degrade and get very painful. Overweight dogs tend to put more pressure on their joints, which can cause unnecessary wear and tear as well as serious damage to tendons and ligaments.
How to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disease in Great Danes
One way that you can help improve your Great Dane`s musculoskeletal health (especially if they are old is by giving your Great Dane joint supplements like this one. You can also help prevent hip dysplasia and slipped discs by not allowing your Great Dane to jump too much, even if they are a puppy. Consider buying young Great Danes a box or stool like this to help them get on the couch or bed, instead of letting them jump all the way from the ground. The most important way that you can keep your Great Dane`s muscles and bones healthy is by not letting them get overweight. You should avoid letting your Great Dane eat table scraps and make sure that they get plenty of exercise. If your Great Dane is overweight and you know that you are strict with their diet and exercise, you should talk to your vet; they might have hypothyroidism, which is very common. If your Great Dane is overweight and you think you should try managing their diet a little more closely, you can start your Great Dane on a weight-management diet like this to help them get back to a healthier body condition.
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Cardiovascular Disease in Great Danes
Cardiac problems may include valvular and vascular disorders, which ultimately lead to the heart`s inability to pump oxygen-rich blood to tissues. Cardiac issues can be acute or chronic, and can lead to progressive heart failure or sudden death.
Cardiovascular Disease is responsible for 12.4 percent of all deaths in Great Danes.
Causes of Cardiovascular Disease in Great Dane
Heart disease in Great Danes may be caused by genetic (inherited) factors, lack of exercise, and poor diet. Heart disease can also be caused by infections such as bacteria (endocarditis, myocarditis, and more) as well as viruses, fungi, and parasites (heartworm).
How to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Great Danes
You can prevent heart problems in your Great Dane by exercising your Great Dane regularly and feeding your Great Dane a good diet. Heartworm, which causes heart problems, is also very easily avoided by using preventatives. Giving your dog the following supplements can help prevent heart diseases. Here is a good supplement that can prevent heart problems in your Great Dane. The supplement is not only good for your Great Dane`s heart, but it is also good for your Great Dane`s overall health.
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Neurologic Disease in Great Danes
These problems include canine cognitive disfunction, dementia, stroke, Lyme disease, and more.
Neurologic Disease is responsible for 9.4 percent of all deaths in Great Danes.
Causes of Neurologic Disease in Great Dane
Neurological issues can be caused by vascular disease, inflammatory disease, infectious disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and developmental disorders.
How to Prevent Neurologic Disease in Great Danes
Some neurological problems can be caused by infectious agents, like Lyme disease. You should always get your dog vaccinated with the course recommended by your veterinarian.
How To Prevent Genetic Problems in Great Danes
Every dog breed has a set of genetic problems to which it is predisposed, and the Great Dane is not an exception.
These disease will reduce your Great Dane`s qualilty of life. Also, these diseases can shorten your Great Dane`s lifespan.
The good news is that these diseases can be prevented in Great Dane offsprings by only breeding Great Dane that have been screened and cleared of genetic defects.
The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is one the organizations that keep records of which disease to which a dog breed is genetically prone.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Great Dane puppy that will grow up to be healthy and live long, make sure that your Great Dane breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
If you do not know if your Great Dane has been screened for genetic health problems, then your can use an at-home genetic screening kit like this one to check your Great Dane for genetic health problems at home. This might help you in deciding whether to get your Great Dane a pet health insurance.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Great Danes for:
How Old is Your Great Dane in Human Years
The table below shows your human years equivalent age of your Great Dane. This table is based on a dog-to-human age study conducted by researchers from Purdue University.
Learn more about how old your Great Dane is in human years here.
In 1997, researchers from Purdue University developed a method for converting a dog`s age to its human age. Their method was based on the 1953 work of the French Veterinarian, A. Lebeau that we discussed above.
Researchers from Purdue University took Lebeau`s work further by taking into account two important factors to develop a more accurate method for converting a dog`s age into its human equivalent age:
- The size of the dog: Smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breed dogs
- The lifespan of the dog: Dog breeds that live longer lives will age slower than dog breeds that live shorter lives
The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 6.5 years.
Great Danes are giant-sized dogs. Great Danes weigh 100 to 200 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of Great Dane in converting Great Dane age to human age.
The researchers used data on the lifespan and weight of 5,608 mixed breed dogs and 17,927 purebred dogs to develop their method for converting the ages of dogs (of different breed sizes and lifespans ) to their equivalent human ages.
The calculator below lets you convert your Great Dane`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your Great Dane`s age in the calculator and it will compute your Great Dane`s human age. If you do not know your Great Dane`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your Great Dane is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your Great Dane`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your Great Dane`s up-to-date human age.
Great Dane Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a Great Dane age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your Great Dane`s human age based on your Great Dane`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your Great Dane`s human birthday! Try it out!
| Great Dane Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 20 |
| 2 | 26 |
| 3 | 31 |
| 4 | 37 |
| 5 | 42 |
| 6 | 47 |
| 7 | 51 |
| 8 | 56 |
| 9 | 61 |
| 10 | 66 |
| 11 | 71 |
| 12 | 77 |
| 13 | 83 |
| 14 | 89 |
| 15 | 96 |
| 16 | 103 |
How Long Do Great Danes Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 6.5 years. In human years, the Great Dane lives for 49 years.
How Old is 1-year-old Great Dane in Human Years?
A 1-year old Great Dane is 20 years old in human years.
How Old is 2-year-old Great Dane in Human Years?
A 2-year old Great Dane is 26 years old in human years.
How Old is 3-year-old Great Dane in Human Years?
A 3-year old Great Dane is 31 years old in human years.
How Old is 5-year-old Great Dane in Human Years?
A 5-year old Great Dane is 42 years old in human years.
More Ways to Make Your Great Dane Live Long
Here are more things your can do to make sure your Great Dane live a long life:
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Regular Exercise: Research studies have shown that one of the very effective ways to make a dog live long is to ensure that a dog is in good shape. Adequate exercise will make your Great Dane fit and make it live longer.
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Good Diet: A poorly-fed, underweight Great Dane does not have a good chance of living a long life. Similarly, an overweight Great Dane will have a shorter lifespan than a Great Dane that is of normal weight. Therefore, it is important that your feed your Great Dane high-quality dog food without overfeeding your Great Dane. Check out our Great Dane feeding guide here. Learn how you can prevent your Great Dane from being overweight here.
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Proper Hydration: Water is essential for your Great Dane existence. Therefore, you should make sure your Great Dane has access to clean water whenever your Great Dane needs water. However, too much water is bad for your Great Dane. See our Great Dane water drinking guide to learn more on how to properly hydrate your Great Dane.
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Spaying/Neutering: Sterilizing your Great Dane might prolong its life. Check out this guideline to know when it is the best time to spay/neuter your Great Dane.
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Routine Vet Care: Regular preventative visits to the vet can help catch diseases early.
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Vaccinations: Always make sure your Great Dane is up to date on its vaccination.
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Dental Hygiene: Your Great Dane’s teeth can get infected, and if the infection goes unnoticed, that infection can spread to other parts of the body and become systemic. This could lead to a shortened lifespan. You must have your Great Dane teeth cleaned professionally at your vet’s office a couple of times in its lifetime. Talk with your vet about the best ages to have these cleanings done.
Conclusion on Great Dane Life Expectancy
We hope the information we have provided will help your in increasing your Great Dane`s life expectancy.
Tate Ackerman contributed to this article. Tate is a second-year veterinary student at Kansas State University. Tate is also a concurrent Ph.D. student. She has a lot of experience reading scientific literature and communicating that information to a non-veterinary audience. Tate was a veterinary technician for a companion animal practice before she applied to veterinary school.
