Diseases of Great Dane Puppies

One of the parasitic roundworms is the heartworm, and it spreads from a host to another through the bites of mosquitoes. It is a small thread-like worm, considered a type of filaria.

Prevention of heartworm infection can be obtained through a number of veterinary drugs. Preventive drugs are highly effective and when regularly administered will protect more than 99 percent of dogs and cats from heartworm. Most compromises in protection result from failure to properly administer the drugs during seasonal transmission periods. Early signs include a cough, especially on exercise and early exhaustion upon exercise. In the most advanced cases where many adult worms have built up in the heart without treatment, signs progress to severe weight loss, fainting, coughing up blood and, finally, congestive heart failure.

Dogs can be infected by the roundworm, that is a common intestinal worm. This worm can reach up to eight inches in length, it is round and thin like spaghetti. The roundworms locate in the intestine of adult dogs, feed with the content, mate and lay microscopic eggs.

Living in the small intestine of dogs, cats and humans, the hookworm is a parasitic nematode. They are infecting over 600 million people worldwide. Worms from the ground can penetrate the skin or the dog can eat worm eggs deposited in dog feces. Owners of Great Dane puppies must know the possible infection sources.

Worms are generally easy to treat. Veterinarians use different worming medications that can be bought from any of the pet-supply stores in your vicinity.

The word bloat is often used as a general term to cover gas distension of the stomach with or without twisting. In dogs, gas accumulation in the stomach may cause or be caused by a volvulus, or twisting, of the stomach, which prevents gas from escaping.

The gastric torsion or bloat is signaled by the distention or swelling of the abdomen. The dog will try to vomit and appears restless. He appears to be in a great pain. At the first signs of gastric torsion, get your dog to a veterinarian or to an emergency clinic. Dogs having deep chests are at great risk.

Gastric distortion is caused by the dysfunction of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach of the dog, this leading to the obstruction of the outflow through the pylorum. Aged dogs with deep and narrow chests are prone to gastric torsion, especially if overfed, stressed or when eating expandable food.

The most common cause of rear leg lameness of dogs is hip displasia. The large breed dogs are prone to hip displasia. The rapid weight gain of puppies of the Great Dane breed or other large sized breeds places increased stress on the hips. Overweight in dogs supports the genetic potential for skeletal diseases like hip displasia.

One of the many animal lovers is Lisa L Lane. She is a volunteer at the local rescue center and takes in strays. She posted lots of pictures and articles related to the Great Dane breed and to the relations between kids and dogs on her website. You can always find some new pictures there. You can download for free the book for How to Find a Good Dog Breeder from her site page called the Great Dane puppies page or from the Kids and Danes page on the same site.


Owners of Great Dane puppies must know the possible infection sources. The nice thing about worms is that they are easy to treat. From websites you can download pictures of Great Dane puppies.

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Orignal From: Diseases of Great Dane Puppies