What Great Danes Can And Can’t Eat: A Complete Guide

Great Danes are one of the largest breeds among the dogs which approximately weighs around 50-55 kgs. Being a responsible pet owner you should always look for nutritious food for your dog which can help improve its growth and health.

One should also consider the fact that the type of food which a dog can have varies from breed to breed. Also, the amount of food varies depending on the breed size. When it comes to a diet of Great Dane, it can be a challenge and tricky at times.

Most of the reputed breeders and good veterinarian doctors recommend a minimum of 25% protein and 15% fat in the Great Danes diet. Hence, it is recommended that you should be careful while selecting dog food for Great Danes.

You cannot very precisely determine the quantity of food which Great Dane can eat as it entirely depends on its age, size, and metabolism. But roughly the Great Danes would require around 2000 to 2500 calories per day to maintain a healthy state. But an active or champion line Great Danes would require more calories a day which can vary between 3000-3500 calories.

One important thing to note is that you should not compromise on the quality of dog food for just a matter of few pennies. After all a good quality dog food will only help your furry pal to grow healthy and stay fit. One more thing, please do not try to overfeed a Great Dan pup for the sake of making him grow fast. Remember, Great Danes grow naturally and you should let them proceed the same way. It generally takes around 3 years for a Great Dane to grow fully and become mature.

So, if you are planning to get a Great Dane home or already a proud owner of the same, you would be benefitted by this blog as this will take you through all the aspects of what your Great Danes can and cannot eat.

Understanding Quality Food Ingredients for Great Danes

• Great Danes are no different than other dogs and require protein and fats in their food. But you should ensure that the same is coming from quality ingredients as all fats and proteins can’t be the same.

• In comparison to other dogs, Great Danes require less amount of protein and fat in their diet. Five meat proteins dog food is ideal for Great Danes.  

• As Great Danes also requires a reasonable amount of fat, you should look for the food sources which suffice the requirement. Few vitamins are fat-soluble and the same is good for your Great Dane. A good fat source should be identified such as chicken fat to fulfill the necessity of your dog.

• To keep coats and skin quality good of any dog breed, you should prefer fat products, such as omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil, etc.

Great Dane Dog Food Types

There is a wide variety of dog food that can be considered for your Great Dane. You may even get confused as to which food to be considered for your dog. Here we will be focusing on dry food rather than any other kind of dog food.

Dry extruded is one of the most commonly seen dog food which comes in various shapes and size. This is actually what we call a standard kibble. This is one of the less expensive dog food and that is the reason it is popular among all the pet owners. One important thing to note here is that you should avoid the kibbles which come in various colors. This is not at all good for your furry pal. Refrain from the same at once.

Baked food is moreover similar to the above but it is a better alternative to kibble as the same is baked in an oven and retains more goodness. But the major issue with baked food is that gluten remains as the main ingredient of it. Hence, it is recommended to check the label of baked dog food carefully for any traces of gluten.

Cold-pressed food is prepared at low temperature and considered as good food in comparison to extruded ones as it dissolves very easily. It is also helpful in avoiding bloating in dogs.

Air-dried and Freeze-dried are costly in comparison to any other dog food. Both of these foods are prepared by eliminating the moisture so that the required bacteria are grown. The elimination of moisture keeps the meat in the dog food in good condition.

Dogs are not completely dependent on dog foods which are stated above. They also tend to consume some of the human food also. We will try to understand which human foods are healthy and good for them and what all they need to be refrained from.

Sharing your food with dogs makes the emotional bonding stronger. But at the same time, you also need to be considering whether the food which you are sharing with your furry pal is free of any toxic and dangerous elements or not.

Though Great Danes can eat many vegetables and fruits among human food, there are certain things which they cannot consume such as Chocolate, Tea, Alcohol, Raisins, Garlic, Caffeine, etc.

Few Safely Consumable Items for Great Danes

Apple is one of the favorite snacks of Great Danes but you should take care of removing core and seeds of the apple before feeding your dog. Apple seeds are said to contain a compound called amygdalin which is harmless otherwise but when the same is digested by enzymes in the stomach, it gets converted into hydrogen cyanide.

Cyanide is a highly poisonous compound that can make your dog sick and lead to some major health issues if not treated with proper care and supervision of a good veterinarian doctor. If your Great Dane accidentally eats few seeds, there is no need to panic as only a high volume of apple seeds can cause damage to your dog’s health. In such emergencies, you should immediately rush your dog to a veterinarian.

Banana is another yummy treat for your furry pal. Apart from that bananas are rich in many vitamins such as K, C, B6, etc. and also contain magnesium which is considered important for bone health and growth. It is also high in natural sugar, and fructose. Hence, to lower the impact of sugar on your Great Dane you can try mixing up the banana slices with peanut butter.

The only thing to be taken care of is that you should not allow your dog to eat the banana peel. The peel of banana is hard to digest due to its fibrous nature and may lead to certain digestive issues in your Great Dane. 

Strawberries are one of the summertime juicy fruits which your Great Dane can consume safely. Do rinse the strawberries thoroughly in clean water to remove any pesticides or dirt from it before offering the same to your dog.

Strawberries are also rich in natural sugar and should be moderated for consumption by Great Danes. This fruit contains many vitamins, such as B1, B6, C, K, etc., and is also rich in Omega-3. Omega fatty acids are good in treating skin and heart ailments along with arthritis.

Strawberries are a good source of hydration to your Great Dane during summers due to its high water content property. Strawberry also consists of an enzyme that acts as a teeth whitener.

Carrot is an absolute low-calorie food for your Great Dane. You can serve them both cooked and raw carrots. It is recommended to chop the raw carrots before feeding your Great Dane as otherwise, the bigger pieces can choke in your dog’s mouth.

Corn is considered one of the main ingredients used in the formulation of dog food and is also rich in essential vitamins. Although, your Great Dane can eat corn; it should be off the cob. You cannot directly feed your Great Dane a corn cob as it is difficult to digest and can even cause intestinal blockage in dogs.

Eggs are a rich source of proteins and you can easily feed them to your Great Dane but make sure that the eggs are cooked properly. You cannot give raw eggs to your pet as they are not considered good for the health of dogs.

Air-popped popcorn is also suitable for consumption by Great Dane as long as it is unbuttered and unsalted. However, you cannot give salted, spiced or flavored popcorn to your pet. Popcorn is rich in protein, iron, thiamine, and riboflavin that helps in promoting good digestion and also improves the eye health of your Great Dane. Do not forget to pop the kernels properly before feeding them to your pet.

Cheese can also be given to your Great Dane as long as he is completely tolerant to lactose. Cheese could be a delicious as well as a nutritious treat for your pet. There are many types of cheese available in the market such as mozzarella and cottage cheese that are low in fat and are suitable for pets. You can even go for delectable Himalayan dog chews that are made from dried cheese.

Honey could also be a lip-smacking treat for your Great Dane. Apart from being loaded with several nutrients and vitamins such as A, B, C, D, and E, along with antioxidants, calcium, potassium, copper, and magnesium. Besides this, feeding honey to your pet in smaller or moderate quantities can help in treating allergies as it releases traces of pollen into the dog’s body and also helps in boosting the immune system.

Peanuts are considered safe for consumption by pets as compared to almonds. They are enriched with essential proteins and good fats that contribute towards improving and enhancing the health of your Great Dane. You should give peanuts to your furry pal in moderation to refrain him from consuming too much of fats. Make sure that the peanuts are unsalted before giving them to your Great Dane.

Few Unsafe Consumable Items for Great Danes

Coconut, whengiven in a small amount to your dog, is good as otherwise the triglycerides in it may cause bloating and discomfort to your dog.  

Tomatoes are also safe in less quantity for your dog as they contain solanine and consumption of the same in large quantity can be hazardous to your dog’s health. Remember to keep your Great Dane away from the green tomatoes and its stem as it contains solanine in high intensity.

Grapes are not at all safe for your dog as there are chances of your dog getting poisoned due to the consumption of the same and may also cause harm to its kidney.

Raw Meat and Fish should also be avoided while feeding your Great Dane as these contain bacteria which can lead to food poisoning.

Almonds are not considered to be toxic for the health of dogs but they can result in tearing of windpipe or blockage in the esophagus if they are not chewed properly by the pets. That is why it is not advisable to feed almonds to your Great Dane. However, one should completely refrain from including salted almonds in the diet of your pet as it can give rise to heart diseases in dogs.

Wrap up

Great Danes are a large breed that can very easily mix up with your family and kids. They are lovable and can be owned for their loyal and friendly nature. To keep your Great Dane fit and healthy, you should always feed them nutritious food and refrain from those food items which might harm them.

In most cases, pet owners are confused as to what human foods can and can’t be fed to their dogs. In such a situation, you should consult your vet and clarify your doubts. They are the ones who can guide you very well about their appetite and required nutrients.