Updated June 2002.
The following is a list of potentially inherited traits reported in the Great Dane, divided by organ system, with a concentration on undesirable & unhealthy traits & those distinct to the breed.

NOTE: THIS LIST DOES NOT MEAN THESE DISEASES ARE PREVALENT IN THE BREED!!! C=Common defects are the only ones reported with any regularity (and many of those are minor/cosmetic defects that pose no real health risk.) The list below gives a complete record of ALL reported defects, and thus is intended more for breeders as a control and tracking method (to aid in control of diseases with an inherited component), rather than for buyers as some sort of "laundry list" of what to beware of in the breed. See the parent club website for buyer information on the breed. See the OMIA for updates.

The symbols used are as follows:

S=serious defect (causes major health problems/costly treatment).
C=common defect.
R=rare defect.
Cr=results in chronic health problem or repeated crises.
N=nutrition related.
SC=superficial and/or cosmetic defect.
M=affects only merle/harl bred dogs.
M*=can be associated with merle/harl bred dogs.
d=dominant trait.
id=incomplete dominant.
?d=incomplete dominant, incomplete penetrance,or other such inheritance suspected.
r=recessive trait.
p=polygenetic trait.
m=MHC or other immune gene involvement.
u=unknown, but displays pattern indicating genetic component significant in its expression.
I?=data lacking so as to question significant heritability component involved.

>/<indicates age by which disease/trait typically diagnosed.
(where more than one symbol indicated all may apply; in the case of inheritance pattern, some dispute or multiple patterns may exist.)

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM.
1. Calcinosis circumscripta.(calcium deposits). u.I?<1yr.
2. Carpal Flexion Syndrome.(broken pasterns).N.u./p. <4 mo.
3. Cleft lip/palate/split nose.S. p.r?/birth
4. Craniomandibular Osteopathy. (abnormal jaw growth)S.R.r/birth
5. Crooked tails.SC.u.r?/birth
6. Canine Hip Dysplasia.S.N? p.<2 yrs.
7. Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy.S.N?m/u.<8 mo.
8. Lateral torsion of the hind feet. (easty/westy).SC. p.r. <1 yr.
9. Femoral torsion with distal femoral valgus. ("pinched in" rear) C?SC(normally) p?u.I? <1 yr. #
10. Spondylosis Deformans.(spinal fusion) p.I? >1 yr (often geriatric, can be associated with SLE-RA-,etc.: Type III Diseases)
11. CVI (Wobblers).S.N. p. <18mo. typically.
12. Osteochondrosis Dissecans.(includes "elbow dysplasia," i.e. FCP, UAP& OCD of stifle & shoulder as well)S.N? u.p.1 yr.
13. Panosteitis. N.C.(self-limiting).u.I?,1 yr.
14. Premature closure of the Ulna.S.r.<1 yr.
15. Missing teeth. C?SC(normally).r.u./7 mo.
16. Overshot. C?SC. (normally)r.u.<1 yr.
17. Undershot. SC. (normally)p.<1 yr.
18. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer).S.u.I?> 3yrs.
19. Vit D-Dependent rickets.S.N.R.u.I?<12 wks.
20. Core Myopathy.S.R.u.<1 yr.
21. Myotonia.SC.r.< 6mo.
22. Immune-mediated Arthritis (polyarthritis). R?m. (autoimmune disoder) > 6 mo.

NERVOUS SYSTEM

1. Congenital megaesophagus. C? S. r. <6 wks.
2. Cervical Vertebrae Instability.C.S.N? p.<1 yr.
3. Cerebellar Degeneration.S.u.<16 wks.(fatal)
4. Congenital Myasthenia gravis.S.r.<6 mo.
5. Inherited Epilepsy.S. r.u.>1 yr(2-3).
6. Stockard's (floppy) paralysis.S. C?.?d.severe<4 mo.(fatal) mild >4-6 mo.(fatal 2-3yrs.)

SENSORY SYSTEM(S)
1. Congenital (juvenille/congenital) cataracts.S.r. <2yrs.
2. Cataracts (adult onset: undefined) u.>2 yrs.
3. Colomboma(ta).(notched eyes). S.u.M*birth
4.Congenital cataract associated with microopthalmia.S.r.M*<2wks.
5. Retinal dysplasia (detachment).S.r.<1 yr. **associated with CNS & cardiovascular defects; in humans associated with mental retardation.
6. Retinal dysplasia.S.R.r.u.>1 yr.
7. Persistent pupillary membrane.S(often).< 3mo. (generally merle related).
8. Protrusion of the third eyelid (haws).SC.u.<3 mo.
9. Tapetal Hypoplasia. SC(usually).r.M*/birth
10. Convergent Strabismus (crosseyed).M(d)<8 wks.
11. Distichiasis (extra eyelashes).S.(often/correctable)u.r?< 6 mo.
12. Ectropion. C.SC (usually).u.<6 mo.
13. Entropion. S. (correctable).u. <1 yr.
14. Eversion (inversion) of the nictating membrane (leaf roll).S(correctable).r.<3 mo.
15..Enopthalmia (recessed eye).SC(usually). u.M*<1 yr.
16. Microopthalmia (tiny eyes).r.S.M*/birth
17. Medial Canthal Pocket syndrome (assoc.d with severe recessed eyes).S.u.M*<6mo.
18. Hemeralopia. (day blind) S.r.<1 yr.
19. Heterochromia Iridis (wall eye).SC.M.(d).birth
20. Glacoma (narrow-angle).S.r.u.<3 yrs.
21. Epithelial Stromal Dystrophy.S.u.M*
22. Ciliary Body Cysts.S.u.
23. Merle deafness.S.M.(d)<3mo.
24. Piebald deafness.S.r.M*<3 mo.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
1. Dilated Cardiomyopathy.S.C.u.p.(x-linked?)<4-6 yrs.
2. Mitral valve defect (stenosis).S. C.u.<1 yr. (often fatal)
3. Patent Ductus Arteriosus. S (correctable)p.birth
4. Persistent Rigth Aortic Arch (VRA).S(correctable).p.birth
5. Subaortic Stenosis.C?S.p.< 1yr.(often fatal)
6. Triscuspid Valve Dysplasia.S.u.<1 yr. (often fatal)
7. Won Willebrand's Disease (vWD) (pseudo-hemophilia). S:congenital. u.(splicing disorder in Dobes). **See other blood-related disorders under immunoendocrine system below.

IMMUNO-ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

"The increasing incidence of immunological disease seen in dogs is largely attributable to careless breeding practices." Ian Tizard. Ph.D., B.Sc., BVMS, "Veterinary Immunology" 6th ed. 2000.

1. Autoimmune (lymphocytic) Hypothyroidism. C. S.m. (treatable) >2 yrs.
2. Atopy (inhalant allergies). C. Cr.(treatable) m.(IgE disorder) >2 yrs.
3. Allergic Gastritis/Colitis. (food allergies) Cr.N.m.>6 mo.
4. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia. (AIHA). R.S.m. >1yr.
5. Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia (AITP) (decreased platelets). R.S.m.>2 yrs.
6. Addision's Disease (primary hypoadrenocorticism). R.S.m.(treatable) >2 yrs.
7. Autoimmune Neutropenia (decreased white blood cells). R.S.m. >1 yr.
8. Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus. (SLE) R.S.Cr.m.(autoimmune disorder) >2 yrs.
9. Immune-mediated Arthritis (polyarthritis). R?m. (autoimmune disoder) >6 mo.
10. Lymphosarcoma (cutaneous, invasive).S.u.> 3 yrs.
11. Lymphoma/CLL(leukemia).S.u. ~3-6 yrs.
12. Anaphalaxis (life-threatening allergic reactions). S.m.(IgE defect) any age.
13. Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita. S=Cr. (chronic skin condition). m.> 6mo.
14. Autoallerginic aspermatogenisis (monocytic orchitis)(causes sterility) C?.m.> 3 yrs.
15. Polymyositis (muscle pain). R.m.(autoimmune) > 6 mo.
16. Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita. S=Cr. (chronic skin condition). m.> 6mo.
17. Autoallerginic aspermatogenisis (monocytic orchitis)(causes sterility) C?.m.> 3 yrs.
18. Lymphedema.R.D.</>1 yr.
19. Myastheina Gravis (autoimmune disease).R.m.>2 yrs.
20. Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus. R.m.>4 yrs.

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
1. Esophageal hypomobility.S.u.<1 yr
2. Esophageal Achalasia (megaesophagus)S.r.u.< 6 mo.
3. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (bloat).S.u.I? varies: typically "prime of life" disorder.
4. Hypersialism (drooling).SC.u.< 6 mo.
5. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (immune related).S.u.< 1 yr.
6. Pancreatic hypoplasia (insufficiency). S(correctable).r.<1 yr.

INTEGUMENTARY (SKIN) SYSTEM
1. Acne.C.SC.(self correcting).u.I?< 1 yr.
2. Acral Lick or Self-mutilation syndrome.u.I?/varies.
3. Color mutant alopecia. R.(& in blues only).r.< 6 mo.
4. Follicular dysplasia.u.< 2 yrs.
5. Bulbous pemphigoid.SC(usually).u./varies.
6. Pemphigus Vulgaris. SC.u.<2yrs.
7. Inguinal hernia.SC (usually & correctable).r.u.< 3mo.
8. Umbilical hernia.SC (usually & correctable).r.p.< 6mo.
9. Zinc-responsive Dematosis.R.r.I?< 6wks.
10. Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita. S (chronic). u.> 6mo.

UROGENITAL SYSTEM
1. Anasarca (water puppy).r/birth.(fatal)
2.Cryptorchidism.SC.r.(u). by 6mo.
3. Cystinuria.X-linked recessive./<1yr.
4. Renal dysplasia. S(fatal).r.u.< 1yr.

BEHAVIOURAL
1. Inherited aggression. ?d. <3 yrs.
2. Excessive fear response.u.< 1 yr.


REFERENCES:

Clark, Ross D., DVM, and Joan R. Stainer. (1994) "Medical and Genetic Aspects of Purebred Dogs." St. Simon Island, GA: Forum Publ.
Johnson, Di. (1994) "Great Danes Today." New York: McMillian.
Kruger, J.M., Osborne, C.A., et al. (1995) "Veterinary Pediatrics Dogs & Cats from Birth to Six Months." 2nd edition. (J.D. Hoskins, ed.) Philadelphia, PA: W.B.Saunders Co.
George Padgett, DVM. (1998) "Control of Canine Genetic Diseases." New York: Howell Publishing.
Siegal, Mordecai, ed. (1995) "UCDAVIS Book of Dogs." New York: HarperCollins.
Tizard, Ian. R.(2002) "Veterinary Immunology: An Introduction." 6th Edition. Phadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Co.
Willis, Malcolm B. (1989) "Genetics of the Dog." New York: Howell Publishing.

#information provided by Barclay Slocum, DVM.

Compiled by JP Yousha, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. For educational distribution.
From: chromadane@juno.com
To: jyousha@utep.edu
Subject: Inherited traits(diseases) reported in Danes.
Date: 9 May 1999