Heart Testing Clinic

Based on the data found in the USA from the Great Dane National heart scanning clinic conducted over 4 years. Approximately 63% were classed as normal when scanned. Results have been published so far for 2008, 2009 & 2010. As this clinic is conducted at a show this means that a large % of the Danes scanned were of breeding age. The owners were not aware of any issues and would potentially breed from these animals. That means that potentially 37% classed as abnormal could have found their way in to the breeding gene pool.

The theory of only breeding from animal with good hip scores and therefore over time improveing the hip status of the breed can also be applied here. If we only breed from animal that pass an annul heart scan we could improve that heart status of our breed. The data also shows that there were a number of Danes that were diagnosed with DCM in these sessions. The current research is suggesting the DCM is an autosomal dominate gene, as with Doberman DCM. That means that you only need one copy of the gene to have the condition and therefore its recommended that any Dane with the condition should not be bred from.

You will be able to read more about DCM here but we are aware that it is usually a late onset disease meaning you may have bred from your Dane before your aware of the problem. You can also read here about an account of DCM in a younger Dane and the American data also suggest that there are exceptions to the rule.

If by scanning we are able to remove these odd cases from the breeding gene pool it will be a step in the right direction.

The bitch with the murmur was not bred from and later had a 24 hour holter monitor and zero VPC’s were found.

The 18 month male with the arrhythmias was castrated and also had a 24 hour holter monitor. But the scanning suggested he had a serious arrhythmia. In fact it was over 4000 in a 24 hour period. A number of breeders had shown interest in using this dog and had he not have been scanned he could have passed this on to the next

The Great Dane Breeders' and Owners' Assocayion are looking for people to attend the next Heart Clinic. They will be held initially in Westbury Wiltshire and set up based on the demand. For each 8 to 10 Danes that would like attend, we will try and book a clinic.

The cost is approximatly £60.00 per Dane.

These session will be run as decribed above however additional attention will be paid to the length of the ECG in order to increase the chance of deteching any VPC's

If your are interested in attending simply complet the below form and we will get in touch.

The 28th of January saw another 8 Great Danes signed up for a testing clinic. The day ran as smoothly as the last and followed the same format. Each session lasting 40 minutes. With all owners going a way with a smiles on their faces.