Need care after hours? We’re here for you! Urgent Care now available Mondays & Fridays from 5PM – 9PM.
Need care after hours? We’re here for you! Urgent Care now available Mondays & Fridays from 5PM – 9PM.
Giant breed dogs bring tremendous joy to families across Sacramento, but they also come with unique health considerations that require specialized care. From Great Danes and Mastiffs to Saint Bernards and Newfoundlands, these gentle giants face distinct challenges throughout their lives due to their impressive size and rapid growth patterns.
At Broadway Veterinary Hospital, we understand the specific needs of giant breed dogs and provide comprehensive care tailored to help these magnificent companions thrive. Our team of UC Davis-trained veterinarians has extensive experience managing the complex health requirements of caring for dogs over 100 pounds, ensuring your gentle giant receives the attention they deserve.
Our dedicated team is here to provide urgent, high-quality care for your pets—because they’re family and deserve immediate attention when it matters most!
Giant breed dogs face several health concerns that smaller dogs rarely encounter. Their rapid growth during puppyhood puts immense stress on developing bones and joints, making proper nutrition and exercise management crucial during their first two years of life. These dogs typically reach their full height by 12-18 months but continue filling out until they’re 2-3 years old.
The most common concerns we see in giant breeds include:
Additionally, their shorter lifespans—typically 6-10 years compared to 12-16 years for smaller breeds—make preventive care and early detection of health issues even more critical.
Proper nutrition forms the foundation of giant breed health care. Unlike smaller dogs, giant breed puppies require carefully balanced diets with controlled calcium and phosphorus levels to prevent developmental orthopedic diseases.
Free-choice feeding can lead to overeating and rapid growth, which increases the risk of joint problems later in life. Instead, we suggest scheduled meals with portion control based on your dog’s current weight and body condition. Our veterinary team can help you determine the ideal feeding schedule and portions for your growing giant.
Exercise management requires a delicate balance for giant breed dogs. While these dogs need regular activity to maintain a healthy weight and muscle tone, too much high-impact exercise during puppyhood can damage developing joints. We recommend avoiding jogging, jumping, and extended hiking until your giant breed reaches skeletal maturity, which typically occurs around 18-24 months.
Safe exercise options for giant breed puppies include:
Adult giant breeds benefit from moderate, consistent exercise rather than intense weekend activities. Daily walks, swimming, and supervised playtime help maintain joint mobility and prevent obesity, which puts additional stress on already vulnerable joints.
Regular veterinary examinations become even more critical for giant breeds due to their predisposition to serious health conditions. We recommend wellness visits every six months for adult giant breeds, allowing us to monitor for early signs of heart disease, joint problems, and other breed-specific concerns.
During these visits, we perform comprehensive physical examinations, paying special attention to heart sounds, joint mobility, and overall body condition. Diagnostic screenings may include hip and elbow radiographs, echocardiograms for heart health assessment, and blood work to monitor organ function. Early detection of health issues allows us to implement treatment plans that can significantly improve your furry friend’s quality of life and potentially extend their lifespan.
Our Sacramento veterinary team brings specialized knowledge and advanced surgical capabilities to the care of giant breeds. Dr. Sam Varon has particular experience with the soft palate and breathing surgeries that may benefit certain giant breeds, while our orthopedic surgery capabilities include TPLO procedures for cruciate ligament injuries and fracture repairs using state-of-the-art equipment.
We maintain relationships with board-certified specialists when referrals are necessary; however, our in-house capabilities enable us to handle many conditions that other clinics typically refer out. This comprehensive approach means fewer trips to multiple veterinary facilities and more consistent care for your giant breed companion.
Our facility expansion, set to triple our size by the end of this year, will provide even more space and resources for caring for large dogs. The additional exam rooms and surgical suites will allow us to accommodate the unique spatial needs that giant breeds require during examination and treatment.
Giant breed dogs deserve veterinary care from professionals who understand their unique needs and challenges. At Broadway Veterinary Hospital, our team of UC Davis graduates specialize in treating bulldogs and combines advanced medical knowledge with genuine compassion for these remarkable companions. We’re proud supporters of the Sacramento community and understand the special bond between families and their gentle giants.
From puppyhood nutrition guidance through senior care management, we’re here to support your giant breed’s health journey every step of the way. Contact Broadway Veterinary Hospital at (916) 244-7211 or visit our contact form to schedule an appointment for your gentle giant today.
When selecting food for your large breed puppy diet, look for formulas specifically designed for large or giant dog breeds that meet american feed control officials standards. The food should provide complete and balanced nutrition with controlled calcium and phosphorus levels to support proper bone development. Choose brands that have conducted animal feeding tests to verify their nutritional claims, and avoid adult dog formulas which contain inappropriate nutrient levels for growing large dogs.
Large breed puppy diets require carefully controlled nutrient profiles compared to adult dogs to prevent developmental orthopedic diseases. Many large dog breeds need lower calcium and protein levels during growth to avoid rapid development that stresses joints. Adult dogs can transition to maintenance formulas with different caloric densities, but big dogs throughout their lives benefit from foods formulated to support joint health and maintain optimal body weight for their frame size.
Proper nutrition significantly impacts joint development in large dogs, with overfeeding and inappropriate calcium levels being major risk factors. A well-formulated large breed puppy diet helps control growth rate and provides nutrients that support joint health throughout development. Combined with appropriate surgical and medical management when issues arise, proper nutrition from puppyhood through adult years can help prevent or minimize common orthopedic problems that affect many large dog breeds.
Most large or giant dog breeds should transition from puppy to adult food around 12-18 months of age, though some may benefit from staying on puppy formula until 24 months. The timing depends on when your pet reaches skeletal maturity, which varies among big dogs. Consult your veterinarian to determine the optimal transition time, ensuring the new food meets american feed control officials guidelines and provides complete and balanced nutrition for your pet’s food requirements.
While a high-quality diet should provide complete and balanced nutrition, some large dogs may benefit from supplements containing glucosamine, chondroitin, or omega-3 fatty acids to support joint health. However, many large dog breeds receive adequate nutrients from properly formulated foods that meet american feed control officials standards and have undergone animal feeding tests. Always consult your veterinarian before adding supplements, as surgical and medical management may be more appropriate for existing joint conditions in adult dogs.
Comprehensive, compassionate care for your pet’s health and happiness, delivered by our experienced medical team.
Our experienced veterinarians provide many surgical services at our clinic, ranging from routine to advanced procedures.
Our skilled team delivers comprehensive medical care, equipped to handle everything from routine visits to complex conditions. Our state-of-the-art facility offers:
Our experienced team provides specialized care for exotic pets, from routine checkups to advanced treatments. We offer services for:
Our experienced team provides specialized care for exotic pets, from routine checkups to advanced treatments. We offer services for:
Our fully equipped veterinary hospital brings together advanced medical technology and skilled veterinary expertise to handle all your pet’s healthcare needs.
Whether it’s preventive care or complex procedures, we’re here to provide exceptional treatment at every stage of your pet’s life.
Your pet’s health is our expertise, which is why local news outlets like Fox40 News and Good Day Sacramento regularly invite Dr. Sam Varon to share essential pet care information, from emerging health concerns to answering everyday pet questions. When you choose Broadway Veterinary Hospital, you’re choosing care backed by expertise that Sacramento trusts.
With over 25 years of service in Sacramento, we’ve built our reputation on providing quality care for animals of all kinds. As a privately owned clinic, we treat every patient like family, with a focus on comfort, clear communication, and medical excellence.
Our team takes pride in treating exotic pets with respect and skill, whether they need basic wellness support or urgent medical treatment. If you’re looking for a Sacramento vet that understands exotic animal medicine, we’d love to help.
Call 916-446-6154 or use our contact form to schedule
Don’t wait any longer to forge a lifelong relationship with your friendly veterinarian.
