Great Danes might be giants in size, but when it comes to their diet, quality trumps quantity. Known for their gentle temperament and majestic stature, these dogs require careful nutritional planning to support their rapid growth, prevent orthopedic issues, and maintain a healthy weight. A poorly balanced diet can contribute to several health issues that disproportionately affect this breed.
In this guide, we tap into expert insight to break down what your Great Dane really needs in their bowl — from optimal protein sources to joint-supporting superfoods. Whether you’ve just welcomed a Great Dane pup into your home or you're supporting a senior gentle giant, this guide will help you make more confident, informed choices about the best food for your Dane.
Read more: Great Dane breed insights: care, personality & expert tips
How nutrition can help common Great Dane health concerns
Joint conditions
Great Danes are especially prone to skeletal disorders like hip dysplasia and arthritis due to their fast growth, large frames. Feeding them a balanced, real food diet that controls calcium and phosphorus levels during puppyhood is crucial to reduce developmental orthopedic disease.
Try this:
Look for human-grade meals with balanced calcium and phosphorus ratios, along with joint-supportive ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and omega-3s from fish oil to reduce inflammation and support mobility. You'll find these key ingredients in Lyka's meal line-up
Read more: Hip dysplasia: how can your dog’s diet help?
Heart health
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is another serious concern in Great Danes. While some cases are genetic, nutrition can still play a role. Diets rich in taurine, carnitine, and high-quality animal proteins support heart function.
Try this:
Opt for a fresh diet that includes taurine-rich ingredients like beef heart or turkey and contains antioxidant-rich vegetables to support cardiovascular health. Lyka Turkey Bowl and Beef Bowl contain these heart-loving ingredients.
Read more: How diet affects the heart health of dogs
How to choose the best food for your Great Dane
Fresh food, raw, wet or dry? Supermarket, pet shop, or delivered to your door? There are so many dog food options on the market — where do you begin?
1. Complete and balanced
Great Danes, like all pups, need a complete and balanced diet containing the right nutrients in the right proportions.
Australia has pet food standards, but they’re largely unregulated. Many brands follow AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) or FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) guidelines.
Meeting AAFCO and FEDIAF standards is just the start. Lyka meals are formulated by a team of Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists to ensure they’re complete and balanced for all life stages.
Read more: Dog food ingredients: a glossary of common and confusing terms
2. Optimal nutrition for your Great Dane
Not all dog food is created equally. Variety and quality of ingredients and cooking methods can all impact the nutrient availability of your dog’s food.
Many raw dog food options present a good balance of high-quality protein, fresh produce, and superfoods. But not all dogs can easily digest raw food, especially pups with a weakened immune system, or digestive issues.
Dry food (kibble) often contains high amounts of carbohydrates and synthetic vitamins and minerals. The animal protein used in kibble is often pet-grade, like meat meal or meat by-products, that vary in quality and are not subject to the same checks as human-grade meat. Kibble is usually cooked at high temperatures which can reduce digestibility and can lead to the potential formation of harmful compounds, like acrylamides.
Home cooking can be a great option for your dog, but making sure each mouthful is complete and balanced is not easy to do without expert guidance.
Lyka meals are made using human-grade ingredients and are gently cooked then snap-frozen to retain their nutritional value and digestibility. Each meal is high in protein and custom-portioned to meet your dog’s daily needs.
Want to dig deeper into which type of food is best for your Great Dane? We’ve created a series of guides to help you make an informed choice.
Read more: Freshly cooked vs kibble for dogs: which is better?
Read more: Freshly cooked vs raw meat for dogs: which is better?
Read more: Fresh vs home cooking for your dog: which is better?
Read more: Freshly cooked vs wet food for dogs: which is better?
How much food does a Great Dane need?
Serving size recommendations based solely on weight don’t tell the full story. Your dog’s energy level, lifestyle and body condition score are all part of the picture.
That’s why Lyka calculates your Great Dane’s portion sizes based on their personal profile, not just on their weight. It's especially important to follow a slow-growth feeding plan with giant breeds, to support their healthy development of bones and muscle.
Establish a consistent feeding routine with your Great Dane to support their digestion, especially if they have a sensitive stomach.
Do Great Dane puppies and senior dogs need special food?
Not necessarily. Nutrient-dense, real food meals formulated for all life stages — like Lyka — cover the daily requirements of both growing pups and dogs in their golden years.
Read more: What should puppies eat? Expert nutrition tips for optimal development
Read more: Why real food is the healthiest choice for senior dogs
New to Lyka? Let’s rethink dog food together
Parenting a Great Dane comes with plenty of decisions. Choosing what’s in their bowl is one of the most important.
Designed by board-certified veterinary nutritionists and made with real, human-grade ingredients, Lyka meals are custom-portioned to match your dog’s needs.
Great Danes across Australia are already thriving on Lyka — yours could be next.
Join our pack of proud Great Dane parents today.
