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Is spaying a Great Dane risky due to size and special care needs?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Great Dane | Female | unspayed | 100 lbs

I've read it's risky to spay a Great Dane because of their size. Is this true ? I read that I should speak to my vet about making sure her head doesn't dangle when carrying her or moving her and that the table maybe to cold so require a blanket. Can I get some advice on this ? Thanks in advance

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Ann Dion, DVM

Answered By Ann Dion, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 22nd, 2017

Hello. It is nice that you are looking into the risks for Chiquita so you can make sure to decrease the risk chances as much as possible. Size itself is not a reason to not spay an animal. There is no increased risk due to her size, as the drugs and medications and equipment that vet clinics have can easily handle a Great Dane. In terms of carrying her head when they move her, this is a precaution that should be taken in EVERY breed, and one that I would expect most clinics to adhere by. When animals are under anaesthetic they do not have the muscle tone to protect their necks. It is unlikely that even if the head were to 'dangle' it would cause a problem, but the precaution is taken in every animal, more to ensure the tube that she will have to breathe doesn't get misplaced than for her neck. Some Great Danes can have "Wobbler's Disease" which is an instability in the vertebrae in their neck, so for this reason extra care is taken to not exacerbate this. To decrease her risk further I would discuss with your vet about pre-operative bloodwork, ensure she has IV fluids during surgery, and good monitoring (heart rate, blood pressure, SPO2, etc.). I would recommend spaying her as the risks of not-spaying her out-weigh the risks of anaesthetic complications.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Any surgery carries risks, but Great Danes can be spayed safely, and many are spayed regularly. Believe when I say that vets will know how to carry her correctly, and with any surgery, there is always a heat source to make sure that the dog is kept warm during the surgery. Typically, it's a heating pad or a Bair hugger (convective temperature management system). You don't need to speak with your vet about this, this is something we already know :-)

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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