Zeus, the world’s tallest dog, died from complications following his leg surgery, leaving his devoted family and countless admirers heartbroken and shocked. Here is what happened.
Zeus Passed Away on September 11
The beloved, three feet and 5.18 inches tall American Great Dane, passed away on Monday, September 11 at just three years of age.
Zeus’ family shared the tragic news on their GoFundMe page. They stated he had lost the battle with pneumonia that followed his recent leg amputation surgery.
The news came only a year after Zeus broke the Guinness World Record for the world’s tallest living dog. His owner, Brittany Davis, then stated that Zeus was in great health, despite the fact that Great Danes usually have shorter life spans than most dogs. However, it wasn’t long until his health took an unfortunate turn for the worse.
Zeus would soon sadly be diagnosed with bone cancer, leaving the family to struggle with significant financial burdens and the heartbreak of watching their beloved dog suffer.
In an attempt to provide Zeus with the best medical care, the family created a GoFundMe campaign. They managed to raise significant funds and arrange a much-needed leg surgery for Zeus. Amputating his right leg was supposed to stop the cancer from spreading.
Following the surgery, Davis shared a happy update stating that Zeus was doing extremely well. Less than two days later, however, it would become clear that he was suffering from complications, with subsequent blood tests and an X-ray showing that he had developed aspiration pneumonia.
As mentioned in the family’s last update shared on September 11, Zeus fought hard, but pneumonia was too much for him to bear in an already fragile state. “He is not in pain anymore. He is resting peacefully,” wrote Davis.
Zeus, you will always be remembered!
Are Great Danes Generally a Healthy Breed?
Great Danes are, on average, a pretty healthy breed. However, they do have shorter lifespans than most dogs, usually ranging between eight and 10 years. The number one health issue they face is gastric dilatation-volvulus, more commonly known as bloat, but they can also develop heart or eye issues and hip or elbow dysplasia.
Despite being generally healthy, Great Danes typically have shorter lifespans than most dogs.
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What Is the Difference Between American and European Great Danes?
Perhaps surprisingly, American Great Danes are usually smaller than their European counterparts, both in terms of weight and height, and typically live longer. European Danes are also more Mastiff-looking, with larger and squarer skulls, blunter noses, and drooping lips. American Danes, on the other hand, have smaller and more rectangular heads, thinner muzzles, and less prominent lips.
