Side by side
Both columns come from the same cost model, so every row is a like for like comparison.
| Measure | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Great Dane |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime cost | $36,847 | $41,924 |
| First year | $6,732 | $7,368 |
| Monthly average | $260 | $330 |
| Puppy price | $1,800 to $3,500 | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Routine care, yearly | $2,708 | $3,494 |
| Documented conditions | 26 | 22 |
| Median lifespan | 11.8 yrs | 10.6 yrs |
| Adult weight | 13 to 18 lb | 110 to 175 lb |
| Daily food | 1.3 cups | 6.7 cups |
| Grooming, yearly | $668 | $300 |
| Risk profile | High, mid life | High, mid life |
| Biggest single risk | Heart murmur and mitral valve disease | Skin disease |
Health risks compared
What tends to go wrong in each breed, how often, and what it costs to treat.
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Heart murmur and mitral valve disease | 31%1-yr clinical | $534–$1,438 |
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Murmur (US) | 36%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Extracted teeth (US) | 35%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dental calculus (US) | 26%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 23%screened dogs | not priced |
| Hip dysplasia | 16%screened dogs | $1,200–$3,500 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Digestive disease | 11%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Deafness (US) | 11%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Heart (cardiac) murmur | 10%owner survey | $534–$1,438 |
| Dental disease | 10%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Ear Infection (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Anal sac impaction (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Mitral valve disease (MVD) | 7%owner survey | $534–$1,438 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Hearing loss (incompletely deaf) (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Seasonal allergies (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Chocolate (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Gingivitis (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Umbilical hernia | 6%owner survey | $621–$1,671 |
| Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS Dry Eye) | 4%owner survey | $224–$604 |
| Patellar luxation/Slipping kneecap | 3%owner survey | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Anal gland/sac impaction/blockage | 3%owner survey | $84–$226 |
| Arthritis | 3%owner survey | $281–$756 |
| Patellar luxation | 2%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Elbow dysplasia | 2%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 2%screened dogs | $534–$1,438 |
| Syringomyelia | n/a | $1,485–$3,999 |
| Condition | Measured result | Treatment cost |
|---|---|---|
| Skin disease | 36%1-yr clinical | $252–$679 |
| Digestive disease | 30%1-yr clinical | $354–$954 |
| Musculoskeletal disease | 15%1-yr clinical | $281–$756 |
| Dog bite (US) | 15%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Periodontal disease | 13%1-yr clinical | $246–$663 |
| Hip dysplasia | 13%screened dogs | $3,500–$7,000 |
| Laceration (US) | 9%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Osteoarthritis (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Dental calculus (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Torn or broken toenail (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Ear infection | 7%1-yr clinical | $100–$270 |
| Anal sac impaction | 7%1-yr clinical | $84–$226 |
| Food or medicine allergies that affect the skin (US) | 7%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Roundworms (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Giardia (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Entropion (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Food or medicine allergies (US) | 6%lifetime, owner | not priced |
| Elbow dysplasia | 5%screened dogs | $3,000–$5,000 |
| Autoimmune thyroiditis | 5%screened dogs | $169–$455 |
| Patellar luxation | 1%screened dogs | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Congenital heart disease | 1%screened dogs | $534–$1,438 |
| Degenerative myelopathy | 0%screened dogs | not priced |
| Bloat | n/a | $3,709–$9,986 |
| Dilated cardiomyopathy | n/a | $534–$1,438 |
| Wobbler syndrome | n/a | $3,776–$10,168 |
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Both breeds carry surgical risk, and premiums are priced by breed
Expected vet costs are $2,986 for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and $0 for the Great Dane. Every policy excludes anything already diagnosed, so this is worth sorting out before you pick either dog.
Common questions
Is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a Great Dane more expensive?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is cheaper by about $5,077 over a lifetime. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: $36,847. Great Dane: $41,924. Health costs are not inside either figure. They are documented separately below, in the units each study used.
Which lives longer, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a Great Dane?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has the longer typical lifespan. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: 11.8 years. Great Dane: 10.6 years.
Which is healthier, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or a Great Dane?
Both figures below are what it costs to own the dog, not what it costs if something goes wrong. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's biggest single risk is heart murmur and mitral valve disease, seen in 31% of the breed. For the Great Dane it is skin disease, at 36%.
How we calculated this
Both breeds run through one model, so the comparison is like for like. Full method.