Health
If only our dogs could tell us when they are feeling under the weather! Sometimes subtle changes in a dog’s behavior can be warning signs of a health problem. It is important to keep an eye on your Mastiff’s eating and elimination habits for any variations from the usual routine. Signs of reduced activity, depression, limping, difficulty rising, drinking more or less water, weight loss or gain, behavioral changes, vomiting, coughing, irregular breathing or prolonged heavy panting could be indications of trouble.
Having a veterinarian that has experience with the mastiff breed is preferable. Asking other mastiff owners (or other large breeds) in your area who they recommend is a great place to start. Mastiff’s do have some sensitivity in regards to anesthetic drugs and overall can present some unique challenges due to their size. Yearly check‐ups are very beneficial in order to catch problems early on when they can be more easily treated.
Purchasing a puppy from health tested parents will go a long way to reduce the possibility that your Mastiff will develop a hereditary health problem. Some of the more common health problems in the breed are listed below.
Hip dysplasia is an abnormal formation of the hip socket, which in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis. It is a genetic trait that is affected by environmental factors. The hips are ball and socket joints which rotate freely to allow dogs to walk normally. When the ball of the hip does not fit snugly into the socket this causes instability in the joint by allowing the ball to move out of the socket, causing the joint capsule and ligaments to stretch. This results in abnormal wear of the cartilage in the joint and the formation of new bone growth on the edges of the hip surface. Environmental influences would include overweight condition, injury at a young age, overexertion on hip joint at a young age, ligament tear at a young age, repetitive motion on a forming joint (i.e. jogging with puppy under the age of 1 year). As current studies progress, greater information will help provide procedures to effectively reduce the occurrence of this condition.
Elbow dysplasia is a condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow joint, specifically the growth of cartilage or the structures surrounding it. These abnormalities, known as 'primary lesions', give rise to osteoarthritis processes. Most primary lesions are related to osteochondrosis, which is a disease of the joint cartilage. Another common cause of elbow dysplasia is ununited anconeal process (UAP) and fractured or ununited medial coronoid process (FCP or FMCP).
Panosteitis is a developmental problem that affects the long bones during rapid growth stages typically between 6 – 18 months of age. Affected dogs show signs of lameness that comes and goes and moves from one leg to another. The exact cause is unknown. Pain control may be required; however the condition will go away on its own.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Rupture is a fairly common injury of the knee. It appears as sudden lameness in one rear leg. Surgery is generally recommended, especially in the larger breeds. A fair percentage of dogs that rupture one ACL will go on to rupture the other.
Eye conditions most commonly seen in the mastiff breed are:
Entropian is when the eyelid rolls inwards. In serious cases the eyelashes will rub on the surface of the eye eventually causing ulcers and vision loss.
Ectropian is where the eyelid droops or rolls outward. Though not as serious, care must be taken to keep the eyes free of dirt and debris or irritation can occur. Cataracts create lens opacity resulting in vision impairment or blindness.
Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM) are blood vessel remnants in the eye that have failed to regress normally after the neonatal period. There are different severities of PPM’s dependant on which part the eye they span across (iris to cornea, iris to iris etc).
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is a gradual degenerative disease which leads to blindness usually by middle age.
Canine Multifocal Retinopathy (CMR) is characterized by abnormal folds in the retina and generally causes minimal vision impairment.
Cardiac Disease in dogs is thought to be genetically transmitted from parents to offspring; however, the exact modes of inheritance have not been precisely determined for all cardiovascular malformations. At this time inherited, developmental cardiac diseases like subaortic stenosis and cardiomyopathies are difficult to monitor since there is no clear cut distinction between normal and abnormal. Stenosis is narrowing of the aorta, right below the aortic valve, which forces the heart to work harder to supply blood. Reduced blood flow can result in fainting and even sudden death. The disease is inherited but its mode of transmission is not known at this time. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most common heart diseases in dogs. DCM most commonly affects the left side of the heart. The myocardium cannot pump blood out of the left side effectively; blood begins to back up within the left side of the heart and also in the pulmonary veins that supply the left side of the heart with blood. This process enlarges the heart to try to compensate for the ineffective pumping.
Cystinuria is an inherited disorder in which the kidney’s are not able to process cystine correctly. This disorder only affects male dogs. Over time the cystine clumps together forming stones that can block the urinary tract. This can be a life threatening condition that requires surgery to clear the blockage.
Gastric Dilation, Torsion, Volvulus (Bloat) is a swift killer of large and giant breed dogs. Without warning, the stomach fills with air (dilation), can twist 180 degrees (torsion) on its long axis, or more than 180 degrees (volvulus) thereby cutting off blood and oxygen to vital organs. Bloat can be brought on by stress, improper feeding habits, guzzling water and inappropriate exercise. Every Mastiff owner needs to familiarize themselves with the symptoms of bloat and have a plan of action to get the animal to a medical facility at the onset of the first symptom. There is a very limited amount of time to provide lifesaving procedures when a dog is bloating. Symptoms include: attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-30 minutes, Significant anxiety and restlessness, "Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance, Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum).
Cancer is an all too common problem. The most common types seen in mastiffs are Lymphoma and osteosarcoma. The first sign of lymphoma is usually swollen lymph nodes. It can be present anywhere there is lymph tissue in the body. If caught in the early stages, chemotherapy treatment has a good chance to prolong the dog’s life. Untreated, a dog will generally succumb to the disease within two months. Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) is highly malignant. In fact by the time any signs are seen and a diagnosis is received the odds are very high that it will have already spread to the lungs. Amputation of the affected limb in combination with chemotherapy is the typical treatment, however amputation is often not practical for mastiffs.
Pyometra is a disease of the uterus. Onset can be sudden and the consequences deadly if left untreated. The main risk period is 6 to 8 weeks after an estrous cycle. Elevated hormones during estrous cycles can result in changes to the structure and lining of the uterus. These changes are favorable for supporting bacterial growth. Bacteria are able to enter and become trapped in the uterus when the cervix opens for a brief time during estrous. Pyometra can be “closed” or “open” denoting whether the cervix remains closed or open. In cases of open Pyometra a foul discharge may be seen. Closed pyometra is more serious as the infection has no escape (rupture is possible) and it is harder to detect. An emergency spay is the recommended treatment. Although rare, it is possible for a spayed female to develop pyometra in cases where a small amount of uterine or ovarian tissue remains.