Twenty Questions with Pazzaglia - Neapolitan Mastiff VeterinarianIl Colosseo is proud to bring you an exclusive like no other, an interview by Kim Slater with a leading professional, and famous for being the veterinarian of the Great Mario Querci Dr Loris Pazzaglia.
Dr. Loris Pazzaglia is a Mastino specialist vet of more than 20 years. He is based in Prato, Tuscany, which is also the home town of Mario Querci and I was greatly honoured that he was able to spare me some time during his busy working day to take part in this interview for us here on IL Colosseo. As well as running the very busy practice called Clinica Galilei , with fellow vet and former International Rugby Union star Marco Gambetti, Dr Pazzaglia is a renowned expert in Arthroscopic Surgery and is regularly called on by all major Zoos in Europe to conduct operations on their rare animals I was privileged to be shown many photographs of Dr Pazzaglia, operating on lions, tigers , bears and many other species. On completion of the operation to remove the cherry eye of my puppy Sancho, which I was invited to witness and photograph for the membership, we then retired to the office of Dr Pazzaglia along with translator Flavia Tenconi, to conduct the following interview.
Kim Slater: Firstly can you tell Colosseo members about your history with the Mastino?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: My treatment of Mastini began 22 years ago, when Mario Querci started to bring his dogs into the practice and I immediately took a great interest in them. These were the first Mastini that came to me and I began to study and research the specific kinds of health problems of the breed and how they best could be treated. A simple example of this can be the ‘cherry eye’. In every other breed of dog, the best course of treatment is to tack the ulcerated gland back in place, but inevitably, in a Mastino, this is a disaster. They are the only breed where it is necessary to cut out for a successful result.
Kim Slater : In your opinion, how does the Mastino of 2007 compare to when you first had experience of the breed?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: 22 years ago, the dogs were much stronger in general. Particularly in construction, the movement was much more powerful and also in the heart. The dogs were a little smaller and the blood more mixed than today. Mastino has changed a lot in the last 20 years.
Kim Slater: And how have those changes impacted on the health of the breed?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Unfortunately, in a very negative way. For example, just 15 years ago, I was regularly seeing here at my practice, litters of 10 to 12 puppies, delivered by natural birth. Today, the normal number is nearer 2 or 3 puppies surviving and almost always the birth is by c section. Undoubtedly, this is because the emphasis has changed and now the vast majority of breeders are selecting beauty over function. One very well known kennel here in Italy has produced less than five puppies in total over the last 12 months and this is simply not enough to sustain a breeding program. Things have to change!
Kim Slater: So what do you feel are the major challenges that lay ahead in the future and what direction should breeders be looking to take in order to improve overall health and longevity?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Well, I can only state there is A LOT OF WORK to be done to improve the future health of Mastino. I would encourage would be breeders to seek out a certain type, in more rustic Mastini and to introduce them into a breeding programme. These kinds of dogs still exist in non commercial kennels and with the smaller, lesser known breeders throughout Italy. The bloodlines need to become more diluted and a lot less line breeding is necessary, as now such close breeding is bringing many problems to the forefront.
Kim Slater: What are the most common health issues in the modern day Mastino?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Without a doubt, the most serious health problems in the Mastini I see here at the practice are: infertility, hip dysplasia and many different kinds of heart problems. All of these are the result of too close breeding practices. There are also more minor issues with the skin and eyes, but these do not only affect the Mastino, but many other breeds of dog, particularly in the Mastiff group, shar pei and bulldogs.
Kim Slater: In your opinion, what should be a good average age for a Mastino to live and should owners look to make changes to lifestyle as a Mastino ages to improve their quality of life?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: As any giant breed of dog, the average life expectancy should be in the region of 8 years. Unfortunately, with Mastini, for every dog I know of who is living to 10 years, there are many, many more who are dying aged 3 years or younger. Of course there are things one can do to improve the general lifestyle and wellbeing of your Mastini, but the most important thing regarding the issue of longevity remains in the genetics.
Kim Slater: Sitting here in Prato, we cannot conduct this interview without discussing the legend that was Mario Querci and his many famous dogs. Can you give any insight into the person that was Mario Querci , his vision and his breeding ethic?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Well, with regards to Mario Querci, we can call him The Crown Prince. He was an extraordinary man, with a very special gift. He had the ability to see something special in a puppy that no one else could see or understand. Mario had a clear and strong picture in his head, as to the kind of dog he wished to create and he made his selections based on this. He always looked to seek out a very beautifully constructed dog, with a free moving gait, extremely typical to his specific tastes and always with a large head. He found these dogs originally in many different places, and he never worried about the bloodline, just the way the dog looked and behaved.
Kim Slater: How would you view the Ponzano dogs in terms of their type and size compared to a more
Zaccaro style Mastino, which was more commonly seen around the time of Mario Querci?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: The Ponzano dogs were so very different! They were created by Mario to be elegant. The nose was shorter and more squared. The eyes further apart with longer lips, but not so long as today. Maybe Mario Querci was the first breeder to consider the Mastino as a successful dog for show and he tried very hard to perfect a balance of beauty and still what could be considered a functional dog. However, the character was also an important consideration. He looked always for a calm dog, which was also very intelligent. But Mario Querci would not tolerate any aggression in his dogs and in fact, Mastini who displayed aggression he killed.
Kim Slater: Did you have a favourite Ponzano dog from the many legends you must have treated?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: If I must select one single dog it would have to be Argo Di Ponzano . Maybe because I saw him a lot, but something about this particular dog was very inspiring to me. Argo did not create so many beautiful puppies, but of course, he made Toscano, who then himself went on to create many, many special dogs. This generation of dogs won a lot of shows and were very beautiful in all ways. But Argo remains for me, my very favourite Mastino.
Kim Slater: Did you have the opportunity to treat many Zaccarro style dogs? If so, what were your observations?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Yes, I have seen and treated many Zaccaro type dogs, but they did not suffer any major problems with health. These more rustic animals had stronger constitution in general, were bred more for function, and so possessed better construction, hearts and skin. I can say this is particularly with the Zaccari which had not been closely inbred but out crossed.
Kim Slater: So in view of the above answer, do you feel the Mastino’s evolution into more a dog for the show ring, which co incides with the work of Mario Querci and others, has been to its detriment?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Of course, today’s Mastino has become a dog in the hands of the commercial breeders and a dog for show. Like everyone, I love to see a beautiful dog, but more consideration has to be paid to health and also to temperament. The Mastino deserves more than he receives now, for his future to be successful.
Kim Slater: Would you like to comment on the general temperament of the Mastino of 2007 and how that has changed since you began to treat them?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Yes, the temperament has evolved into that of a much softer nature. I can say the dogs are much more social now than before.
Kim Slater: Where do you see the Mastino’s place in the world today, bearing in mind his history as a guard and ultimate protector?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: But now he is a dog for show for the vast majority of people.
Kim Slater: What is your opinion on the recent ban in Italy of ear and tail cropping?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: I am completely against this ban!
Kim Slater: Do you believe operations like this to be necessary to preserve custom and tradition, or feel you are putting an otherwise healthy animal through a totally unnecessary operation, causing risk to life, pain and suffering?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: I believe it is important to preserve tradition. If today I was cropping the ears of your puppy, I would give him the same style as that dog (he waves casually to a large portrait on the office wall of Figaro Della Rocca Di Sopra!) as the head type is the same, although I know it is illegal also to crop in UK and in many other parts of the world today. But I have cropped many ears and tails and I have never lost a puppy during the surgery, nor do I believe the puppy suffers unnecessary pain. When I hear that someone lost a puppy during this process, I wonder if they are using a different anaesthetic to me.
Kim Slater: Mastino owners have a great fear of anaesthetic and the risk to life. What are your own views on this issue?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: I must stress for a Mastino, it is necessary to use one anaesthetic that does not reduce the blood pressure as this is most dangerous for large animals. The one I use is marginally more expensive, but certainly not so much that would prevent someone selecting to use it. I use the minimum amount necessary and always make a further injection to bring the dog around immediately following the surgery, instead of allowing them to sleep. This ensures maximum safety, for the Mastino to be awake as soon as possible.
Kim Slater: At the recent ATIMANA* it was reported that heart problems occur in up to 80% of Mastini. Do you know of the study that compiled these statistics and what are your own findings as a practicing Veterinary Specialist?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Yes, I know very well of this detailed report and would support the findings. My own experiences here in the practice indicate the statistics are very accurate, as I am discovering myself, too many Mastini suffering from Cardiomyopathy, which is a common disease of middle aged large breed dogs and has no cure. In Mastino, however, I am discovering dogs as young as 1 year old with Cardiomyopathy. In addition, we can add irregular heart beat issues and problems with the heart valves. All of this is result of inbreeding too closely.
Kim Slater: Of the modern day breeders, are there any in particular that impress you with their work and for what reasons?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Yes, I can mention in particular, Virgilio Del Buono of the Alleri Group. He is a breeder of maybe only 5 years or so, but in that time, has made excellent progress and gained some very good and interesting results. He is a person with a definite and serious aim, who is taking into great consideration both the health and function of his Mastini. This is very impressive and important for me, both as a vet and as someone with a great passion for the future of Mastino.
Kim Slater: Going back to the work of Mario Querci, were there any particular problems he encountered in his breeding programme and how did he work to overcome?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: I can say with all honesty, that Mario Querci did not have too many serious health problems with his breeding, right up to the time of the magnificent Caligola Di Ponzano , who represented really, the very last dogs of Querci. But the blood of Ponzano was not as close as many of the commercial breeders of today. Many of them claim that these dogs are in fact carrying the blood of Ponzano. But this is at best questionable!
Kim Slater: The picture you have painted today is not a very pretty one with regard to the general health of our Mastini. So my final question is this, with all of the obvious problems with Mastino health now, why is it you still love them?
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: Because for me, they are and always will be, simply THE DOG.
Kim Slater: Dr Pazzaglia, I would just like to conclude the interview by passing on my grateful thanks from the worldwide membership of Neapolitanworld, for both your valuable time, invaluable advice and insight into an important time in recent history and the present day. It has certainly provided much food for thought!
Dr Loris Pazzaglia: I am very happy to have been of some service to the Mastinari of the world and so thanks also to you!
* 2006 ATIMANA Report available online at http://www.atimana.it/news/alicante2006.htm * Dr. Pazzaglia's Clinica Galilei online at http://www.clinicaveterinariagalilei.it/index.html
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Dr. Pazzaglia Interview
