NeapolitanWorld.com :: Mastini Health

Bringing your Mastino Napoletano puppy home:
Prepare your house for your puppy's arrival. Remember that the strength, size and chewing abilities of a puppy Mastini is much stronger than most breeds, and it is likely that a 2 to 6 month old puppy is much stronger than many other full grown adult dogs of other breeds. Designate a special place, preferably outside your home, for it to sleep, eat, and eliminate. You must keep in mind that our breed has for over 2000 years of history been bred to guard. Therefore, it has grown very comfortably to living outside the home. Make sure that it's living area is a secure, enclosed gated area where above all innocent visitors to your home will not be subjected to it's ferocious guarding instincts. It's sleeping quarters must protect it from the weather elements of excessive heat or cold. Obtain any necessary accessories such as collar, dog tags, leash etc. before you bring your puppy home. Although not recommended due to it's incredible power, drooling, and size. Keeping a Mastini inside your home is possible, and is the norm to many homes in America. If you are going to keep your Mastini inside the home, you will need to puppy-proof your house, much similar as you would baby-proof your house to avoid tragedies. Mastini, will chew on just about anything as puppy's, make sure to keep dangerous things i.e. cleaners, bleaches, poisons, electrical cords, breakable objects away and out of reach. To learn more about the dangers in the home, visit and read this excellent article by Garry Sicard, Common Dangers and Hazards.

Health Exam & Vaccinations:
It is highly recommended when purchasing ANY pet to have your new pet examined by a veterinarian to ensure that it has no health problems. This is especially true when you purchase your puppy. You should have your puppy examined immediately or at the very least within the week of purchase. Your Mastini's health care must begin with a series of puppy vaccinations against distemper, parvo virus and corona virus (gastrointestinal diseases), infectious hepatitis, and respiratory infections such as adenovirus, parainfluenza, and bordetella (Kennel Cough). At 15 to 16 weeks of age, your puppy should receive it's first rabies vaccination. To ensure proper growth and health complications, puppies should be checked for intestinal parasites such as fleas, worms, and heartworm disease. This should be done at every 3 weeks period during your puppies first months of live, and some preventatives should be done during the entire dogs life. Talk to your veterinarian for treatment and preventatives to avoid these easily controlled parasites.

Obedience Training and Socialization:
Don't let your Mastini become a liability for your family. Training and socialization is a MUST for every family dog, regardless of breed and especially true for the Mastino! Puppies may start classes as long as all vaccinations are given and the puppy is at least 12 to 14 weeks old. Check with your veterinarian for recommendations, and with local pet stores for available classes around your area. If proper socialization is not given to your Mastini, it is more likely that your dog will be aggressive as an adult, therefor a liability. One must make a distinction between an aggressive dog and a Mastini with proper (instinctual) protecting abilities. It is a tendency of some owners to want to make their Mastini as "ferocious" as possible, however this will only create imbalance in the Mastini's temperament since it's capability to guard is strongly reliant in the dogs temperament being "even" per the dogs FCI standard. This philosophy in breeding a guard dog (even temperament) is not new, and dates as far back to first century AD in Lucio Giunio Mederato Columella work "De Re Rustica." In his writings, Columella gives the standard that the "house guard dog" temperament must not be too ferocious and cruel, because this would predispose it to attack the people of the house. If this was true back in the first century AD, it is definitely true in the 21st century where rules and laws of society have become numerous. If you have a Mastini that you can not control inside your home, how will you control him outside and in public. The best way as an owner to promote our breed is by giving your pet the proper training and socialization, in this way you will insure a positive encounter with those whom have never experienced the breed in person.

Neapolitan Mastiff Health:
As all purebred's, the Mastino Napoletano has it's share of breed common diseases. These conditions (common diseases) are created when any selective breeding is done to any species. With the canine species, breeders seek certain wanted characteristic dependent on the breed standard or trends. These characteristics may be in type or temperament, however along with the wanted characteristics there are the inevitable unwanted characteristics that all breeders must fight against.

Diagram of a normal hip bone

Hip dysplasia: Canine hip dysplasia is a very common degenerative joint disease seen especially in giant dogs. There are many misconceptions about this disease and hereditary factors have been proven to not be the only cause of this disease, although their is a healthy debate between those whom believe in hereditary alone Vs other factors, it is safe to say that selection in the long run in perfect dogs with hips will reduce the occurrence of this disease. Noting this however we must realize that our breed and it's laxity in joints is like no other breed. This is quiet evident in looking at the Mastino's loose gait in movement and in it's skin. Therefore to properly diagnose a Mastino Napoletano with hip dysplasia, one should stay away from relying on the traditional methods used by PennHip or the standard established in 1966, the world's largest all-breed registry, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA). Instead one should rely on the Mastini's movement, and the quality of it's life. Dr. Sherilyn Allen, VMD for over 25 years and noted breed expert and breeder of Ironstone kennels writes in her book "The Official Book of the Neapolitan Mastiff", that she has reason to

believe that loose hips do not cause as severe clinical problems in the Neapolitan Mastiff. Dr. Allen explains and backs up her point of view having examined and radiographed hundreds of Neapolitan's which all showed a degree of dysplasia, and of these only five showed arthritis's of the hips, and of these five, "all were extraordinarily sound". Unfortunately we do not all live in New Jersey, home to Dr. Allen's practice and must some time rely on veterinarians whom have seen a Neapolitan Mastiff for the first time the minute you walked in the door. Whether you believe it to be a

hereditary disease or not, it is good common sense to try and avoid symptoms of the disease by giving your growing Mastini proper nutrition, exercise (not excessive), avoid rough play, and maintain good body weight. Many Mastini owners tend to want to keep their puppies very heavy, however this should be on the contrary. A growing puppy should be kept at a good weight and any excess weight should be avoided. It is important to know that due to fast growth in our breed or at times rough play, many puppies especially between 3 to 9 months will limp from growing pains or injury at one point or another. Many breeders resolve this problem by limiting some movement for several weeks and giving vitamin C. On the other hand I have heard from many inexperienced owners whom saw this limping and immediately took their puppy to the veterinarian. X-rays were taken and hip dysplasia diagnosis were given with the recommendation to put the puppy to sleep. Their is no question to the benefit of veterinary and medical expertise, however one should also equally rely on breed knowledge and expertise when it comes to the Neapolitan Mastiff and hip/orthopedic related issues.

Diagram of a dysplastic hip bone

Heart & Circulatory System Disorders:
While some heart conditions are a result of genetic defects or congenital defects, many large dogs can suffer from diseases which include parasites (heartworms), infections, or nutritional deficiencies.
The following articles at PetEducation.com describe the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of these diseases:
Aortic Stenosis
Heart Attacks
Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis)
Mitral Valve Insufficiency: A Cause of Heart Failure
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA)
Pulmonic (Pulmonary) Stenosis
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Hypothyroidism:
Thyroid abnormalities are common on this breed. This is not any different than other breeds in the dog world. Hypothyroidism however in the Neapolitan Mastiff becomes magnified when a group of fanciers seek, and a small portion of breeders attempt to produce Neapolitan's that are referred to as "monster" Neapolitan Mastiff's, or one that is so grotesquely "typey" that it's wrinkles are excessive and exaggerated. It is much easier to produce these "monster" Neapoltians by inbreeding, and made even easier when breeding with Neapolitans whom have very low thyroidhormone levels. Of course this is relative since it's much harder to reproduce dogs whom are hypothyroid due to the common reproduction problems that these dogs are generally plagued with. It is important to note that a properly bred Mastino, is one whom is functional, typical, balanced, and massive (see ENCI standard). It is much harder to produce this dog than a so called "monster" Neapolitan Mastiff, furthermore there is nothing more impressive than seeing a well balanced put together Mastini whom has proper breed movement. The wrinkles should not look like hanging meat from it's body or head, rather chiseled folds that make a sculpture giving the unique beautiful Mastino Napoletano expression. To learn about diagnosing and more about thyroid diseases, see hypothyroidism at peteducation.com.

Immunity & Skin, Demodectic Mange:
This condition in the Neapolitan Mastiff is usually a result of inadequate or poorly developed immune systems. Whether or not Demodex causes physical conditions on a dog depends on the dogs ability to keep the population of mites under control. It is important to note that proper hygiene and preventive dipping with Amitraz, or bathing with medicated shampoo that contains Benzoyl can keep this from being a problem. Ivomec has also been proven to be extremely effective once the dog shows signs of condition. To learn more about this condition, see Demodectic Mange at peteducation.com.

Eyes:
Cherry eye - Similar to the Mastiff, Beagle, Bloodhound, Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Saint Bernard, and Shar-Pei, it is very common to see cherry eye (nictitans gland prolapse) on the Neapolitan Mastiff. The exact cause of cherry eye is not known, however weakness of the connective tissue around the eye is strongly suspected. Their has not been a study made but it would not be surprising if 10% to 20% of total Neapolitan Mastiff's produced have cherry eye. This condition is usually of no consequence other than a dent on the owners wallet. The removal of the gland is the most successful treatment, although this will limit lubrication to the cornea. Procedures have improved with "tacking" or tucking and stitching the gland into place. If you know a veterinarian good at this procedure, it might be worth a try for the dog which will benefit with proper lubrication and better eye sight as the dog gets older. To learn more about this condition, see Cherry Eye at peteducation.com.
Entropion - This is a condition which the lower eyelids turn/roll inward to the extent that rubbing occurs on the surface of the eyeball with hair. This condition is potentially very dangerous, and a Neapolitan can loose it's eye if the cornea is punctured or severally infected. To learn more about this condition, see Entropion at peteducation.com
Ectropion - When the lower lids are loose, causing a drooping of the eyelid's margins, and making the lower lids turn outward. This condition is rarely a problem except in severe cases. To learn more about this condition, see Ectropion, at peteducation.com.

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