Neapolitan Mastiff health issues and how to prevent them
The Neapolitan Mastiff, also known as the Italian Mastiff, is a large and ancient breed of dog. Like other large dogs, they are plagued with health issues regarding their joints, heart, and heat exhaustion. It is important to identify these issues properly so that we can prevent them from occurring. Here are some key points on what to be aware of in caring for your Neapolitan Mastiff’s health:
Joints
Because of their large size, the Neapolitan Mastiff is prone to having joint dislocation. This may cause pain to the dog and can be identified by lameness of the limbs or difficulty in walking. In order to prevent this, it is important to avoid the increase in your dog’s size and that is through weight management. Balanced diet comprising of low or none fatty foods are important. Brisk walking would be the excellent exercise so that the joint are not overworked.
Heart
Another issue of the Neapolitan Mastiff is cardiomyopathy or heart muscle disease. If left untreated, this condition progresses to heart failure and is fatal. Even though it is acquired through heredity, there are still ways to prevent this disease from advancing. Like the previous issue, weight management is the focus because increase in size of the dog would cause additional heart pumping. Again, a diet of low or none fatty foods and exercise is required. Strenuous activity such as prolonged running should be avoided. Have your dog checked regularly by the vet for early detection and treatment.
Heat
Neapolitan Mastiff are known to be sensitive to heat that could lead to heat strokes. Make sure to provide plenty of water and shade to the dog. As much as possible, avoid keeping them in standing heat especially during summer. Keep the area where the dog stays properly ventilated if they are kept indoors.
