Neapolitan Mastiff Health Care & Feeding

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Neapolitan Mastiff Health Problems

Or check out my advice for raising a healthy Neapolitan Mastiff puppy or adult dog:

Complete list of Neapolitan Mastiff health problems

Most serious diseases in Neos

Two serious diseases that claim the lives of many Neapolitan Mastiffs are cancer, and heart disease (specifically, cardiomyopathy).

As with all deep-chested breeds, Neapolitan Mastiffs are at higher-than-normal risk for the emergency gastrointestinal syndrome called bloat.

Orthopedic diseases in Neapolitan Mastiffs

This breed has an appalling rate of hip dysplasia. The Orthopedic Foundation of America evaluated the hip X-rays of nearly 200 Neapolitan Mastiffs and found 51% dysplastic – the 5th WORST RATE of all breeds.

Their elbow joints can also be malformed, with over 36% of the breed affected by elbow dysplasia.

Finally, Neapolitan Mastiffs are prone to tearing the cruciate ligament in their hind legs.

As you might expect, hip and elbow dyplasia and torn ligaments cause lameness and pain and often require expensive surgery. Thousands of dollars.

Young  Mastiffs are susceptible to a syndrome called panosteitis , which causes pain and lameness. Fortunately it is usually self-limiting.

Eye diseases in Neapolitan Mastiffs

Eye diseases that occur regularly are cherry eye , and eyelid abnormalities where the eyelid is improperly curled (either rolling in toward the eyeball or rolling away from the eyeball).

Thyroid disease in Neapolitan Mastiffs

Hypothyroidism is common in giant breeds. According to the Michigan State University Thyroid Database, up to 14% of Neapolitan Mastiffs have low thyroid levels.

Skin and coat issues in Neapolitan Mastiffs

Chronic allergies cause itchy skin that can lead to bacterial infections, made worse by the folds of wrinkled skin that provide a dark, moist hiding place for bacteria and yeast. You need to keep the wrinkleds clean and dry on this breed, which is a challenge given how much they slobber!

All of the mastiff breeds, when young, are prone to demodectic mange.

Older mastiffs, because of their great weight, are prone to developing elbow hygroma, a fluid-filled lump that develops over the bony elbow that acts as a pressure point whenever they lie on hard surfaces. Provide your Neapolitan Mastiff with a soft cushy bed that protects his elbows.

Even with his short coat, the Neapolitan Mastiff tolerates cold weather better than he does the heat. It's a combination of his dark coat absorbing heat plus is limited ability to "pant out" that built-up heat throughout his giant body. Be forewarned: Neos have died from heatstroke.

Preventing health problems

Some health problems are inherited. For example, if your dog inherits from his parents the genes for an eye disease called PRA, he will go blind and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

But most health problems can be prevented by the ways you raise your dog.

My best-selling book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy shows you how to raise your Neapolitan Mastiff in all the right ways that help prevent health problems. Become your dog's health care champion!