Health Issues that affect the Breed
BLOAT
Gastric torsion -volvulus is also known as bloat or twisted stomach , it is an extremely serious condition and should always be considered a life threatening .Because the Dogue is a deep chested dog they are prone to this condition , so it is always wise to feed them split there daily meal into two ,as dogs fed once a day are more likely to get bloat , and to avoid exercise after eating for at least an hour with limited water intake. Some people fed there dogs using raised feeders to reduce the risk of bloat , but there is no scientific evidence to confirm it lessens a dogs risk.
Gastric Torsion Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJVgNB5wSng&feature=related
Hip / Elbow Dysplasia
Hip and Elbow dysplasia these are a major problem with the breed mainly because they are a large breed they grow very fast and if care is not taken when they are young this can have a disastrous effect on them as they get older , it is always wise to make sure any breeding dogs are hip and elbow scored before breeding to reduce this in the breed and also avoid young ones from using stairs and jumping up and down off things until at least 6-8 months of age . ...because they have large chests there is a lot of weight on those elbows.
Hip dysplasia Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTwi8TRs6z8
Heart disease
Heart disease is becoming more of a health issue with the breed ,especially Dilated Cardiomyopathy ,Pulmonary Stenosis, ASA and Mitral Dysplasia, so again always a good idea to health check any potential breeding dogs on a cardiograph as a stethoscope is not thorough enough .....this is a very heartbreaking and financially draining disease to have to deal with and sometimes can go undiagnosed until the dog dies suddenly.
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid gland has a number of functions in the body , but is most well known for regulating the metabolism . If you have a dog that has trouble gaining weight ,is obese and suffer from Skin and hair conditions a quick blood test can check out the various levels of thyroid hormones including T 3 and T 4. Most dogs once diagnosed respond really well to treatment.
Skin conditions
Demodectic mange is the most common skin condition in the breed and can be easy treated if got onto when the signs first appear , hair loss, skin irritation , crustiness ,scabbiness and possible itching....skin infections from scratching can become another issue is left can become life threatening . Ivormec is usually the choice of treatment under vet supervision only ,advantage multi can be used as a preventative treatment but is not a remedy for the condition.
The latest treatment being used is the Bravecto tablet but we do urge you to do your research before opting to use this drug.
Boosting your dogs immune system by way of natural supplements is also necessary as it is generally caused by a lowered immune system.
Allergies
This breed can suffer from allergies so they are best fed a well balanced raw diet or a grain free dry food.
Panosteitis
Also known as wandering lameness or pano , it is most commonly seen between the age of 5 – 12 mths and is the result of excessive bone production on the long bones.....growing pains i guess you could say. Diet is thought to be a contributing factor in pano as a puppy diet contains a high protein levels it also increases growth rate and can increase the chance of pano so it can sometimes be a good idea to pup your pup if they suffer pano on an adult diet earlier . Pano is usually outgrown by the age of 18 mths old.
Eye problems
Entropian ( rolling inward ) eyelids and Ectropian ( drooping or rolling outward) eyelids are the most common eye problems . Ectropian ,unless very pronounced, does not generally lead to severe disease of the eye itself ,however a drooping eyelid can catch dust and debris which will cause irritation and possible eye infections .Entropion on the other hand frequently causes ocular pain and corneal disease. If the eyelid is rolled inward sufficiently so that the hairs of the eyelid rub on the eye, much damage may be done. Dogs with entropion usually squint and have watery eyes. If the entropion is not corrected and the rubbing continues, ulcers often develop on the cornea and the cornea becomes pigmented. Vision may be lost. Dogs that have had entropion correction surgery cannot be shown.
Epilepsy & Seizures
A seizure is a convulsion caused by abnormal bursts of electrical activity in the brain. They may last from seconds to minutes. Some characteristics of seizures will include jerking of the limbs, anxiety, salivation, vocalizing, and loss of bodily functions (urination/defecation). Epilepsy can be caused by metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, brain injury, toxins, or brain tumors. A genetic seizure condition can occur in dogs called idiopathic (of unknown cause) or inherited epilepsy. Since a dog with idiopathic epilepsy shows no recognizable abnormalities, it is assumed to be an inherited condition in most breeds and demonstrated to be heritable in some breeds. Treatment of seizures is usually two-fold which includes treatment of the underlying problem (infection, tumor, injury) and reducing or eliminating the seizure episodes with anticonvulsant medication.