1. Do Mastiffs have any genetic health problems?

Mastiffs are probably about average when it comes to the number of hereditary health problems that they are prone to. Being a large breed they are very prone to joint problems. For more information on genetic problems.

• Potentially life threatening or serious:
  (*these conditions may be inherited or in some cases acquired)
  • Joint: hip dysplasia; elbow dysplasia (ununited anconeal process, fragmented coronoid process, degenerative joint disease); osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the shoulders, knees, elbows or hocks.
  • Eye problems that cause blindness: cataracts*, retinal dysplasia with detachment, glaucoma*, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
  • Other inherited eye problems: geographic retinal dysplasia, Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM), entropion.
  • Hypothyroidism*, immune deficiencies.
  • Wobblers syndrome.
  • Skin: demodectic mange, deep pyoderma.
  • Nervous system: myasthenia gravis*, muscular dystrophy*, epilepsy *
  • Other: cardiomyopathy*, leukemia, bone cancer*, cystinuria.
• Less serious and/or less common:
  (*these conditions may be inherited or in some cases acquired)
  • Eye problems: ectropion, iris cysts, macroblapharon (haw), corneal dystrophy*, distichiasis, cherry eye, dry eye, retinal folds.
  • Skin: allergies
  • Joint problems: HOD (hypertrophic Osteo Dystrophy), degenerative joint disease*, arthritis*, spondylosis of the spine.
  • Reproductive: cryptorchid, monorchid, vaginal hyperplasia.
  • Heart: murmurs*, pulmonic stenosis.
  • Other: hernias, von Willebrands Disease (vWD).

 What are the common non-genetic health problems in Mastiffs?

Mastiffs are subject to the same common diseases and afflictions as every other breed of dog. Some of the more prevalent are:

• Joint and bone: cruciate ligament rupture, panosteitis, elbow hygroma.
• Urinary tract: kidney and bladder infections, bladder stones.
• Ear infections, hot spots, cysts and tumors.
• Reproductive: uterine inertia, pyometra, other uterine infections, mastitis, breast cancer.
• Cancer (bowel, brain, spine, etc. Some forms of cancer are inherited, most are not).
• Other: gastric torsion (bloat), pica (eating rocks, socks, etc.)
• What other problems do Mastiffs have?
1. • Temperament:
     1. Aggressive
     2. Fearful (inherited or lack of socialization).
     3. Shy
   • Structural faults:
     1. Limbs: weak pasterns, cow-hocks, straight shoulders, stifles and/or hocks, elbows in or out instead of parallel
     2. Bite: very undershot, overshot, crooked teeth, wry (twisted) jaw
     3. Tail: abnormally short, kinked, bob tail
     4. Feet: flat (hare foot), loose toes, turned toes or feet
     5. Coat: long hair, no under coat, excessive white markings (piebald)
     6. Movement: paddling, crossing, sidewinding, overreaching, lack of drive.
   • Problems caused by their size:
     1. Expensive and difficult to take on an airplane once mature
     2. Navigating steep stairs
     3. Getting into small cars
     4. Happy Tail (Crate Tail) syndrome - prone to abrasions (often accompanied by considerable blood splattering) from wagging against things.