Greene Mountain of Zion Mastiffs

There are many advantages and disadvantages faced when owning a mastiff... One who thinks they are ready to take on the responsibility of owning one of these gentle giants must also understand what to do when it's time to do their homework on the breed... Mastiffs are not an average every day dog that anyone can own, raise and breed with ease. Mastiffs are just one of those breeds where doing your research and homework before getting a puppy serves as a very useful resource in the long run... I would like to explain the different health concerns in owning an English Mastiff as your gentle giant. Yes, they are very cute, docile, and fun loving dogs to own, but theyve also acquired many health problems over several years, problems in which responsible and reputable breeders breed to avoid these health problems and test their dogs, to make sure their prospective breeding stud or bitch will not have these problems passed on to their offspring and to make sure they can breed a compatible pair of dogs that have genetically sound pups... These are the health problems very frequent within the mastiff breed world that every prospective puppy buyer should ask their breeder or prospective breeder if they test for these things, or if they have any knowledge of any of these illnesses running in their breeding stock's bloodlines...

HYPERTHYROIDISM/THYROID PROBLEMS

http://members.aol.com/rocknrob56/thyroid.html 

http://endocrineweb.com/hyper1.html

 

BLOAT

www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm

www.canismajor.com/dog/bloat.html

www.adoptagolden.com/k9stuff/vetcorner/bloat.htm

PRA OR PROGRESSIVE RETINAL ATROPHY

http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/pra.htm

http://devinefarm.net/health/pra/

http://devinefarm.net/rp/rppra3.htm

HIP AND ELBOW DYSPLASIA

http://devinefarm.net/health/joints.htm

SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY

http://vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/deseizure.html

http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/

http://www.canine-epilepsy.net/basics/basics_main.html

http://www.belfield.com/article8.html

VWD OR THE VON WILLEBRANDS DISEASE

http://www.irishwolfhounds.org/vwd.htm

www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1614&articleid=488

http://www.cah.com/dr_lirary/vwd.html

CARDIAC

make sure you have your vet do a thorough exam of your puppy, making sure your pup has a healthy heart, free of heart murmurs, palpitations and heartworms, and any other irregularities... Also, health testing through OFA does cardiac testing

 

cardiac:  http://www.offa.org/cardiacphys.html  

ENTROPIAN

http://www.bfhbassets.com/entropian.html

 

ECTROPIAN

http://www.dogsites.com.au/internet_library/health_issues.html

www.upei.ca/~cidd/Diseases/oculardisorders/ectropion.htm 

WOBBLERS DISEASE

http://www.chetbacon.com/wobblers.htm

 

 MASTIFF PUPPY GROWTH PROBLEMS

http://members.aol.com/rocknrob56/limping.html

 

Reproductive health problems in bitches

http://members.aol.com/rocknrob56/breeding.html

also visit :  http://members.aol.com/rocknrob56/whelping.html

 

PYOMETRA

http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/pyometra.html

 

FALSE PREGNANCIES IN BITCHES

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?articleid=1100

 

AUTO IMMUNE DISORDERS IN PREGNANT MASTIFFS

http://www.beaconforhealth.org/autoimmune3.htm

http://siriusdog.com/articles/autoimmune-canine.htm

 

H.O.D OR HYPERTROPHIC OSTEODYSTROPHY

http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/dehod.html

www.workingdogs.com/doc0018.htm

www.vetsurgerycentral.com/hod.htm

O.C.D OR OSTEOCHONDRITIS DISSECANS

http://physio-net.com/reference/glossary/o.htm

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/saortho/chapter_84/84mast.htm

PANOSTEITIS AKA PANO

http://cal.vet.upenn.edu/saortho/chapter_49/49mast.htm

 

CYSTINURIA

http://caninecystinuria.com

 

GLAUCOMA

http://www.blinddogs.com/articles/glaucoma.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/articlecfm?cls=2&cat=1606&articleid=439

http://www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/glaucoma.htm

 

CHERRY EYE

http://www.ironstone.net/veterinary.htm

 

OTHER EYE PROBLEMS IN MASTIFFS

http://devinefarm.net/health/eyes.htm

 

HEAT STROKE

http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/health/healtharticle4.htm

 

How can I tell that my mastiff is "NOT" getting adequate nutrition or is not being fed a proper diet??

Signs and symptoms of a dog not having a balanced diet will result in the following:

excess shedding

dull coat

discoloration in coat

lack in luster or shine

constant diarrea or inconsistent stool

limping

knucking over of growth plates

bowed legs or longbones

constant pano more than 2 -3 times in growth

overly sleepy

bad skin

dandruff

missing hair

on and off immunity issues, AKA ( bordatella and or other viruses)

overweight dog

underweght dog

bad problems with internal or external fleas, ticks, constant case of giardia etc.

shedding more than 2x a year

excessively urinating

bowel movement more than 3 or 4 x a day

constant Vet visits for every little thing

always finding something wrong with your growing puppy

bladder/urinary infections

ear infections

your puppy has gotten parvo even after 3 rounds of vaccines

skin fungus

hot spots

dark yellow urine ( darker than normal)

As I have found in one of my mastiffs symptoms of having darker urine is usually a sign that the dog has too much protein or vitamin-supplement in their diet

clear urine

clear urine can sometimes be a sign your puppy MAY have kidney or liver failure or sometimes may be drinking too much water. ( If you feel your pup drinks an excessive amount of water or has VERY diluted urine please consult your vet on the problems you are having with your mastiff puppy.)

gaining more than  5 lbs a week within the 1st year of your mastiffs growing

 

These are all the culprits that play a role in insufficient nutrtion with your mastiff.

 

 

Now, what about nutrition, shouldnt this play apart in the health of my mastiff? What do I recommend?

I recommend:

EAGLE PACK                                                                     

:  Hollistic Duck Meal/ Oatmeal formula

: Hollistic Chicken / Brown Rice formula

:Giant breed hollistic puppy food

 This is the only dog food that has a giant breed formula specifically formualted for giant breed dogs that are known to go through specific joint problems. Some of the top Great Danes and Mastiffs in the country are on Eagle Pack and also breeders recommend the Eagle Pack line to their puppy buyers.

 

adding 2 tblsp of sugar free non flavored yogurt with  active and live cultures

 

BEST FOODS/TREATMENTS FOR MASTIFFS:

http://www.nzymes.com 

www.eaglepack.com    

http://www.greatdanelady.com   (read up on Linda Arndt's nutrition options, as she is very renowned for specializing in large breed nutrition, as well as all nutritional needs for animals in general)

www.firstchoicenaturals.com   ( Please read up on this article for any of your pets digestive/bacterial issues. This is also formulated for people!  This company has products that deal with digestive enzymes for your pets, how to treat and remedy your dogs digestive problems, problems with systemic yeast, Giardia protozoa(one of the leading bacteria causing protozoa that makes animals very ill sometimes with little to no symptoms) cardiomyopathy, gastrointestinal issues in your pets and also intestinal parasites such as worms and even tapeworms.

 

NUTRITION PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR MASTIFF PUPPY BEING RAISED PROPERLY..MANY BREEDERS RECOMMEND DIFFERENT FORMS OF NUTRITION TO THEIR MASTIFF PUPPY BUYERS  THAT HAS WORKED WELL WITH THEIR BREEDING PROGRAM AND THEIR OWN DOGS... I CAN CLEARLY ILLUSTRATE THIS MESSAGE IN THE NUTRTION OF MATIFFS NEEDING A PROPER DIET..

 

Below is a very important link regarding our pet food recall through the FDA.   PLEASE read this article in reference to my contracts for my puppies that will clearly state NONE of my pups sold are to be fed any dog food  canned or  kibble or any treats that have to do with any of these pet food companies..

 

PET FOOD RECALL LIST LINK BELOW:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/  

 

Also if you are interested in learning more about environmental diseases on pets and information on how to get preventatives for parvo, bordatella, and upper respiratory issues with your puppy or pet, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND amber technology's products for puppies and pets in general on their preventatives and cures for environmental pet diseases such as parvo, bordatella, immune disorders, heartworms, anti bacterials, the pet flu and more!!!   www.ambertech.com