Neapolitan Mastiffs, have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years,
When breeding a Neapolitan Mastiff it is not unusually for them to require artificial insemination and a caesarean delivery.
A veterinarian may recommend hip, eye, elbow, and cardiac exams. As a Neapolitan as in many large breeds are susceptible to some major health issues such as:-
Hip Dysplasia (CHD) is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that, in its more severe form, can eventually cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints. It is a genetic (polygenic) trait that is affected by environmental factors it is common in many dog breeds, particularly the larger breeds.
Cause
It can be caused by a femur that does not fit correctly into the pelvic socket, or poorly developed muscles in the pelvic area. Large and giant breeds are most susceptible to hip dysplasia (possibly due to the BMI of the individual animal).
The causes of hip dysplasia are considered heritable, Neutering a dog, especially before the dog has reached an age of full developmental maturity, has been proven to almost double the chance he or she will develop hip dysplasia versus intact dogs or dogs that were neutered after reaching adulthood.
Other environmental influences include overweight condition, injury, overexertion on the hip joint or, ligament tear at a young age, repetitive motion on forming joint (i.e. jogging with puppy under the age of 1 year). The problem almost always appears by the time the dog is 18 months old.
Cure
There is no complete cure. If the problem is relatively mild, then all that is needed to bring the symptoms under control are suitable medications to help the body deal better with inflammation, pain and joint wear.
Canine massage may alleviate discomfort and help move lymph and nutrients through the system.
Non-surgical interventions include three elements: weight control, exercise control, and medication. Intervention is usually via a suitable non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which doubles as an anti-inflammatory and painkiller.
Surgery
There are traditionally two types of surgery – those which reshape the joint to reduce pain or help movement, and hip replacement for animals which completely replaces the damaged hip with an artificial joint.
Reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_dysplasia_(canine)
Demodicosis (Mange)
Is an inflammatory disease in dogs caused by various types of the Demodex mite.
Demodectic mange may either be localized and affect specific areas of the body, or generalized, where it affects the entire body. If localized, symptoms are usually mild, with lesions occurring in patches, especially on the face, trunk, or legs. If generalized, symptoms will be more widespread and appear across the body. These symptoms include alopecia, a redness of the skin (erythema), and the appearance of scales and lesions.
Causes
While an exact cause of mange in dogs is unknown, many experts believe genetic factors, such as problems with the immune system, may predispose a dog to developing mange.
Three species of mites have been identified to cause mange in dogs. While the mode of transmission is unknown for two of these, it is known that one type, Demodex canis, inhabits the skin and hair follicles and may transfer from mother to newborn during nursing.
Diagnosis
Skin scrapings are used to find and diagnose demodicosis in dogs. Plucking hairs may also help identify the mite responsible for the condition.
A urine test will identify other possible diagnoses, namely those caused by a disorder with the dog’s metabolic system. Alternative diagnoses may include bacterial infection in the hair follicle.
Reference http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_multi_Demodicosis
Cardiomyopathy
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle that is characterized by an enlarged heart that does not function properly. With DCM, both the upper and lower chambers of the heart become enlarged, with one side being more severely affected than the other. When the ventricle, or lower chamber, becomes enlarged, its ability to pump blood out into the lungs and body deteriorates. When the heart’s ventricle does not pump enough blood into the lungs, fluid begins to accumulate in the lungs. An enlarged heart soon becomes overloaded, and this often leads to congestive heart failure (CHF).
The incidence of DCM in dogs increases with age, usually affecting dogs between four and ten years old.
The major symptoms of DCM include lethargy, anorexia, rapid and excessive breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, abdominal distension, and transient loss of consciousness.
Treatment
Treatment for DCM is heavily focused on improving the heart’s function, and on treating the symptoms of congestive heart failure. Drugs may be administered to enhance heart contraction and to slow down rapid beating, and diuretics may be used to control the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Vasodilators, drugs that induce dilation of the blood vessels, and help the heart pump blood more effectively, are also usually part of the therapy for DCM.
REFERENCE http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_dg_cardiomyopathy_dilated
Cherry Eye
The most common sign of “cherry eye” is an oval mass protruding from the dog’s third eyelid. It can occur in one or both eyes, and may be accompanied by swelling and irritation.
The third eyelid plays an essential role in vision by supplying oxygen and nutrients to the eye via tear production. Cherry eye results from a defect in the retinaculum which is responsible for anchoring the gland to the periorbita. This defect causes the gland to prolapse and protrude from the eye as a red fleshy mass. Problems arise as sensitive tissue dries out and is subjected to external trauma. Exposure of the tissue often results in secondary inflammation, swelling, or infection. If left untreated, this condition can lead to Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and other complications.
Non-surgical
Cherry eye, if caught early, can be resolved with a downward diagonal-toward-snout closed-eye massage of the affected eye or occasionally self-corrects alone or with antibiotics and steroids. Sometimes the prolapse will correct itself with no interference, or with slight physical manual massage manipulation as often as necessary coupled with medication.
Surgical
Surgery is the most common means of repairing a cherry eye. Surgery involves gland replacement, not excision, by anchoring the membrane to the orbital rim.
In severely infected cases, preoperative antibiotics may be necessary by means of antibiotic eye ointment. Removal of the gland was once an acceptable treatment, and made the eye appear completely normal. Despite cosmetic appeal, removal of the gland reduces tear production by 30 per cent. Tear production is essential in maintaining and protecting the eye from the external environment. Reduced tear production is especially problematic in breeds of animals predisposed to Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). With surgeries performed in this manner, KCS often results later in life.
Causes
Cherry eye is most commonly associated with a congenital weakness of the gland’s attachment in the dog’s eye. However, it is not known whether the condition is inherited.
Treatment
Treatment often includes surgical replacement of the gland in the dog’s eye, or removal of the entire gland if the condition is severe. Conversely, if medications are recommended, they are typically topical anti-inflammatory drugs that are effective in reducing swelling.
http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/eyes/c_multi_prolapsed_gland
Elbow dysplasia.
A condition involving multiple developmental abnormalities of the elbow-joint, specifically the growth of cartilage or the structures surrounding it. These abnormalities, known as ‘primary lesions’, give rise to osteoarthritic processes.
Most primary lesions are related to osteochondrosis, which is a disease of the joint cartilage and specifically Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD or OD), the separation of a flap of cartilage on the joint surface. Other common causes of elbow dysplasia included ununited anconeal process (UAP) and fragmented or ununited medial coronoid process (FCP or FMCP).
Osteochondritis dissecans is difficult to diagnose clinically as the animal may only exhibit an unusual gait. Consequently, OCD may be masked by, or misdiagnosed as, other skeletal and joint conditions such as hip dysplasia. The problem develops in puppy hood although often sub clinically, and there may be pain or stiffness, discomfort on extension, or other compensating characteristics. Diagnosis generally depends on X-rays, arthroscopy, or MRI scans. While cases of OCD of the stifle go undetected and heal spontaneously, others are exhibited in acute lameness.
Surgery is recommended once the animal has been deemed lame, before then non-surgical control is usually used
Causes
In OCD, the normal change of cartilage to bone in the development of the joint fails or is delayed. The cartilage continues to grow and may split or become necrotic. The cause is uncertain, but possibly includes genetics, trauma, and nutrition (including excessive calcium and decreased Vitamin C intake) OCD lesions are found in the elbow at the medial epicondyle of the humerus. All types of OCD of the elbow are most typically found in large breed dogs, with symptoms starting between the ages of 4 to 8 months. Males are affected twice as often as females. The disease often affects both elbows (30 to 70 percent of the time), and symptoms include intermittent lameness, joint swelling, and external rotation and abduction of the paw.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is through x-rays, arthroscopy or CT (computed tomography). In cases with significant lameness, surgery is the best option, especially with UAP. However, conservative treatment is often enough for cases of FMCP and OCD of the medial humeral epicondyle. Dogs that are exercised regularly and given pain medication, and between the ages of 12 to 18 months the lameness will often improve or disappear. Control of body weight is important in all cases of elbow dysplasia, and prevention of quick growth spurts in puppies may help to prevent the disease.
Surgery for FMCP consists of removal of cartilage and bone fragments and correction of any incongruity of the joint. Reattachment of UAP with a screw is usually attempted before the age of 24 weeks, and after that age the typical treatment is removal of the UAP. Without surgery, UAP rapidly progresses to osteoarthritis, but with FMCP osteoarthritis typically occurs with or without surgery. Osteoarthritis is also a common sequela of OCD of the humerus despite medical or surgical treatment. Elbow replacement surgery has been developed and can be an option for treatment
Fragmentation of the medial coronoid process
Non-surgical treatment
Conservative therapies include NSAIDs, pain medication, weight management and exercise restriction. The problems with these therapies is that they do not work well, especially long-term.
Total elbow replacement
The elbow is a complex joint, bears 60% of body load, and tolerates problems less well than the hips. As a result, elbow replacement is more complex than hip replacement, rehabilitation can take significantly longer, and some degree of lameness will remain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbow_dysplasia
