Mastiff Club of America Charitable Trust

02/13/2026

From the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals-

"...here remains a widespread lack of understanding regarding the optimal use of phenotypic information in breeding programs. As a result, many breeders have not taken full advantage of the information available, slowing their progress toward minimizing disease..."
Read More:
https://ofa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/hovanart.pdf

12/28/2024

Another funny!

10/19/2024

When you get your 8 week old puppies, please keep these images in mind. Their bones do not even touch yet. They plod around so cutely with big floppy paws and wobbly movement because their joints are entirely made up of muscle, tendons, ligaments with skin covering. Nothing is fitting tightly together or has a true socket yet.

When you run them excessively or don't restrict their exercise to stop them from overdoing it during this period you don't give them a chance to grow properly. Every big jump or excited bouncing run causes impacts between the bones. In reasonable amounts this is not problematic and is the normal wear and tear that every animal will engage in.

When you're letting your puppy jump up and down off the lounge or bed, take them for long walks/hikes, you are damaging that forming joint. When you let the puppy scramble on tile with no traction you are damaging the joint.

You only get the chance to grow them once. A well built body is something that comes from excellent breeding and a great upbringing-BOTH, not just one.

Once grown you will have the rest of their life to spend playing and engaging in higher impact exercise. So keep it calm while they're still little baby puppies and give the gift that can only be given once.

By Patricia Crespo
Photos Veteriankey.com @62 days

*Many Bones are not fully fused until 13mo of age.

09/23/2024

CHF-funded research out of PennVet that is practical and potentially life-saving ! Read more to protect your dog from heat stress and heat stroke.

As summers continue to get warmer year-over-year, new research from the Penn Vet Working Dog Center (PVWDC) reveals the best way to prevent dogs from overheating.

After comparing various cooling methods, researchers found when a dog voluntarily submerged their head in clean, room-temperature water to retrieve a treat or toy, they not only cooled off faster, but also avoided dangerous post-exercise temperature spikes.

“During heat stress, blood flow to the head, nose, tongue, and ears is increased,” said Cynthia M. Otto, VMD, PhD, lead author of the study and executive director of the PVWDC. “Cooling the tissues of the head allows for rapid cooling of the whole body with limited amounts of water.”

🔗 Learn how to correctly teach your dog this game-changing method by visiting: https://bit.ly/4eajKuy

06/07/2024

Mastiff Health

Anesthesia is an important consideration for our giants! Our gentle giants have a few dos and don’ts regarding the use of anesthesia. Due to their immense size and breed proclivity to slow metabolization of certain anesthetics. If your dogs must undergo any sort of procedure make sure you remember this important information!

Aceprozamine: DO NOT GIVE
Interesting quick video on Ace in general and note: do NOT use for noise phobias! Makes them more sensitive to it!

Atropine: Have read conflicting things on this drug. My vet usually gave to my mastiffs to help cut back on any excessive drooling/saliva/mucous - never had any problems with its use. Can increase heart rate.

Butorphanol/Buprenorphine: Opioid/pain control.

Dexdomitor: Generally safe but can also decrease heart rate, etc. So do NOT use for dogs with existing heart failure, etc. NOTE: This is also the same drug that is used in the new drug “Sileo” -- a sublingual oral gel that is given to help with anxiety issues in dogs.

Can be REVERSED with Atipamezole: Administration of atipamezole after dexmedetomidine rapidly reverses the effects and thus shortens the recovery period. Within 15 minutes dogs and cats are normally awake and standing.

Ketamine: Usually combined with va**um as a pre-anesthetic. Can also add in butorphanol.

Medetomidine: DO NOT USE

Opioids: Can cause sedation but more effective for pain. Class if opioid drugs include: Morphine, Tramadol, oxymorphone, hydromorphone, codeine, Butorphanol/Buprenorphine

Romifidine: Do not use with pre-existing heart issues

Rompum/Xylazine: DO NOT USE

IV SEDATION before Inhalant (generally):
Thiopental/Telazol: IV sedation
Propofol: IV sedation
Thiopental (also known as “Pentothal”): Discontinued in the U.S.

INHALANT Anesthetics:
Isoflurane
Halothane
Sevoflurane
Desflurane

For more information and a handy dandy PDF visit the Mastiff Health page here:
https://www.mastiffhealth.org/anesthesia.html

06/04/2024

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have updated their guidelines on when to neuter 40 popular dog varieties by breed and s*x.

https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/when-should-you-neuter-or-spay-your-dog?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3qWaJEDpKlwXDNLdGIJ4pxrkFXHbwpH9SXBIkqoEE6sUPcFuqimZMhNxA_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2024.1322276/full

https://www.frontiersin.org/files/Articles/1322276/fvets-11-1322276-HTML-r2/image_m/fvets-11-1322276-t001.jpg?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1kg8IKM3oldxlyHqUFmT4zwH1AMc1l9uTCooL7ETPCdI6RjMUaNeAn7kY_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

12/03/2023

Mastiff Health

Bloat or GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvus) is a rapid onset rapidly progressing LIFE THREATENING issue that can happen in dogs, particularly in deep chested breeds. GDV is an EMERGENCY SITUATION and MUST be treated at an emergency vet clinic. It is commonly associated with eating large meals and being active but can unfortunately spontaneously occur too especially in older dogs or dogs with a familial history of this medical emergency. Early identification and rapid treatment is key to survival and all dog owners should know the signs!

Some signs include:
an anxious look or looking at the abdomen
standing and stretching
drooling
distending abdomen
retching without producing anything
As the disease progresses, your pet may begin to pant, have abdominal distension (bloated belly), or be weak and collapse and be unresponsive. On physical examination, pets often have elevated heart and respiratory rates, have poor pulse quality, and have poor capillary refill times. Abdominal distension is commonly noted. EMERGENCY TREATMENT IS NECESSARY IF BLOAT IS SUSPECTED. GDV rapidly progresses and can cause organ damage from lack of blood flow as well as stomach rupture.

All dog owners should have a bloat chart printed and hung up for easy reference in case if emergency. We've created a handy dandy file just for that and encourage you to print a copy to have handy and spend some time going through what bloat looks like so you can be prepared!

12/01/2023

05/08/2023

Study outcome – the therapeutic ultrasound technology known as histotripsy appears to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for canine bone cancer. Read more at https://bit.ly/3LwGo4J. Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine

Histotripsy appears to be a well-tolerated and effective treatment for canine bone cancer.

02/10/2023

Sharing by request.

08/28/2022

06/15/2022

Today we remember all of the pets that have impacted our lives along the way ❤️