Obesity: Maintaining a lean body weight is ideal for all dogs, but especially for large or giant breeds because obesity can cause stress on the body and lead to other health issues. Your Italian Cane Corso will benefit from regular exercise and being on a well-balanced diet to avoid obesity. Always work with your veterinarian to determine the best nutrition plan for your dog’s life stage.
Hip & Elbow Dysplasia: Hip dysplasia is a degenerative joint disease that affects the back legs. Elbow dysplasia is a similar condition that affects the front legs. Bone and joint problems are a common cause of pain in large- and giant-breed dogs. Clinical signs include limping, decreased range of motion, and other signs of pain—especially later in life, as arthritis sets in.
Treatment for degenerative joint diseases can include:
Weight loss
Physical therapy
Joint protection supplements
Anti-inflammatory medications
Pain medications
Surgery
Testing, such as the PennHIP, can help predict your dog’s lifetime risk of hip dysplasia.
Idiopathic Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a seizure disorder, and “idiopathic” refers to a condition that arises spontaneously, when there is no known cause. These seizures usually develop in dogs around 3 years of age. While there is no cure, the seizures can be managed with medication. Dogs with idiopathic epilepsy can live long, productive, happy lives.
Demodectic Mange: Demodectic mange is a skin condition in dogs that can develop due to a genetic predisposition. Puppies have an immature immune system, which can leave them susceptible to demodex mites. Adult dogs with underlying health problems can also develop demodectic mange. The skin condition is not contagious to other dogs.
Clinical signs of demodectic mange include:
Hair loss
Scaly skin
Red bumps
Darkening and thickening of the skin
Varying degrees of itch
While common around the face and head in puppies, the lesions can develop anywhere on the body.
Not all cases of demodex require treatment; very small lesions can resolve on their own in one or two months. Larger skin lesions or those distributed all over the body can be treated with topical and/or oral medications. Affected dogs should not be bred.
Eyelid Abnormalities: Italian Cane Corso dogs are susceptible to a few different eye conditions.
Entropion is the most common eyelid abnormality in dogs. The eyelid rolls inward, and the eyelashes rub on the cornea (the eye surface).
Ectropion usually affects the lower lids, causing a “droopy eye” look. The eyelids appear to fold away from the eye and may be inflamed.
Cherry eye occurs when the gland of the third eyelid is out of its proper position. The third eyelid is in the inner corner of the eye (close to the muzzle), and when the tear gland that is associated with it is out of position, it appears as a pink or red mass.
These conditions can cause chronic irritation and secondary bacterial infections and conjunctivitis. Surgery is the only way to correct these eyelid issues, and eye medications will likely be part of the recovery process.
Bloat and GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus): Large, deep-chested dog breeds are susceptible to a life-threatening stomach condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus. It can occur suddenly when the stomach enlarges with gas (bloat) and then twists on itself (GDV).
If you notice your dog’s stomach area enlarge quickly or your dog appears to have abdominal pain (whining with or without touching belly, stretching with front legs down/back legs up, reluctance to walk, not eating), contact an emergency veterinarian immediately.
While bloat can sometimes be treated with aggressive medical intervention, a GDV requires emergency corrective surgery to save the dog’s life.
The best way to keep your Cane Corso from developing a life-threatening GDV is gastropexy. This surgery is often done when Cane Corso puppies are being spayed or neutered. A gastropexy permanently attaches the stomach to the inside body wall—this fixation of the stomach keeps it from being able to twist upon itself.
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