Diet Supplements and the English Mastiff

Studies have shown that daily supplements of Vitamin C can decrease the incidence and/or severity of hip dysplasia. As puppies I gave my dogs both 1000 mg of Vitamin C each day. At around 6 months of age I increased the dosage to about 2000mg per day. The best thing about Vitamin C is that any extra amount that is not used up by the body is simply expelled through the urine, so you don’t have to worry about a build-up in their system. I have also found it is much easier to give to them if you buy the powdered form.  You can just sprinkle it on the dog’s food instead of trying to give them multiple horse sized pills each day.

There are two other supplements that can and should be given to your dog in my opinion. One is a daily supplement of fish oil or coconut oil.  I give coconut oil in the morning with breakfast and fish oil in the evening with dinner. Make sure the fish oil is all natural with no chemicals added and that the coconut oil is cold pressed.  While Omega fats and oils play many important roles in the body, it helps keep the coat healthy and can aid in joint movement.  I also recommend a daily Glucosamine/Chondroiton Supplement.  This can be given for the life of the dog. I used to give human pill form Glucosamine, but recently switched to a liquid concentrate.  Again, it’s much easier to administer, just a tablespoon or so on the food, plus it’s much more cost effective to purchase it in this form.

Finally, one supplement you should NEVER give a Mastiff is CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS! The use of calcium supplements can lead to bone and joint deformities and electrolyte imbalances, especially as a puppy. All the calcium a dog needs will come from its food, ensuring a proper balance of minerals for its growth.

Unsafe and "Safer" Anesthesia's for the Mastiff

We all know that Mastiffs are not built like a typical dog.  Because of their huge chest cavities and slower circulation due to their sheer size, many Mastiffs have a specific inability to metabolize drugs in the normal time frame that other dogs do.  Below I have compiled a very specific list of anesthesias that I personally consider unsafe or safe (or we’ll say ‘safer’) to use on Mastiffs.  Please remember that any time you put any dog under anesthesia there is a risk, but hopefully if your vet is willing to do a little research and listen to you as a client, that risk can be minimized.  It is your job to be the advocate for your pet, if you vet is unwilling to listen to your concerns or wants to use an anesthesia you aren't comfortable with, in my book that's the only indicator I need to find a new vet fast!

I wanted to note that much of this information was in summary taken from Dr. Robin M. Smith, DVM’s article Anesthesia and the Mastiff; however some is from my own personal experience or experiences of other Mastiff owners I am in communication with.  Here's a link to Dr. Smith's full article if you are interested: Anesthesia and the Mastiff

Anesthesia’s not to be used on Mastiffs

·        Acepromazine (Ace) - lowers blood pressure and dilates blood vessels, making blood pressure even lower.  It also metabolizes very slowly and accumulates in fatty tissues.

·        Xylazine (Rompum) - difficult to dose in giant breeds and makes dog susceptible to heart abnormalities.

·        Sodium Penthathol (or any of the Thiopentals) - stays in the system a very long time, if leaks from vein it can irritate or kill the tissue.

·        Halothane (gas) - sensitizes the heart and can cause irregular heartbeats - if used, closely monitor dog.

·        Atrophine - causes gut to slow down and predispositions dog to bloat.

  

Anesthesia’s that are safer alternatives for Mastiffs

·        Valium - not much effect on heart, can be used in conjunction with Ketamine.

·        Ketamine - not much effect on heart, can be used in conjunction with Valium.

·        Telazol - similar to Valium and Ketamine, but don't exceed a dose of 1.5cc total. (Some Mastiffs have recently had issues with this drug, so it may be moved to my ‘unsafe’ list soon)

·        Propofol – generally safe, used for quickly knocking dog out.  Dog recovers as soon as gas is removed.  Can sometimes lower blood pressure though, so dog needs to be constantly monitored.

·        Oxymorphone - can cause respitory depression in some dogs, so dog needs to be constantly monitored (Naloxone is the drug used to reverse Oxymorphone and seems to works well).

Feeding Your Mastiff Puppy

UPDATE: January 2016 - This post is several years old.  I have been feeding a raw diet for nearly 5 years now and it is in my opinion the best thing I could ever do for my dogs. If you are looking for advice or opinions on a specific brand of food please follow the protocol I set forth in the blog post Choosing a Top Quality Dry Food or visit dogfoodadvisor.com to find out the specific rating of a food. I have fed raw so long I can't comment on any one food other than what is outlined in my articles and at dogfoodadvisor.com

When it comes to feeing your puppy, try to feed them 3 to 4 times a day until your pup reaches 3-4 months of age, and then advance them to twice a day. Your puppy will indicate to you how much you should be feeding them. You can start with the guide below, but if your puppy eats the recommended amount of feed within a reasonable time, 20 minutes or so, then increase the feeding 1-cup at a time.

4-8 weeks of age         3-4 cups per day spread between 3-4 meals
8-12 weeks                  4-6 cups per day spread between 3-4 meals
12-16 weeks                6-8 cups per day spread between 3-4 meals
4 to 6 months             8-10 cups per day spread between 2-3 meals
6-18 months               8-12 cups per day spread between 2-3 meals

It is also important to remember how prone to bloat Mastiffs are.  I don’t feel comfortable feeding more than about 3 ½ cups in one sitting to help keep the risk to a minimum.  Also be sure to keep you puppy or dog from guzzling water after a meal.  A drink is fine, but don’t let them drain the dish, you don’t want all that dehydrated kibble expanding too quickly in their gut.

Make sure you puppy has access to fresh clean water at all times.  Water should NEVER be withheld to aid in potty training.  The only time my dogs or puppies do not have access to water is when they are crated, and for very young puppies this should be for short amounts of time only.

When choosing a food for your puppy, make sure to feed a quality kibble with no by-products or added chemicals.  It is also good to go ahead and start your puppy on adult food, not puppy food (your vet may argue with this, but they aren’t giant breed specialists, remember these aren’t large breed dogs, they are giant breed dogs).  Most puppy foods have protein levels that are too high for giant breeds that grow so rapidly.  You want your protein level to be right around 25% and absolutely no higher than 28%.  It is also important to keep  your calcium/phosphorus ratio right at 1:1.  Doing these things is a huge step in preventing conditions like HOD (Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy) or Panosteitis.  These are both painful conditions and can be crippling for life if not treated with a balanced diet.

Remember, the size of your Mastiff is genetic, not nutritional. You cannot hurt your puppy by keeping him lean and fit, but overfeeding a Mastiff puppy can ruin them orthopedically for life, causing a lot of pain and numerous vet bills over the life of your Mastiff.