Diseases your Bullmastiff may suffer from. Part 1
We hope that the information below won't be ever needed. We wish
long and healthy life for your Bullmastiff. But sometimes it happens
that a dog falls ill. There is a list of diseases a Bullmastiff may
suffer from:
Allergies
Allergy is a hypersensitivity to a substance that causes the body to
react to any contact with that substance.
They can be caused by:
- food
- fleas
- environment (i.e., grass or pollen).
- medecine
Symptoms you may notice:
- red, itchy skin on the feet or groin
- dry, flaky skin
- excessive hair loss
- reddened ears with a foul-smelling discharge
- weepy, watery eyes
- runny nose.
What you should do:
- If you know for sure that allergy of your Bullmastiff was
caused by inappropriate diet. Try change your dog's diet. Make
it more natural. The food should contain a lot of mineral and
vitamins. It is preferable if it would be home cooked meal than
one bought at a store.
- See a vet. It is always necessary to consult an expert in this
issue. Veterinarians have several techniques available to
identify allergens, such as intradermal skin testing and blood
tests. A vet may prescribe antihistamines, severe cases are
often treated with short-term steroids.
Bloat
Bloat is an abnormal distension of the abdomen caused by
accumulation of gas in the stomach. This is a very dangerous
condition that may occur in any dog but is especially large,
deep-chested breeds like Bullmastiffs are endangered. Bloat often
occurs within a few hours of eating followed by exhausting exercise,
but it can also occur under normal, daily routine.
Cause:
Symptoms include:
- abdominal distension
- restlessness
- pacing
- unsuccessful attempts to vomit or pass stool
- lethargy
Treatment your vet may prescribe:
- First of all he will make an x-ray to confirm a diagnosis.
- Then he may insist on "decompression" (passing a tube through
the mouth to the stomach to release the gas).
- Surgery is indicated in severe cases.
Note! We recommend
Bullmastiff owners to remember signs and symptoms of bloat and if
you suspect that your dog is having such you should immediately go
to a vet clinic. In this case there is a high probability of saving
your dog's life.
