The following conditions, especially the joint problems are all common problems that can affect the Cane Corso.  

Hip Dysplasia

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is the most common, inherited problem seen in the Cane Corso. All breeds and especially large breeds can be affected by hip dysplasia. No puppy is born with hip dysplasia, it is a problem which develops after birth. Recent research suggests that hip dysplasia is 25% genetic and 75% environmental.

Looking back to the modern dog’s ancestor shows how critical it was to be able to move freely and rapidly in search of prey. If enough food could not be caught or stolen due to an inability to run, jump, twist and turn then starvation would be the only alternative. When food was provided by modern man, this need for excellence declined so if the dog was a little slower and maybe a little more stiff on one leg it didn’t matter so much. The dogs association with man for possibly up to 40,000 years may appear to have been to mutual advantage but some debts wait to be paid; one of these debts concerns a condition called hip dysplasia.

HD is a term which encompasses a number of specific developmental and other abnormalities involving the hip joint. Developmental changes come first and being related mainly related to growth are known as primary changes. Others come later; these are related to wear and tear from usage and are termed secondary changes. The end result is that one or a pair of joints becomes mechanically unsound and therefore does not function properly.

If pups are to grow up to be free of HD they must be kept slim, grown very slowly so that they reach there mature body weight gradually. This must be done with a good diet and not with a poor quality diet as has become accepted practice in some circles.

You can help reduce the risk of your puppy developing HD by purchasing a pup from parents who have both been hip scored under the BVA scheme and have achieved low scores. Unfortunately however, this is no guarantee that the puppy will be free of the malady. The genes that cause this disorder can sometimes stay hidden and show up several generations later.

Recently, there has been a great improvement in treatment for dogs that have HD and many go on to live happy lives. Mild cases of HD may only need to be treated with daily oral treatments such as Glucosamine Sulphate or an anti-inflammatory which helps to reduce the pain and allow ease of movement. There are also surgical options available in more severe cases of HD such as hip replacements. 

The exercise you must encourage is play and eating exercise. The play must not be too boisterous. It must be play that will stop when the pup wants it to. This way, no abnormal or excess pressures will be placed on growth placed on growth plates or joint cartilages or tissues surrounding the joints including the muscles.

The new puppy owner should also share in the responsibility to help prevent their pup getting HD. Research shows that it is paramount for the growth rate of large breed puppies such as the Cane Corso to not be rushed. Nutrition in the diet needs to be properly balanced so the bones and soft tissue can grow and form properly. This has proved to reduce the severity of HD and even prevent it. HD has been linked to a poor diet and increasingly environmental such as over exercise, damp bedding, allowing a young pup to keep jumping up etc. All potential buyers of Cane Corso puppies need to understand that through providing their pup with a proper diet, proper exercise and quality living conditions, they play an important role in helping their puppy grow into a healthy adult. 

Elbow Dysplasia

Elbow dysplasia (ED) is a degenerative disease of the elbow joint. It is found to occur in medium and large breed dogs. Elbow dysplasia usually results in lameness which is seen between four and eight months of age and usually affects both legs.

The lameness normally starts as a mild gait change. The dog may or may not hold its elbow slightly away from its body. The problem increases with exercise and is relieved by rest and pain killers.

Definite diagnosis of elbow dysplasia can only be made by viewing X-Rays.

Treatments for mild ED can include moderation of exercise, dietary changes, glucosamine sulphate and sometimes anti inflammatory drugs. Surgical treatment is also available for severe cases. Treatment involves removing the damaged bone fragments.

Nutrition also plays a role in development of ED. Feeding high protein and fat foods to large breed dogs is not recommended. Calcium levels should be kept to a minimum and rapid growth in large breeds should be avoided at all costs.

Exercise should also be keep to a minimum in puppies and growing dogs. Puppies should never be allowed to become “over tired” and should be provided with plenty of opportunity to sleep and rest. Exercise should be gradually increased over a period of months whilst the dog is growing and developing but long walks and runs are a definite no until the Cane Corso reaches adulthood at 18 – 24 months old.

Ununited Anconeal Process

UAP occurs in large and giant breed dogs. The clinical abnormalities result from progressive degenerative joint disease. Affected animals may exhibit lameness as early as four months. The lameness is intermittent and may be exacerbated by exercise or prolonged rest. Affected dogs may sit or stand with the carpus (wrist) in a valgus position (bowing outward).

The diagnosis is confirmed by radiology. The fusion of the anconeal process may not be done until 16 - 24 weeks of age, so a diagnosis of UAP should not be made before 24 weeks of age.

Ununited anconeal process can be managed by either removing the UAP or attaching it firmly to the ulna using a lag screw. The former is the simplest and normally gives excellent results.

Fragmented Coronoid Process

This condition affects the large and giant breed dogs also.

Clinical signs are rarely noted before five months of age. They will develop. There will be lameness that is made worse by exercise or prolonged rest.

A fragmented coronoid process is rarely identified radiographically because of the superimposition of the opposite coronoid process.

Fragmented coronoid process may produce a temporary lameness that responds to rest or medical treatment. If the lameness persists then surgery is indicated. The surgical results vary with breed and age, but many dogs will settle satisfactorily.

Panosteoitis

Panosteoitis is a common cause of limping in young growing dogs and is commonly referred to as “growing pains”. Symptoms include limping that switches from one leg to another. Males are affected four times more often than females. The causes of Panosteoitis include diet, disease and genetic influence.

Treatment includes the use of anti-inflammatory medications, pain relievers and rest. There are generally no long term affects from a diagnosis of pano during puppy hood and most dogs outgrow the condition by their 2nd birthday.

Osteochondritis Dessicans

Osteochondritis Dessicans, or OCDIS, is a worsening or further problem with the cartilage in a young dog. Cartilage attached to the bone breaks and can become dislodged and become an irritant to the joint. This break can be caused by a number of factors including diet, genetic influence, body size and weight and trauma. OCD by definition can occur in almost any joint but is found most prevalently in the shoulder, elbow, knee and hock. OCD can be seen as early as 4 months or as late as 18 months.

When a section of cartilage has broken away from the bone it irritates the surrounding tissue causing pain and discomfort in the dog. If left untreated, permanent lameness may occur.

Once the diagnosis is made, usually via X-ray, there are usually 2 treatment options. The first is complete rest and the second is surgery to remove the flap.

In the first instance if your puppy develops lameness that could be associated with OCD, before any surgery is carried out you should try complete rest for a number of weeks only allowing the puppy out to go to the toilet.

Understandably it can be a difficult thing to keep an active puppy from having excess movement/exercise but you can keep the puppy occupied by giving it raw meaty bones which will provide natural exercise. A few weeks complete rest can make all the difference and the pup may never suffer from lameness again. 60% of all cases of OCD can be treated with rest. There is no need to rush and have any surgery carried out on your puppy. Surgery should only be carried out where there is no improvement after a number of weeks rest.

OCD is an extremely common joint disorder in many large breeds and research has shown that over 60% of large breed dogs will develop OCD.

Entropion

Entropion is a condition of the eye where there is an inward rolling of the eyelids.

The eyelids rub on the eyes which causes squinting, corneal irritation and if untreated, can eventually lead to visual impairment if severe enough to cause ulceration.

This causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub on the eyeball, which is both painful and often causes corneal ulcers or erosions. The corneal damage can also result in corneal scarring, which can interfere with vision. Usually the dog will squint and tear excessively. However, many flat-faced dogs with medial entropion (involving the inside corner of the eyes) show no obvious signs of discomfort.

Entropion is treated by surgical correction ("blepharoplasty"), which is essentially plastic surgery. Excessive folds and sections of facial skin are removed, and the eyelids tightened.

Ectropian

Ectropion is used to describe a condition where the lower lids are loose, causing a drooping of the eyelid's margins. The lower lids actually turn outward. One or both eyes may be involved. It can occur in any breed.

As the lower lid sags downward, the underlying conjunctiva is exposed. This forms a pouch or pocket, allowing pollens, grasses, dust, etc., to accumulate and rub against the sensitive conjunctiva. This is a consistent source of irritation in these dogs, leading to increased redness of the conjunctiva and occasional watering of the eye, which then spills out over the lower lid and face.

Many dogs live normal lives with ectropion. However, some develop repeated eye infections due to the collection of dirt, dust, etc., within the eye. Therefore, the risks are minor except in severe cases, where secondary eye infections may develop.

Some dogs require no treatment; however, if eye irritations develop, medical attention is advisable. Mild cases can be treated with eye drops or salves to alleviate irritations and/or infections when they occur. In severe cases, a surgical procedure is preferred, which removes excess tissue, thereby tightening the lids and removing the abnormal pocket.

Cherry Eye

The medical term for 'cherry eye' is nictitans gland prolapse, or prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. Unlike people, dogs have a 'third eyelid' that contains a tear gland and is located in the corner of each eye. Under normal circumstances, this gland is not visible and aids in the production of tears. For some reason, which is not completely understood, the gland of the third eyelid prolapses or comes out of its normal position and swells creating the condition known as cherry eye.

The exact cause of cherry eye is not known, but it is strongly suspected that it is due to a weakness of the connective tissue that attaches the gland to the surrounding structures of the eye.

Treatment of cherry eye is very straightforward and consists of surgically repositioning the gland.

The gland can also be surgically removed as a way to correct this condition. While this procedure is often effective, it can create dry eye later on in the dog’s life. Both surgeries are performed quickly and have very few complications, and allow the gland to return to normal function.

Runny Eyes

Cane Corsos can have runny eyes occasionally. Usually they are a symptom of one of the above eye disorders. Unless they show signs of discomfort veterinary advice is not always needed.

Bloat

Please be aware of a condition called ‘gastric torsion’, commonly known as bloat. This is life threatening condition and a true emergency. Many deep chested breeds are prone to this condition. Research has shown that the risk can be greatly reduced if the following steps are taken:

• Do not exercise your animal an hour before or after feeding.
• Do not allow your dog to drink lots of water directly before or after feeding.
• Do not feed your dog if it is panting heavily.
• Do not feed your dog a gassy dog food.

Although less common than the above, the following conditions have been noted to occur occasionally in the Cane Corso

Wobbler Syndrome

Wobbler’s syndrome, also known as Cervical Spondylopathy, is caused by improper growth of the cervical or neck vertebrae. The disease occurs when vertebrae in the neck area and their joints are badly formed. The first defect is a narrowing of the spinal canal which puts pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord. The pressure affects normal nerve impulse transmission from the brain to the rest of the body.

The cause of Wobbler’s syndrome is not clear, but a genetic link and accelerated growth are potential causes.

Dogs with Wobblers syndrome have little coordination, lameness, pain and sometimes paralysis. The problem is usually most noticeable in the hind legs.

Diagnosis is usually made via X-ray or myelogram which is a procedure that injects a dye into the spinal cord.

Treatment for Wobbler’s depends on the severity of the condition and at what stage it has been diagnosed. Complete rest, anti-inflammatory drugs and anti-oxidants such as vitamin C and E are used to help treat Wobblers syndrome.

Another treatment option is spinal surgery to stabilize the neck and relieve the pressure on the cord.

Canine Epilepsy

Seizures can occur in dogs for a number of reasons for which a medical condition is known to be the cause. When no medical reasoning can be found, the dog is then considered to be an epileptic.

Before a dogs has a seizure it may become restless, whine and salver. The dog will then fall onto it’s side and have involuntary movements such as kicking. During the seizure which generally lasts up to 3 minutes, the dog will salivate excessively and may loose bladder and bowel control. During the seizure, the dog is totally unaware of his surroundings and the owner should NEVER interfere. Any objects that may harm the dog should be moved out of the way. As the dog recovers from the seizure, he may be disorientated and very tired, the phase may be over within an hour or may last up to a couple of days.

If a dog has a seizure that lasts more than 5 minutes or has two seizures within a limited time requires veterinary help quickly.

Dogs that have seizures on a limited basis, can live long and happy lives without medication. For those dogs that have frequent seizures, medication is available from your veterinarian.

Congenital Heart Diseases

Congenital defects are those that have been present since birth. Thankfully, they are comparatively rare, accounting for only 5% of the cases seen by vets.  

Congenital defects will usually cause the blood flow through the heart to become turbulent; making a distinctive whooshing noise that vets can hear using a stethoscope. That's what is meant by a 'heart murmur'. However, if your vet tells you they've detected a heart murmur in your dog, it's not necessarily cause for concern. 

Many puppies are born with a slight heart murmur (or puppy murmur) that clears up by itself after 4-6 months. In many cases, vets will simply recommend a later checkup, just to be sure that the condition has resolved itself.

Pronounced heart murmur is quite rare, but may be indicative of a serious congenital defect. However, without specialist experience and equipment, it can be difficult for a GP vet to know what defect is causing the murmur. For this reason, if the murmur is pronounced, or persists beyond puppyhood, patients will often be referred to a specialist cardiologist.