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littleberry · 7 years ago

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Canine Hip Displasia

The 10 most important things to know about canine hip dysplasia and your Cane Corso

Just like humans, dogs have to suffer from different musculature issues, as they grow older. I don’t know about you, but as I start to get older, I find it harder and harder to get out of bed. These bones, joints and muscles are what they used to be when I was in my 20s. One of the quickly growing disorders in dogs is hip dysplasia. It has recently become a hot topic and doctors have been working for many years to find the cause and solution to this issue that affects millions of dogs, especially mastiff breeds such as the Cane Corso.

Reputable breeders are now trying their best to reduce the production of affected puppies and educate new puppy owners on how to avoid things that can lead to hip dysplasia. Here we have 10 important things that you must know and understand about hip dysplasia issues with dogs.

1-The perfectly normal hip

In the early age, people had the miss conception that puppies were born with hip dysplasia. Scientist have found after studies and long hours of research that the hip dysplasia is not a congenital disease. None of the puppies are born with the disorder in fact of the puppy has to suffer from the disorder the degenerative changes will start after the birth takes places.

They have been able to prove in a publicized study that when a puppy is born he has perfect hips and there are no issues with the puppy. However, with the passage of time, the biochemical reactions start to take place in its body that leads to the issue of hip dysplasia. Puppy should be evaluated and tested as soon as they are born to ensure that they are healthy.

2-Gene Unknown: Hip dysplasia

Some scientists have found that the cause of hip dysplasia can be genetic. Though the gene that could potentially cause hip dysplasia has not been identified in any breed. Scientist and researchers have been trying to find this very gene for years without any success.

There are some breeds of dogs that have more chances of developing the problem as compared to others

In some studies, scientists were unable to find the target gene that was the cause of the issue

It has been noticed that without the identification of the gene the possible treatment of the disorder cannot be formulated

Some traits have been identified by the scientists and they consider them the effective cause of hip dysplasia.

Many genetic solutions are tested every year to find the cause of hip dysplasia

3-Environmental factors

Research has found that a dogs heredity is definitely not the cause of hip dysplasia. There are many breeds that are suffering from the issue due to the non-genetic causes. Studies have shown that 15 to 40% of the dogs are suffering from hip dysplasia due to the genetic causes. It means that rest of the population is suffering due to the non-genetic causes. So, it would not be wrong to say that environmental factors also play an important role in the occurrence of the problem.

If we can understand that environmental factors that are the cause of the issue then the production of hip dysplasia in dogs can be reduced effectively. It will help us to prevent the puppies from all such factors that might lead towards the issues and so their pain and suffering can be reduced. If the environmental factors are controlled then the chances of puppies suffering from hip dysplasia can be reduced. The weight, movement of joints and exercise plan of the dog are the major environmental factors that might lead to hip dysplasia.

4-Joint Laxity

All the puppies are born with the perfect bones and hips. It is important to protect the puppy’s joints from developing laxity if you do not want him to develop hip dysplasia. The major cause of the joint laxity is when the head of the femur is unable to fit into the ball of the acetabulum. The causes of joint laxity are:

Over feeding

Traumatic injury

Lack of muscular strength

Extra force in the adductors

It is the primary factors that cause the issue of hip dysplasia in the dogs. It is important that you take extra care of your dog so that he will not develop joint laxity. Prevent your puppy from all such kind of activities that will reduce the power of his muscles.

5-Control joint stability

The strength of the teres ligament in the puppy is very important. You have to ensure that your puppy does the kinds of activities that will help him to keep the proper balance on his legs so that their stability will improve.

When the dogs cannot stabilize their legs properly, it causes many issues. The head of the femur is easily displaced from the acetabulum that leads to hip dysplasia. When your puppy is learning to walk it is important that you pay special attention towards its step. You should provide it with the required support so that it does not fall while learning to walk. Falling on uneven places might lead to a muscle tear and that would be the primary cause of hip dysplasia. If you are noticing any signs it is important that you take extra care and see a vet.

6-Pay attention towards the body weight

One of the major factors that lead to hip dysplasia is the weight of the dog. The puppies that are overweight will develop the condition at an early stage as compared to those that are normal weight. When the displacement of the femur begins the weight of your dog will affect the joints.

If he is overweight, the bone will not be able to take its place back because of the increasing force and so the dog would have to suffer from more pain. It is important that you control the weight of your cane corso dog. As soon as you notice the signs of hip dysplasia make sure that your dog loses the excessive weight. Keep it on a restricted diet so that he will not consume any fattening substances that might cause issues in the future.

7-Effects of exercise

Most of the people think that exercise is healthy for the dogs and it helps them to develop. However, in some cases, it can be dangerous especially when your dog is at the early stages of hip dysplasia. It is important that you expose your dog to the exercises that are healthy to the legs and the hip joint.

The age from birth to 87 months is very critical for the growth and development of the puppy. Ensure that your puppy is not engaged in such types of exercises that put strain on their joints, such as weight pulling, running for long distance, jumping in and out of cars, specifically SUVs. As the puppy matures their muscles will get stronger and bones will grow properly, the chances of development of hip dysplasia will be reduced.

8-Balanced nutrition

You have to pay attention towards the nutrients that you are feeding your puppy. Ensure that your puppy gets an a great diet at an early age. You have to take care that you do not feed your dog with the unhealthy and fatty products because it would increase their weight. Currently all my Cane Corso dogs are on a natural raw diet. We start our puppies on raw food at 6 weeks old.

You must know the required amount of nutrients to serve according to the age and health of your puppy. Over feeding would lead to digestive issues that will make the bones of your puppy weak. There are also some nutrients that your puppy cannot digest in excessive quantity. So the best solution to this issue is that you get the dietary supplements that are healthy for the dog.

9-Importance of early intervention

Even if you have taken proper care, a single mistake could lead to hip dysplasia. So, it is important that you are aware of all the signs and symptoms of the problems. If you notice any early signs of the issues the best approach would be to take your dog to the vet. If the dog is diagnosed with hip dysplasia, they will start the early treatment.

If your puppy will get the early treatment before the condition can get worse, the chances of recovery are high. Avoiding the issue and not taking your dog to the vet will increase the chances of developing hip dysplasia. Early diagnosis is very important.

10-Reduce hip dysplasia

In order to reduce the hip dysplasia in cane corso puppies, the breeders are working with the scientists. They have developed special meal and exercise plans to ensure that the puppy will have a healthy lifestyle. Starting early the chances of occurrence of hip dysplasia will be reduced. They are increasing the awareness in the breeders to ensure that pets will get the healthy lifestyle that they deserve. It is important that you pay attention and follow the guideline so that your Cane Corso has a healthy life.

A healthy Cane Corso dog

With proper care and attention, we can reduce the ratio of hip dysplasia in any dog, including mastiff cane corso. It is important that you take proper care of your cane corso puppy and avoid all such exercises and factors that might lead to hip dysplasia in the future. As an owner of the dog, it is your responsibility to participate in all the healthy activities that will help to reduce hip dysplasia in dogs.

Resources: AKC: http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs/ PETMD: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_dg_hip_dysplasia

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The post Canine Hip Displasia appeared first on Cane Corso Mastiff Dog Breed.

Source: http://italysbeast.com/canine-hip-displasia/

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littleberry · 7 years ago

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Cane Corso Diet

Raw Dog Food: The Beginners Guide to Feeding Raw

One of the best alternatives for dry dog food for your Cane Corso is the barf diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). There are different types of vegetables, bones, meats, and supplements included in the raw food for dogs. Raw food is more beneficial for the health of your pet as compared to the processed dog food that you buy from the market. Here we have an introductory guide if you want to feed your Cane Corso a raw natural food.

Benefits of raw food

Here are some of the beneficial changes that you will notice in your dog after feeding him raw food.

The coat and skin will get better

Improved digestion

Immune system will get stronger

Better health

Higher energy level

Increased muscle mass

For Breeders: You will see in increase in the drive and stamina of your puppies. I have tested with the same dam and stud and the results where impressively different. The litter that was produced with an all raw quality diet came out with better conformation, no still borns, with more drive and faster learners.

Raw food serving size

The best way to know the serving size for your dog is to take it to the exact weight of your dog. There are many popular sites that can help you figure out how much raw meat to feed your dog.

http://www.raw4dogs.com/calculate.htm

The best way is to break down the suggested meal quantity into two meals. Serve one meal in the morning and other and night. You can increase or decrease the serving size according to the health requirements and weight of your pet. I start my puppies on raw diets by 6 weeks of age.

How to convert your dog from dry to raw food

Following the given steps, you can easily convert your dog from dry food to raw.

On the first day serve your dog with only water

Serve ¼ of the suggested quantity on the second day

On the third day given him 1/3 of the suggested serving size

¾ of the meal size will be perfect for the fourth day

From the 5th day give your dog the complete meal.

Raw vs Dry food: which is more affordable

One of the biggest concerns that people have while buying the dog food is the cost. They would have to pay $2.19 per LB of premium kibble while the cost of raw can range from $2.30 to $2.80 per pound. Getting the bones might be the most expensive part of the raw diet and it is important that you manage everything properly. In the beginning, you might find the raw food expensive but it will prevent your dog from many health issues and you will be able to save a decent amount of money in the long run.

How to find affordable raw diets for your Cane Corso

I have many dogs, they are all on a raw diet and doing well. My oldest Cane Corso is currently 15 years old and doing amazing. Do research in your local town using blogs and forums of dog lovers that talk about Barf diets. I found 2 butchers here in New Jersey that sell raw meats for dogs at discounted prices.

Greenville Village Packing – Green Village, NJ

Bringhurst Meats – Berlin, NJ

Take it slow

The best way to make your dog eat raw food is to take it slow. Most of the people mix the raw food with dry food. It is not recommended as it might lead to some serious health issues. In the beginning, the dog might show some resistance but with the passage of time, there body will get used to the new meal. In case he is getting ill, make sure that you consult the vet as soon as possible. Give your dog a variety of raw meaty bones to balance their diet.

Sample Meal Plan

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS

Morning Feeding

1 lb. Ground Beef Mix from the butcher

1 lb. Green Tripe

1 lb. Beef Organ Blend (Heart, Liver, Kidneys, Lungs, Trachea, Gullet)

1 C. Puree Mix: Pumpkin, Spinach, Kale, Parsley, Apple, Egg Yolk, Plain Yogurt.

2 tbs. Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother

1 tbs. Salmon Oil

1 tbs. Coconut Oil

800 u. Vitamin E Capsule (mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols)

Evening Feeding

2 Turkey Necks

8 oz. Turkey Hearts

TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS & SATURDAYS

Moring Feeding:

3 lbs. Ground Beef Mix (50% Meat with Ribs, 25% Heart, 15%Green Tripe, 7% Liver, 3% Kidney)

1 C. Puree Mix: Pumpkin, Spinach, Kale, Parsley, Apple, Egg Yolk, Plain Yogurt.

2 tbs. Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother

2 tbs. Whole Food Multi-Vitamin/Mineral Supplement*

1 tbs. Salmon Oil

800 u. Vitamin E Capsule

Evening Feeding:

Chicken Back

Chicken Foot

2 oz. Chicken Gizzards

2 oz. Chicken Hearts

2 oz. Chicken Livers

Multi-Vitamin and Mineral Supplement:

4 oz. Kelp Powder

4 oz. Alfalfa Powder

4 oz. Wheatgrass Powder

4 oz. Spirulina Powder

4 oz. Chlorella Powder

4 oz. Bee Pollen Powder

4 oz. Turmeric Powder

2 oz. Garlic Powder

Sundays

Fast 24 hours – only water

The post Cane Corso Diet appeared first on Cane Corso Mastiff Dog Breed.

Source: http://italysbeast.com/cane-corso-raw-diet/

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