Topic of Health & Care of the Cane Corso

What to consider when purchasing a Cane Corso they can be prone to various health issues & they require certain needs to develop appropriately both exercise AND diet.

At Krypton K9’s we take pride in our diet & exercise, and educational resources and regimes that we provide for our families. 

Diet & Exercise is ALOT of it, but genetics play a CRUCIAL role aswell. Choosing a reputable breeder who has knowledge of their pedigree & history of health in their bloodlines is extremely essential. A Corso having pedigree alone isn’t enough as there is a lot of pedigrees I steer clear and far from that have been known to cause serious issues in not only temperament but in health such as EPI ( Epilepsy ) which sadly we aren’t able to test for yet so pedigree research is extremely important. EPI is still so unknown and we hope we never have to deal with it as it can be devastating for families but also for breeding programs and breed preservation however avoiding stud books who have been known to produce these issues is the best we can do but in my opinion should be taken seriously. I also believe temperament testing your bloodlines to insure stability in the breed is one of the most important things you can do in a breeding program. 

A well balanced diet whether it be raw or high quality kibble with appropriate supplements to aid in the health of bone & joint development is absolutely crucial.

Raw diet - A+ 

“ However “ I find the popularity of the diet has led people to make some bad decisions unintentionally by not giving the right amount of protein, omegas, essential vitamins, and organs required for a growing Corso puppy as it can cause issues if not done appropriately most people don’t realize if they go raw they need to go raw effectively or it will & CAN cause health issues. When done right raw is one the most beneficial diets for a dogs life in the world but education is important. Raw diet needs to be well balanced or can cause more harm than good. So having a reputable supplier who is able to educate you, aswell as knowledgeable breeder is very important it’s not as simple as giving your dog raw meat with some liver or organs. There is far more to it than this.

High quality kibble 

Is absolutely ok, and I don’t kibble shame my families infact I also use kibble for some of my dogs in our program due to various reasons, one retired stud now being nearly 10 years old with ZERO health issues so I’m far from believing kibble kills your dog ( incorrect ) a low nutritional diet with lots of preservatives, dyes, fillers and low grade ingredients kills your dog. Not taking notice to your dog’s specific needs, allergies and life, kills your dogs. A dog’s needs, exercise and diet is as important as your own if you care to see your dog live a long happy life. 

The brands I recommend personally is 

• N&D Farmina ( usually sold at global pets/ Petsmart)
• Acana (sold at most pet stores )
• Purina Pro Plan 17/27 ( sold at most pet stores )
• Inukshuk ( https://www.inukshukpro.com )

Now let’s move on to exercise 

It’s ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL that your not causing any undue stress to the joints, growth pallets & forming bones of your puppies. Which means NO HIGH IMPACT exercises & or STRENGTH BUILDING exercises NO 10KM hikes, NO jumping on and off ANYTHING repetitively this can and WILL deform joints or cause growth pallet injuries on a growing puppy, NO strenuous stair climbing, No slippery floors.. Joint pallets don’t fully form until 16 months on and it’s imperative that certain measures are taken for the benefit of your Cane Corso. 

https://www.newgalaxy.org/en/blog/2021/01/19/puppys-joints/

https://nutreats.co.nz/blogs/dog-and-cat-supplements-info/joint-growth-stages-in-big-breed-dogs?srsltid=AfmBOopN1lwvnpuYnNz8cD-jpwXOLCtHChQzgw_-UOZ1VCZEMAW920gi

So how to you keep your Cane Corso Puppy entertained if you can’t take them on long tiring walks?

• Easy it’s called training, socialization, desensitization, snuff mats, puzzles and so forth. There are many ways to keep your puppies entertained that will tire them out if not more then strenuous long walks or hikes. Mental stimulating exercises are imperative to development.
  
  

Fun easy enrichment exercises for your fur babies - https://youtu.be/aPm2MapiVQY?feature=shared

I believe that professionally training your Cane Corso with a breed experienced trainer a trainer who is well versed in working breeds specifically is crucial for YOU & YOUR Corso. This sets the family and new puppy up for success, teaches you the dos & don’t first hand, gives you age appropriate homework for during the week & helps the families insure their Corso grow to be well rounded well socialized will obedient companions. These power packed working dogs require it so I believe a good breeder would require specific training needs for each individual pup based on temperament testing.

Health testing 

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STEPS A REPUTABLE PRESERVATION BREEDER CAN DO FOR THE BREED.

There are some devastating diseases in the Cane Corso breed that can be heartbreaking, painful, sad, and traumatizing for not only the affected dogs but the poor families that have to watch their dogs suffer. However there is no need to fret as this can easily & simply be avoided by a swob to the cheek to check for variants and or active diseases within a certain bloodline. With this information a reputable breeder is able to assess, make decisions to effectively adjust, plan and be selective before pairing to two dogs together to COMPLETELY avoid them or even eliminate these diseases from their bloodlines never having to put their beloved dogs, clients and most importantly the breed itself at risk for this ever again. Health testing the genetics of your dogs is one of the most valuable tools a breeder has to insure the wellbeing of the breed as whole.

Some of the serious Genetic Diseases in the breed are;

1. DSRA (  Dental Skeletal Retinal Anomaly ) https://ofa.org/dental-skeletal-retinal-anomaly-dsra/
2. DM ( Degenerative Myelopathy ) https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/degenerative-myelopathy-in-dogs/#:~:text=paralysis,of%20transmission%20along%20the%20axon.
3. CMR1 ( Canine Multifocal Retinopathy 1 ) https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/cmr1
4. HUU ( Hyperuricosuria ) https://labgenvet.ca/en/huu-hyperuricosura-and-hyperuricemia/
5. MH ( Malignant hyperthermia ) https://www.msdvetmanual.com/metabolic-disorders/malignant-hyperthermia/malignant-hyperthermia-in-animals
6. CDPA/ CDDY-IVDD ( Chondrodysplasia, Chondrodystrophy and Degeneration of vertebral discs ) https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/chondrodystrophy-and-intervertebral-disc-disease-cddyivdd
7. NCL1 ( Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinsosis 1 ) https://ofa.org/neuronal-ceroid-lipofuscinosis/
8. Cystinuria - Type 3 https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/cystinuria#:~:text=Overview,Clinical%20signs
9. HD - Hip Dysplasia https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs/
10. ED - Elbow Dysplasia https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/elbow-dysplasia-in-dogs/
11. DCM / Heart Disease https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/heart-disease-in-dogs/
12. Eyes diseases & abnormalities - https://ofa.org/diseases/eye-disease/