WORMING

Heartworm treatment should be carried out. Your puppy is due for his monthly tablet/s on the 1st of each month. Heartworm is a painful killer and lifetime treatment is necessary for prevention. Annual vaccinations can be given now after the puppy is 6 months of age. We recommend monthly tablets until first annual vaccination with C6 as Heartworm vaccinations are based on maximum weight for the period and it is very hard to judge in the first 16 months.

Normal worming should be done every three months with Droncit, Drontal or equivalent. We recommend you worm you puppy 10 days after going to his new home, a month after that then three monthly. We find we have occasionally the need to do an extra worming, particularly after going to shows where large numbers of dogs are present

Tic prevention should be done in Tic prone areas or when travelling to same.

EARS

Once a month cleaning is usually all that is necessary. Otoderm Multicleanse solution on cotton swabs and a good wipe out is all that is necessary. Puppies may need extra cleaning. If the ear ever smells bad, and the dog is scratching a visit to the vet may be necessary.

EYES

Prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid "cherry eye" is common in the Neapolitan. Those with experience insist that removal of this tear gland is the only proper treatment. The procedure is best done under general anesthetic by a Vet. Many Vets, totally unfamiliar with this breed, will insist upon "tacking" the gland back inside the lower eyelid. In general, this does not last long and another surgery to remove the gland must be done. Removal of the gland frequently costs less than $150A and the post-operative recovery is usually uneventful. 

SKIN

Due to the folds and wrinkles Neapolitan's can be susceptible to Bacterial infections. This is especially so in wet humid conditions. Again Otoderm Multicleanse solution applied on cotton swabs can clear up most problems. It is also a good idea to have a fairly cool area for the dog to sleep in and dry them off particularly under the chin before they go to bed for the night.

Most Neapolitan's have a coat change in spring. This can initially look like a skin problem. The coat will appear spotty and will be thin in areas and in wet or humid weather the skin underneath can look red and infected. Again apply Otoderm following by a bath the day after and things will improve. The coat change can take up to 6 weeks, during which time your dog will look moth eaten and full of dandruff. This is normal.

VACCINATION

We vaccinate at 6 weeks, 10 weeks and 14 weeks and afterwards annually. Should you take delivery of your puppy at 10 weeks please remember it will be a further 7-10 days before the immunity is in place and that a further vaccination is due at 14 weeks. 

Neapolitan puppies are particularly susceptible to parvovirus so it is essential you do not expose the dog to lots of strange dogs, parks etc., until he is at least 12 weeks old.

EXERCISE

Neapolitan's are large puppies and as such need special care during their growing years. Weight is usually gained at the rate of 2kgs per week until they reach 50kgs then it slows down until they reach their mature body weight at about three years.

Consequently joints can be damaged easily, so things like stairs, terraced gardens, jumping into vehicles etc., should be avoided until at least 9 months. Your puppy can go on walks with you. Straight line exercise is the best and no extended jogging or running. Certainly no 10 kilometre hikes - at least until the dog is 18 months or so.

DISCIPLINE & TRAINING

Neapolitan's are Mastiffs and as such are "Alpha" dogs, so when you get your cute little puppy home he is definitely going to try to be the "boss". Please exert your authority from day one. Do not let the dog get up on something to be higher than you and teach the dog "No" immediately. Physical discipline with a Neapolitan is not a good idea. Learn to growl! Your puppy will grow larger than you, and certainly stronger and quicker. Discipline must be verbal and remember what is cute in a 10 week puppy may not be cute when he is 80kgs. If you don't want to get flattened by that jumping on you do not let your puppy jump on you now.

Obedience training is a good idea. Try to find a club where there are other big dogs and where the trainers like the larger breeds. Neapolitan's are very intelligent and learn quickly. They can get bored very easily with lots of repetition so make their training varied and lots of fun. 

Neapolitan's are natural guardians and need no training to be able to protect you. We do not recommend guard training unless you are an experienced trainer.

SOCIALISING

Your pup should be exposed to different people, places and other animals as soon as possible after his shots. Be careful to ensure that he is not attacked by other animals or put in frightening situations an any bad experience under the age of two can be difficult to recover from. Basically the more people he sees and animals he mixes with the more stable he will be.

GROOMING

With their shorthaired coats little grooming is necessary. We recommend brushing all over with a grooming mitt. It is a great bonding exercise and helps in the dog being handled and manipulated - especially at the vets. 

Bath with Baby Shampoo and follow with conditioner - only as necessary. Neapolitan's have dry skin usually and too much bathing will cause a dry brittle coat and flaking skin.

Flea control is a must - we control in the environment - not the dog. Wool mix with eucalyptus to wash bedding will deter flea and a little eucalyptus in the last rinse when bathing will also help.

ENVIRONMENT

No steps, nothing to jump, minimal cement.

Trampoline beds for sleeping and placed in the dogs favourite daytime places will help eliminated bursars and calluses.

HEALTH TESTING

If intending to breed the following tests are very important. We do seem to have healthy dogs in Australia but testing for the following before breeding should help ensure we do not accidentally introduce a genetic problem. If you are not going to breed and your dog is healthy the tests aren't really necessary, however if you have them done it will help with our database of health information.

These tests should be performed between 18 months and 2 years and before breeding.

Hip and Elbow configuration are to be x-rayed and evaluated by a Veterinarian Radiologist. The dog will be under general anaesthetic to enable the correct positioning for these X-rays. Please be sure when arranging for these tests that the Vet performing the anaesthetic is experienced with giant breeds.

Eye certification by a certified Ophthalmologist and a report issued. (Most veterinary clinics have an Ophthalmologist visit monthly to do these things.) A two yearly follow up check is then recommended.

Von Willibrands and Factor 8 blood testing. These involve a blood sample and is usually send to Melbourne for reading. These are bleeder's diseases, which occur, in some giant breeds.

Heart checking can be done by your own Vet. It is to be checked by auscultation in the mitral, pulmonic, aortic and tricuspid valve areas, the ventral right precordium and the right craniodorsal cardiac border. Any abnormalities noted could be followed up with a cardiac specialist by Ultrasound. (Ekg's are not definitive with dogs).

A full panel thyroid test. Please note this is a point of interest only at this stage. Some believe low thyroid levels make a Neapolitan look the way he does, however there are many Neapolitans with normal thyroid levels that are correct.

Patellas are to be palpated for slippage by a vet without anaesthetic.

Hips

HIP SCORES -

This scoring method shows a total score for both hips - possible total is 106

The lower number the better.

Current Breed average in Australia as at 21st November, 2005 for Neapolitan Mastiffs is 30.46

It should be noted that not a large number of dogs have been tested.

It is recommended to reduce the incident of Hip Dysplasia that breeding stock should not be used where the hip score is higher than the breed average.

TOTAL

Bellamico Baldoria

11

Drago Del Robbiano

19

Lay Backs Figlio Taz

15

Maggiormente Enzo

12

Maggiormente Fabula

9

Maggiormente Flora

4

Maggiormente Jupiter

8

Maggiormente Pavarotti - Suffered bad reaction to anaesthetic and Xrays were not taken - more important to save him.

Maggiormente Strega

15

Maggiormente Vesta

16

Magnufi Arielle

3

Magnufi Lucchese

5

Magnufi L'Ultima

17

Rinwood Dachs

36

OUR AVERAGE 13.07692

It would be appreciated if you would forward to us copies of any of these tests you have done.