Does anyone know more about this. Our local rescue centre has a mastiff that has been diagnosed with it. He has been and had a variety of scans to determine this. He just falls over out of the blue, is generally a bit slow to register things, and is getting weaker and weaker. He is becoming less and less able to do the simplest of things like drink and eat. It is not occurring to him to do so. He is due to be PTS Tuesday, which I think is the right decision. Very very sad, he is such a sweet dog and only about 10 months old.

Does anyone know if this is something common to mastiffs? I always like to understand more about conditions, but googling hyperplasia and hypoplasia gives many different results, depending on the area of the body.

> Does anyone know if this is something common to mastiffs?

When researching the breed (I'm only on my first mastiff), I never came accross it atall and have not heard of it on the Mastiff forum I also go on.

>He is due to be PTS Tuesday, which I think is the right decision

I've just googled hypoplasia, but you haven't said what it actually is.
I've found some info on cerebellar hypoplasia .
"There is no cure or treatment for Cerebellar hypoplasia. In mild cases, it is however possible for the dog to live a fairly normal life, although with a somewhat poorer sense of balance and coordination. Dogs with Cerebellar hypoplasia might appear light-headed, but they have the same mental alertness as normal dogs. The general health of the dog is also unaffected.......Some dogs will learn to compensate for the problems, at least to a certain degree. Dogs will Cerebellar hypoplasia will usually reach the normal age for their particular breed"

Does this Mastiff have cerebellar hypoplasia? Is the fact he is not 'thinking' to eat & drink down to his condition or to the fact he is not happy in kennels, is his 'weakness' depression? Mastiffs are a breed that crave company of thier owners, they are not suited to kennle life. Have the rescue centre been in touch with anybody with experience with Mastiffs (ie Mastiff rescue)?

Because I don't know exactly what it is, I was just told by my friend in kennels hypoplasia.

> Have the rescue centre been in touch with anybody with experience with Mastiffs (ie Mastiff rescue)?

I don't know the answer to that Mastifflover. But I will forward this to my friend this evening.

I don't know. However he was placed in a home, even with his deficiencies, and he continued to decline and so came back in. He has also been living with the staff in their staff quarters, and not confined to a kennel. One of the kennel girls who adores him is absolutely distraught. The rescue had raised money for a quad cart for him, to prevent him hurting himself, but giving him freedom, and then this came from the specialist. It was the specialist who recommended euthanasia, as I believe he considered to have severe hypoplasia.

Can't thank you enough for finding this for me and I will pass it on.

> It was the specialist who recommended euthanasia, as I believe he considered to have severe hypoplasia.

Poor baby :( Nature can be so unfair. 

>One of the kennel girls who adores him is absolutely distraught

At least being PTS he will never have to struggle again or injure himself falling over, he will only ever have peace, he will not know that he has had a short life.

I know, it is so very sad. He is a beautiful baby, such a gentle sweet boy. He is a dog that when you meet him he reaches in and touches your soul.

He had a special really comfy buggy (cost £400) bought for him and from the comfort of his buggy he met so many people at the rescue's country fair a few weeks ago. He had a lovely day, and someone anonymously donated £200 to help him having met him - how kind is that. Sad that nothing can be done for him, as you say nature can be SO unfair.

At least everybody tried to help him, and his kennel girl showers him with such love that he hasn't missed out at all in that department. She will be with him tomorrow.

I am sat here with tears streaming at this poor boys dilemma.  I an so very glad that he will have someone to love him and hold him at the end.

Me too Jean, me too.

He is at peace now. At least he found an angel who could not have loved him more.

I just wish I could get my hands on those people who had him from a puppy, and whom he must have loved and adored for the first 8 months of his life, and who abandoned him when he needed them most. I have no words for them.

I will post a little something on rainbow bridge soon for him.

poor boy :( rest well little man.