English Mastiff: inherited diseases and health

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: OMIA (University of Sydney), Wikidata

Breed health

The inherited conditions below have been documented in this breed in published research. That does not mean your dog has them or will get them – but it helps to know the names when you talk to a breeder or a vet.

Conditions this breed is prone to

Veterinary charities list this breed as more likely than others to get these conditions. Read the signs and what to do:

Inherited conditions documented in the breed

Conditions documented: 7

A gene variant is known for 3 of the conditions below, so a DNA test may exist. Ask your vet or the breed club.

ConditionBody systemInheritanceGene variant known
Cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy[1]Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth)––
Cystinuria, type III[1]Renal / urinary system–No
Degenerative myelopathy[1]Nervous systemAutosomal recessiveYes
Multifocal retinopathy 1[1]Vision / eyeAutosomal recessiveYes
Osteogenesis imperfecta, generic[1]Skeleton (incl. short stature & teeth)Autosomal dominantNo
Retinal atrophy, progressive, autosomal dominant, RHO-related[1]Vision / eyeAutosomal dominantYes
Retinal dysplasia[1]Vision / eye––

What this list means

  • “Documented in the breed” means at least one published case or study – it says nothing about how common the condition is.
  • Many of these conditions are rare. A responsible breeder can tell you which health tests the parents have had.
  • Where the gene variant is known, a DNA test may exist – ask your vet or the breed club.
  • If your pet shows signs of illness, contact your vet. This page cannot tell you whether your pet is ill.

About the breed

Origin
England
FCI number
264
[2]
If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

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Sources

  1. OMIA (University of Sydney)
  2. Wikidata

How this page was made: the list is taken directly from the sources below; nothing on it was written by AI. Names of conditions may be machine-translated. It is information, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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