What are the health problems associated with the breed?
Unfortunately, this noble, rare breed does have several major health concerns. Like other large, fast-growing, deep chested breeds, the Fila is plagued primarily with Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and Bloat. Nor is cancer a rarity with the Fila either. Hip and elbow dysplasia is most easily controlled when breeders do genetic screening on their breeding stock and only breed the dogs that are normal. Bloat is a very dangerous disease that has unknown causes. Some believe that it is genetic in nature, while others feel that it is due to stress. There are those that feel that it is a result of feeding bulky kibbled diets that swell after being eaten. Most likely, it is a combination of all of these. Regardless, it can be fatal if the signs are ignored and it is allowed to progress. Once the stomach begins to fill with gas, it will start to flip itself over, otherwise known as torsion. When this occurs, the stomach is deprived of its circulation and dies or becomes necrotic. Once this st
