Arthritis in Puppy
I bought a
3 month old puppy recently that was very malnourished, dehydrated and
generally in poor shape. A month later she had tripled in size and seemed
to be doing fine. Then her ankles became too weak to support her weight
and look for all the world like they are broken, even though her x-rays
are fine. My vet thinks with the right balance of calcium she will
outgrow the problem. But it's so severe, I'm afraid she may
always be crippled if something isn't done. Do you have any advice?
Skeletal growth problems are common to puppies of large breeds fed an inappropriate diet. Joints require a perfect fit to work properly. Bones also grow at their ends, close to the joint. When a bone growth problem is present, it usually shows first at the joints. Hocks and carpi become deformed and enlarged. An affected puppy may have an odd angle to the leg, such as being over or under at the carpus. It may be obvious in only one leg, or all legs.
If the problem is identified early, fixing the diet is often sufficient for a complete recovery. Sometimes supportive splints are necessary for a few weeks. After nine months of age, the problem is correctable for normal function, but the dog may have knobby joints for the rest of it's life.
Both under nutrition and over nutrition are problems for the large breed pups. Feeding a diet too high in protein and calcium causes the bones to grow too rapidly, not allowing the joints to form correctly. Feeding a diet too low in protein or calcium, causes week bones and deformities, even fractures. Rather than trying too calculate specific nutrient levels and balancing the diet yourself, the solution is much easier. Feed one of the top name brand puppy foods- these companies have done the work for you. Do not automatically supplement with vitamins or minerals, unless your veterinarian instructs you to do so. Treats are OK, as long as the main diet is the commercial puppy food. In general, the foods available in super markets and pet shops with familiar brands, from companies that have been around for years are safer to try than new, unfamiliar brands.
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