Puppy Arthritis


Puppy Arthritis
Yesterday I went to look at two Great Dane puppies, One black one Fawn. The breeder mentioned before I arrived that the black pup had water on her knees and was under vet care. I noticed that the pup also had swelling near her rear end he said that the problems were caused by the puppies being very active and bumping into the ground too hard. The second pup had a small bump on her rear similar to the swollen knees and rear of the black pup. Is this a common Dane problem the breeder seems to think that this will cause no future problems for the pup and will clear up w/in two weeks. What really has caused this problem and should these pups be considered a good investment? (a good healthy addition to our family). Or are these pups going to need long term care?
Large breed puppies normally do have proportionally larger feet and joints than adult conformation. I have heard many times, he's going to be a big dog- just look at his feet! However, large breed dogs are also more prone to joint deformities, related to rapid growth on improper diets. If the puppy's joints are swollen, knobby, puffy, or crooked, he or she may have skeletal growth problems. Diets too high in protein, or diets without the proper calcium to phosphorus ratios commonly contribute to bone and joint growth abnormalities. Since the top brand, commercial puppy foods have been tested and proven, likely causes occur when one strays from the dog foods made for puppies. The breeder may be using adult food, a new or unusual brand, or too many supplements are being added to the diet. If the problems are identified early enough, diet correction is usually sufficient to normalize the joints within a few months. More severe cases require corrective diet supplementation, leg splints and even corrective surgery. It is best not to purchase puppies with joint problems. You can help your breeder by pointing out your observations.
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Large breed puppies normally do have proportionally larger feet and joints than adult conformation. I have heard many times, he's going to be a big dog- just look at his feet! However, large breed dogs are also more prone to joint deformities, related to rapid growth on improper diets. If the puppy's joints are swollen, knobby, puffy, or crooked, he or she may have skeletal growth problems. Diets too high in protein, or diets without the proper calcium to phosphorus ratios commonly contribute to bone and joint growth abnormalities. Since the top brand, commercial puppy foods have been tested and proven, likely causes occur when one strays from the dog foods made for puppies. The breeder may be using adult food, a new or unusual brand, or too many supplements are being added to the diet. If the problems are identified early enough, diet correction is usually sufficient to normalize the joints within a few months. More severe cases require corrective diet supplementation, leg splints and even corrective surgery. It is best not to purchase puppies with joint problems. You can help your breeder by pointing out your observations.

Puppy Arthritis

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