RICKETS

[bulldog2 32]

MY FREIND HAS A NEW PUP 4 A FEW WEEKS NEVER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. ABOUT A WEEK AGO HE STARTED FEEDING IT BETA GREYHOUND FOOD NOW HIS PUPS LEGS HAVE STARTED BOWING OUT I TOLD HIM THAT THE FOOD IS 4 ADULT DOGS AND 2 HIGH IN PROTEIN COULD IT BE RICKETS. THE FOOD IS 28PERCENT PROTEIN.

[scalesntails 118]

Rickets is a deficiency of vitamin C so it would be a lack of vitamins in the dog food rather than the protein. However that doesn't mean its not the protein thats causing it just means its not rickets.

 

What was the breeding of the parents?

[bulldog2 32]

ENGLISH BULL TERRIER X GREYHOUND WHAT IS THE BEST THING 2 DO 4 HIM 2 GET RID OF IT.

[scalesntails 118]

Aren't English bull terriers known for having a bit of a funny stance?

 

I would get the dog on the right diet just in case and make sure he's not over exercising the young pup. If its looking really bad then see what the vet says. Might also be worth contacting the breeder if you know him and seeing if any of the other pups have this.

[DottyDoo 500]

get the pup n the approprriate diet, an hopefully things will get better (meat)

 

tho as has been said, maybe the pup is just going throo a bully stage

[turbotyke 62]

it could be something called knuckling over have a look on GREATDANELADY.COM have a look at the pics see if its that it can be sorted with the right diet and they vetwrap the legs

atb to your mate getting the pup right

[Wild Whippies 11]

He needs to feed the pup a specific puppy food for large growing pups. They work best because they have the correct amounts of calcium and phosphorus to promote growth. Using supplements can help but you run the risk of what's known as negative feedback. This is when the body stops producing a specific element because it assumes there is an excess (because of the supplements)

It's far safer to rely on the expertise of reputed dog food companies that have done a wealth of scientific research into producing their products but they come at a price. The best in my opinion being Royal Canin.

I feed this along with beef mince, veg and rice broth.

 

Dogs produce their own vitamin C. What is produced can be limited if the dog is stressed or ill.

I don't believe that this is the cause of the dogs legs bowing. I'm pretty sure it is to do with a lack of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Turbotyke's link is worth reading and it may be best to discuss splinting the long bones with a vet.

Changing the pups environment may also be neccessary to prevent the problem going worse. By this I mean preventing the dog from walking on smooth surfaces like laminate floors, smooth concrete flooring in kennel runs etc

 

As for protein, high levels doesn't mean better. Protein is found in feathers, nails and hooves all of which are used in poor quality dog feeds (although I don't discredit Beta) but when I have fed it, it's always been with beef mince, rice and veg.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Wild Whippies

[Dan Edwards 1,134]

They work best because they have the correct amounts of calcium and phosphorus to promote growth.

 

Dogs produce their own vitamin C. What is produced can be limited if the dog is stressed or ill.

I don't believe that this is the cause of the dogs legs bowing. I'm pretty sure it is to do with a lack of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

 

As for protein, high levels doesn't mean better.

 

 

It really amazes me how much this lady knows about dogs. I havent read anything she has typed yet on this board that is "wrong". She knows her stuff............some should probably read what she types and soak it all in cuz she is 100% correct.

[pbrookes 450]

Rickets is a deficiency of vitamin C so it would be a lack of vitamins in the dog food rather than the protein. However that doesn't mean its not the protein thats causing it just means its not rickets.

 

What was the breeding of the parents?

rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D not vitamin C.

[dafydd thomas 13]

had this happen to a doberman pup i sold years ago, new owners returned me the pup about ten days later saying it had some sort of fault anyway i replaced her the pup with another litter mate i had left no probs. the following day o took the pup to the vet and he said it had some sever problem which could cost a small fortune to put right, i took the pup home to thing about the options and rang a mate who used to breed large dogs and he immediately said give the pup a single tablet of calcium once a day and stop all excercise for a fortnight and lo and behold the pup came right and the suppliments only cost twenty quid. some problems have a simple solution and the expensive vets dont always know best

Edited November 7, 2010 by dafydd thomas

[antg 1,777]

too much calcium can also be a bad thing. its can make to bones in the leg grow at a different rate thus causing the leg to bow. i know of this happening to a litter of bullx years back. the fella was adding the product called "stress" to their feed. he took the pups to the vets as he suspected rickets and the vet told him to stop giving the stress and explained that the bones were growing at a different rate due to too much calcium. he stopped giving the "stress" and the pups turned out fine.

as has being said i would put the pup on a diet for large breed which will even the grow rate out and hopefully sort the problem.

 

atb Ant

[richie198 28]

my bull/hound bitch got them at 12 weeks old brought her to the vet

and he gave me liquid calcium to give her 2ml everyday along with

centrum plus vitamins tabs she was back right in about 3 weeks.

[Guest chook]

Rickets is a deficiency of vitamin C so it would be a lack of vitamins in the dog food rather than the protein. However that doesn't mean its not the protein thats causing it just means its not rickets.

 

What was the breeding of the parents?

rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D not vitamin C.

 

 

Its not only vit D that causes it, lack of sunlight, poor diet

deficiency of calcium, can cause it.

 

 

Personaly i would get the pup on to a good quality diet - do not use the puppy food for large breeds

as its been known to make growth faster, and can cause problems in the long run,

you need the growth at a steddy rate.

 

This is the recomendation for large breed puppys (60lb)upwards,

but i would use that recomendation for most other types aswell.

http://www.newmanveterinary.com/large.html

[Scallywag 78]

I'd get a vet to have a look - if the legs are already bowing out it may take more than a good diet now to sort it. A vet can give a jab of vit d which might help. As others have said, the pup needs calcium and vit d, that's if it IS rickets.

[B-J 28]

i had a pup do same thing i give it bone meal and callciam powder and it come perfect..