Bowed legs in dogs causes and treatments.

Bowed legs of a dog.

Few days earlier at small vet clinic from Rupandehi ,Nepal a case of a Dog with the bented (bowed) legs was seen.
Thought it was a nerve problem so injected neurobion for 5 days. But was not a cure for it. It was a pup of age 8 weeks. Walking was very abnormal with those bent legs.
It was difficult to diagnose the disease, MRI scan was also not available.

On the further study and consult with the professors an teachers we were able to gather various info about the problem.

CAUSES:
The bowing of the legs is usually seen in the growing phases of puppies. Most critical growth phase-(5-12)weeks.The owner must be careful about the Nutrition, Physical exercise and housing during this phase. Any kind of problems in these may invite this condition.

- In case of many houses dogs are tied or kept in the marble or slippery floors. As they are from the wolf family they use paw for the weight balancing. In slippery floors their paw moves away from body due to their own weight while they tend to move their paws towards body as a result bowing occurs.
Forelimb-Use for Weight Bearing(So bending usually occurs in forelimb)
Hindlimb-Propelling the motion.

-During this phase bone hardening and calcification starts so inadequate supply of calcium and phosphorous may lead to weak bone  and bending occur. The bending becomes more when there is low calcium level as well as kept in slippery floors.

-Exercise is essential, lack of exercise hampers on the other hand during this speed growth plentiful exercise causes pressure in hindlimb or forelimb. So slight walking or exercise is good.

TREATMENT:
- For 4-5 months

• we can use the bandage for posture as calcification just starts and  bone hardening is not complete. i.e. we can use pressure induced forces.
• Nutritional management, by providing joint supplement like chondroitin, glucosamine and calcium,vit D3
• Slight exercise

-For above 6 months:

• As bone hardening is almost complete we cannot maintain from normal levels, surgical procedure to fix the bones is done.

                                                 THANK YOU