Splayed feet - Page 2

Ever seen a dog crated nearly 24/7? How about one given crazy amounts of vitamins? How about both? Look at their splayed feet and tell me it's genetic...especially when they are nearly normal a month after being taken off the vitamins and let outside to be a dog and exercise like one. Genes don't fix themselves in a month. Shape of foot and whether they "tend" to be nice or not is genetic, but all-out splayed feet are a sure sign of something amiss, either environmental or nutritional or both. 

Take the dog walking on different surfaces > grass > gravel > sand > rough tracks > roads. and don't keep it on just concrete.

Keep it on a good quality diet.

I kew a dog that had an accident that left his foot flat and splayed, he was given Dolomite and his foot became normal with a little time.

I go along with environmental and nutritional much of the time too. I have seen it a lot where dogs are tied up or crated for long periods of time, especially on hard ground or concrete. When a dog is able to exercise normally (not forced exercise, just wandering about the house/garden for example, combined with the right amount of scheduled exercise - play, walking in fields/woods/games/training etc) good development of all the muscles and ligaments is optimum. Restriction in any way is detrimental IMO.  The reverse is true as well, the wrong kind of exercise, especially when young can contribute to all kinds of problems with conformation.

Having said that I have very occasionally seen dogs with splayed feet that have not been subjected to these situations and I guess in those cases it would have to be considered inherited, but it has more often been those that have been incorrectly kept/fed/exercised that I have come across. JMO

Thanks you guys for all the info--I didn't realize the environmental/nutrition factor could play such a big part. I have always been taught it was totally genetic. Hmmm always something new to learn and make you rethink things.