calcium question - Page 1

hello, I have a 3 month old femals Gsd whos feet seem to have started to twist outward. Her paws are like hands palm on the ground when she waslks and I have also noticed that her back seems to crumple up when she pulls on her walks. She has recieved calcium and D2. she has had a lot of money put into her only the best quality food etc. Her sister on the other had does not have the same problem she is fine. her sister has had much more exercise could that be the problem? please help thanks.

Unless your veterinarian has specifically prescribed calcium suppliments for your pup I would never feed calcium or phosporous to a young dog (under 2 yrs old) doing so can throw off their mineral balance and cause bone deformity. I also am careful not too feed a rich diet to a young dog, find a large breed puppy food or feed an adult maitnance food without extra supplimenting. It's possible that your pups problems are genetic, thats not something we could tell from across the internet. It might be necessary to consult your veterinarian and look into using supporting casts or bandaging to straighten the pup's legs, joints.

Take the pup OFF any calcium supplements immideately. And any homeopathics. Top premium puppy and dog food formulas are specifially formulated in the proper ratio of calcium:phoshorous to ensure the best absorption for bones and connective tissues. If you give too much of one - the balance is off and the result can be devastating, usually resulting in some sort of malabsoption. Every dogs absorbs nutrients differently, two dogs on the same program may have different results. Take the pup to the vet and have calcium levels checked and give a good overall check up. Also see if the pup got into any plants - make sure this is not the result of a possible household poisening. Put this pup on Eaglepack Original Adult, which is one of the few foods that have the exact ratio dogs need (www.eaglepack.com). NO extra anything until she is better, that includes treats. Keep her off slick floors, she needs a lot of natural ground to walk on that gives her good traction, and time to run off leash, some other pups to romp with, without overdoing it. Then this should correct itself over the next few months. But act now!

Thanks for answering, I just wantted to say I got the calcium from the vet it is Pet-Phos. She has gotten that.She is feed Pro Plan puppy.She doesn't normally get anything else. Could walking her correct her back though that is really bothering me that it seems to move strangly. I will have her blood tested for calcium etc. Hope that that hepls me. Jessica

I agree that the puppy should not be given a calcium supplement as long as it eats a high-quality (not necessarily the most expensive) dog food that is as natural as it can be. I agree that the Eagle Pack is an excellent food. I also agree that too much calcium will cause a serious chemical imbalance not to mention accelerated bone growth. A healthy puppy should receive no supplements other than some vitamins and maybe an occasional dose of high-quality fish oil if the skin or coat is too dry. They are all a bit different in their type of development. A good primary food puppy/adult food should address these issues. Has the veterinarian checked the puppy for Pano (the equivilenet of growing pains in human children)? They are usually a bit older when this can sometimes strike and usually grow away from this condition. In addition to obtaining a blood test, I would ask the veterinarian to make an x-ray of the spine to be sure that none of the vertabrae are malformed or misaligned. Bob-O

I am sorry to say but your puppies problem seems to be Genetic, The paws you mentioned are OPEN PAWS and such paws do not give enough grip and spring-up motion. This is the reason that you dog needs more effort to pull and which results in Crumpling of the back upwards. The other puppy is lucky enough not to get this gift from the parents. Such a problem as far as my knowledege goes I dont think this can be reversed. I have had puppies like this and am telling you from my experience.

Alex, I have to disagree with you. If it is genetic it was pretty much always there - long, sprawled out feet, low in the pastern, weak rear, and most likely overall rather loose not firm, and visible from early puppyhood on. However, if it suddenly develops (Jessica states that it started at 3 months of age) it is most likely acquired and not inherited. The problem you describe, Alex would already be present and very easily detectable even by a layperson in a 6-8 week old pup. If it is a new development though, then it is most likely fixable, at least to some degree, providing it is addressed right away. Two close breeder friends of mine each had such a case just last year from pups they had placed and then took back. Two different breeds, similar causes - well meant but improper nutrition and keeping the pups mostly indoors on slick floors. It was very interesting to follow both cases. Both pups are ok now. Especially the feet closed up very nicely after a few months. In a pup that is genetically predisposed for this, the shape of the feet will not change for the better. Both of the pups affected had good feet and pastern before they left for their new homes at 8 weeks. One pup (shep female) was taken back at around 4 months, she bounced back very quickly, you could see vast improvement in a mere matter of weeks. The other (Ridgeback male) was taken back at 5 months, he took much longer to recuperate, but is also fine now. He walked like Charlie Chaplin when he first got back, feet sprawled out and turned out, walking on his pastern joint (palm), now his front legs and feet are perfectly straight, feet are firm and close. In the rear he was very weak, very cow-hocked, back in terrible shape (crumpled up like Jessica describes), this dog could never straighten out. All gone. Jessica, concentrate on natural movement on natural ground rather than walking on the leash where she will most likely be pulling, therefore unnatural movement. Provide frequent and adequate exercise but don't overdo it. Keep the pup lean and feed the Eagle. Keep it off slick floors. And be patient. This will take some time to correct itself, but do keep us posted. Vets are not nutritionists. But they love to sell the products they have available for sale at their clinics, naturally. Unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation out there regarding calcium supplementation of pregnant bitches and puppies. 3 months is too young for pano, which also has different symptoms.

Thanks all, I will keep you posted. I talked with the woman who co-owns the pup with me and we will take her to a near by park for exercise hopefully she will improve since she has been keept since 7 weeks inside on wooden floors I think that that might be the cause of the problem plus the woman seems to have over done it with calcium suplements.Thanks for all the info. Jessica

DH I somehow missed out that the problem started at three months. Morover I was under the impression that both the puppies are with JFU and under the same environment. I agree with you. Slick and smooth floors do a lot of damage. Any acquired problems if detected early can be reversible. The post said "like hands palm on the ground" this normally is genetic, and if it is genetic irreversible

D.H., I agree that Pano has different sympthoms, and it was very much of a long shot-especially with a female puppy that young. It tends to be an issue with male puppies past six (6) months of age. The slippery floors (in whelping boxes also) can do much physical damage to young joints as well as destroy self confidence. I saw this occur several years ago when I installed a new hardwood floor in my house. The weather was foul and the young puppies needed a bit of indoor exercise. When they ran onto the floor they immediately "did the splits" and became very skittish about that floor. I removed them immediately to a carpeted area and never repeated this lapse of intelligence. I always knew that whelping box floors must provide excellent traction for little paws, but did not think about this issue on larger puppies who were on their legs for several weeks. Needless to say, I never did it again. I can certainly understand how this can have a devastating long-term affect on a puppy-similar to the foundering of a young colt. J.F.U., Go with a careful diet, proper exercise and good luck with the puppy. Tell us if she improves. Bob-O