Urgent Help! Bowed Leg/ Knuckling Over puppy potential?

[Boxergirl]

Pano isn't a parasite. It's a very painful condition that affects the long bones in the legs of young dogs. Did they say parasite?

 

[corsotx]

The vet did thought it was parasite but didn't rule out PANO as another reason.

 

[PrinceLorde13]

I'm sorry this is off topic but what kind of dog is your puppy? Awesome looking

 

[Boxergirl]

Ah. I see. I must have misunderstood. Did the vet specify why type of parasite?

 

[corsotx]

I'm sorry this is off topic but what kind of dog is your puppy? Awesome looking

He is a CAO.

Ah. I see. I must have misunderstood. Did the vet specify why type of parasite?

The vet did not mention any type of parasite. I was too ignorant to ask. Will call in the vet today. The limping has significantly reduced. We even called off the scheduled x-ray. No pain in any joints. Could be parasites or PANO. We are definitely trying not to feed any steroids or calcium.

Reading off from online sources, we will start supplementing MSM, Yucca and herbs for joint for 2 weeks. His raw food intake is pretty balanced for the course of 2 weeks with 80/10/10. Currently, supplementing Sure Grow 100 and Salmon Oil for large growing puppy. Please advise whenever necessary. I prefer to listen rather than being ignorant.

 

[corsotx]

The front paws turning outward are still significant. I am reducing his food intake. What do you guys think?

 

[DMikeM]

This is much better than it was. The easty/westy look is not too bad and is hard to be sure of as some dogs will stand like that for a moment but will walk just fine. His back legs look excellent and the profile of both sets look great. You are doing a great job and this dog should recover 100% if you keep following the current path. If you have not started walking him on uneven ground you should do so as much as possible. Rocky areas, sandy beaches, even some steps or stairs would help. Just don't let him run or rush down any stairs.

 

[corsotx]

Hi DmikeM, thank you for writing. we are trying our best to make sure that the puppy would walk on grass and uneven ground as much as possible.

 

[corsotx]

Update. Puppy's health are excellent. Vet was very happy with heart, eyes, teeth, coat and everything. Weight is good.

However, vet did not diagnose anything for the front legs. No lameness, she said. She did mentioned x-ray if we are worried.

So, we are constantly walking the pup on uneven ground such as grass, sand, wood gravel almost 90% of the time. We are preventing jumping down on stairs.

As from the pictures, it seems like the left paw is still prominent. It has been a couple of months since we noticed the legs going outward. We are thinking to send him in for an x-ray as he stumbled while fast pacing today at the park. It worries us as it might be an early symptom of elbow dysplasia which share similar symptom as PANO.

Any thoughts?

 

[corsotx]

Wrote to the breeder, he found nothing wrong with the pictures of the puppy.

His reply,
"With how his legs look as they are, I don't see him having any problems with mobility in the future. Be advised that with the summer weather he will be less active then in the winter."

We have a bad feeling about it. Bringing the puppy to a vet that has experience with giant breed on Thursday.

 

[corsotx]

Update after checking in with a vet that has experience with large breed.

After taking the x-ray, she said the the growth plate is not closed yet which is something should be checked into when pup is about a year so that it would not turn into a crack that doesn't close.

As with the paws going east-west, she said it might be correct itself or it would just how he would be as long it will not turn into something more severe like the Elbow Dysplasia.

 

[DMikeM]

He is young. Work him but don't over do it. Gravel or uneven ground like said before is his best chance at remodeling those joints.

 

[corsotx]

Thank you DMikeM, I hope this thread be useful in some ways for new large breed owners.

We realised that we might fed our pup too much with the raw food according to the 2.5% rule of ideal adult body weight. The pup became ever slightly overweight for the first 3 months and not noticeable with the coat. We should have been more aware of it.

We also should have tried to provide carpet or rough surfaces for the pup until his pasterns are well developed to lift himself up instead of sliding around the tiles. Again, we have the carpet only after 3 months.

Things that we did correctly was feeding the raw diet where 3 vets was surprised that he has such a beautiful coat and teeth. Early socialisation was also our best effort thus far which it will be a continuous work for the rest of his life. He dealt extremely well with 90% of the situation! Training is awesome with such a lazy pup. He knows about 70 words/ commands.

We are proud of him and we are very fortunate to be part of the mastiff-forum community even though our pup is not considered as "mastiff" breed.

 

[corsotx]

Updates. At 7 months old, puppy is still the same with the pastern going outwards. Had x-rays for the past 1 month as vet saw some inflammation around the ulna region. After taking Carprofen for 3 weeks, we took the x-rays again and now inflammation is still there and elbow area.

Dog is healthy just the feet as he is limping after long sleep. Photos are as of now. We have kept him lean and walk very strictly on grass, sand and hill.

Feeding him really close to 80/10/10. Typical meal each day consist of Turkey,Chicken Heart,Beef Heart,Pork Loin, Liver,Kidney,Chicken Breast, Chicken Gizzard, Beef chuck, chicken feet.

Supplements included MSM, fish oil, vit C, vit E, Sure Grow 100.

With no improvement what so ever. We are considering adult all life stages dry kibble as a last resort as simply do not know what to do to help him.

 

[DMikeM]

Wow, sorry you are going through this still. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Is he crated often?

 

[corsotx]

Hi DmikeM, he is being crated only at night for about 7 hours when we sleep. I spoke to an experienced raw feeder yesterday. She mentioned that nothing wrong with the raw diet. It is mostly genetic where my pup has weak pasterns. She suggested to keep working on the pasterns hoping that it would tighten up. Other than that, nothing much I can do.

 

[DMikeM]

I agree with that person opinion. Nothing more to do except work him. Have you tried any pulling excersizes? I know he is young but maybe have him pull something light like a motor cycle tire or a small logging chain.

 

[corsotx]

Actually we thought about weight pulling before as that what my dad said about the horses. Mostly hill climb now though.

 

[corsotx]

Update. It has been a week since we last went to the vet. Turned out all of the vets/ breeder got it wrong. Pup was actually diagnosed with Elbow Dysplasia. Bummer =(

 

[Hector]

Update. It has been a week since we last went to the vet. Turned out all of the vets/ breeder got it wrong. Pup was actually diagnosed with Elbow Dysplasia. Bummer =(

Well that's sad.