I adopted a street pup at the age of 20 days. Now she is two months old and is having bowing in front legs with inversion at ankles. She was diagnosed with rickets and was given calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D without any improvement. Is this disorder called knuckling which is due to over-nutrition? Please help.

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Rickets can be prevented, but unfortunately bowing cannot be reversed with medications or diet. Both the amount and balance of nutrients provided in the diet are critical for the growing puppy and dietary errors at this stage can have damaging effects, particularly on skeletal/bone development, which may be long lasting and potentially irreversible. Over supplementation with calcium or cod liver oil etc also results in skeletal and other abnormalities. A properly balanced diet which is formulated for growth does not need any form of supplementation.Therefore continue the current balanced puppy pet food and all she needs is only water. Consult veterinary orthopaedic surgeon who may offer some help to correct or prevent further bowing of limbs.

Question by – Rashmi Jain, Bhopal

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