What Are The Symptoms Of Rickets In Puppies?
Rickets in puppies can range in severity, so not every rickets patient will have the extreme bone deformities you may expect to see.
To help you better understand what to be on the lookout for, let’s list some of the most common symptoms of rickets in puppies below:
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your growing puppy, we suggest having them seen by a veterinarian for further examination.
Even if rickets is not the cause of their symptoms, these signs can point to other serious underlying conditions as well.
In most cases of rickets in dogs, your vet will need to explore a few diagnostic options to make an official diagnosis.
First, they will start by doing a physical exam and assessing each limb.
They will not only look at the structure of the limbs themselves, but search for any evidence of pain when they are touched.
They will also ask you an array of questions about your pup’s behavior at home, ranging from their current symptoms to the diet they consume each day.
Once your vet completes their physical exam, they will then move on to diagnostic radiographs.
X-rays are the best option in terms of diagnosing rickets, as this allows them to assess the bone structure and density of each limb.
On these x-rays they will search for reduced bone density, enlarged portions of the bone, thickening of the distal regions of the bones, and abnormalities of the growth plates.
If both their physical exam and x-rays support it, this is typically enough to make a rickets diagnosis in your dog.
Your vet will typically recommend a full panel of blood tests as well to rule out any underlying conditions.
Rickets in puppies can be a result of congenital kidney issues, so they will need to rule out anything that could be made obvious on blood work.
There are other levels that can support rickets in these blood panels as well, ranging from changes in their phosphorus levels to calcium levels.
If needed, your vet may also suggest specialized testing that must be sent to a lab.
Fun Fact
In older dogs, rickets morphs into a condition called osteoporosis
Vitamin D resistant rickets or VDRR is hereditary. It is characterized by the mutation of the vitamin D receptor. When this happens, a dog is unable to absorb vitamin D in the body. Vitamin D resistant rickets only affects young dogs.
Treating rickets in dogs
Rickets in dogs treatment aims to address the vitamins and minerals deficient in a sick dog. A nutrition vet will suggest an alteration of the dog’s diet to address the problem of missing vitamins and minerals. The new diet plan aims at;
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