HOD?

[Camus]

I am really worried about Camus front left leg. Does anyone know if this looks like an early stage of hypertrophic osteodystropy (HOD)?

 

I am planning to reduce raw meat in his diet to 20% and slow his growing this way and reduce his walks. Have to recognize that we had a couple of long walks last week. He is gaining 3 lbs a week and is growing very fast.

He doesn't complain at all, no signs of pain, but his left leg doesn't look good to me: the joint looks big and knotty and his toes look out.  

Besides other things. We have very slippery wooden floor. I know that this can cause different leg problems in puppy. But we can't do anything about it for now.

Would appreciate any comment, specially if you had the same problem. 

P.S. We'll go to the vet in 3 weeks or earlier if there are any bad changes. 

 

UPD: here is a new photo at almost 14 weeks. Looks much much better to me. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think that unless he sees a vet you are asking a question that is  impossible to answer with any accuracy. He no doubt needs a physical exam and probably xrays.

[Camus]

I don't expect accuracy.

[Jane Smith]

FWIW, my vet had me take my girls off puppy food at 6 months.  Said large dogs don't need all that extra fat as they tend to grow much faster.  I am sure there are plenty of people that won't agree, but it worked for us.  I hope whatever it is he isn't in pain and heals quickly.

[Camus]

Thank you for your comment! I am glad to know your vet told you that.  Camus is on natural diet since we brought him home. He had a terrible diarrhea when we brought him and the diarrhea went away right after we started feeding him. I think that for now, as he is going to be a big macho (we expect 70-80 lbs), we need to reduce the protein part and slow down his growing. Anyway, even though he doesn't have HOD (I hope so), it will make him only good. 

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

I would get to the vet now. It looks like he is falling down on the carpus.  That could be from slippery floors or it could be an orthopaedic disorder.  It is better to have your vet check it out.

[Camus]

No. It just looks like that. Thanks for the comment we probably are going to see the vet earlier.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Hope that it's not too serious but I wouldn't wait 3 weeks to get it checked, maybe it's fixable now?? Good luck!

[Chelsea and Bailey]

Question: Is his foot completely planted on the floor? I know when Bailey was that young I would notice the same type of thing. Dogs legs have a natural slight curve at around that point of the leg, and depending on how they are standing it looks like it is dislocated or crooked.  I would take to the vet earlier if you feel difference between the two legs, if he walks different, or if there is pain to palpation. If there is no obvious discomfort/ not hindering any mobility or activity level then I would feel ok leaving the vet till the original appointment date.

[Chelsea and Bailey]

I just wanted to add that if you feel any difference between the two legs... which by the picture looks like you probably will I would take to the vet as soon as possible... who knows he may have dislocated something and at a young age bones are very fragile and formable.  The sooner you catch something like that the easier it is to fix.

 

[Camus]

Thanks for the comment. We'll see. I will update the post as soon as we clarify something.

[Camus]

Right. That was I said. The raw diet is good if the % of proteins and fats is right (raw meat). Ours has more meat than he needs for now (I have read a lot about it today). 

Thank you.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper was on raw and now I realize she maybe had too much calcium (she ate mostly ground chicken with bone, as this is the only thing one of my cats will eat, incidentally the cat has been eating this for 7 years and is fine) - the calcium levels didnt cause any damage from what we can tell. Too much calcium and phosphorous can cause bones to grow too quick and therefore arent dense enough. Puppy foods have less calcium and phosphorous than adult food, and large breed puppy has less than regular puppy food. An exception to this is Orijen - levels are about the same and it is somewhat frowned upon

 

I would get Camus checked out at the vet, for your peace of mind if nothing else