My dog has carpal valgus. Will he get arthritis or joint issues?

This can be from his genetics or breeding or can develop after an injury. Splinting the carpus will help prevent the condition from worsening when used during exercise but will not correct the problem. Yes the X-rays show a valgus deformity. This is a dog I would not breed since you don’t want to take the chance of this being passed on to the puppies. I recommend a consult with a board certified orthopedic surgeon to see if there is corrective surgery or any rehabilitation treatment they recommend. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Danny.

I won't be able to tell you if it was a genetic condition or nutrition at this point. At almost 3 years old, Danny is done growing, the limb deformity shouldn't get worse but it won't get better. It does predispose him to develop arthritis in his front legs. It is not related to tile flooring, but in dogs that are still growing, non-slip floor may prevent it from being too bad. Truth is, we just don't have enough information on the cause, prevention, or treatment to say with any certainty. If Danny is on a good quality dog food, he should not need extra supplements. Some large breed dogs could actually be harmed by changing the minerals in their diet since it can negatively affect bone growth. Any dog breed could develop it, including labradors.

It looks like Charlie could have some carpal valgus, usually due to a joint deformity that causes bowing of the front legs. There is an increased risk for arthritis in dogs with joint valgus, although some dogs go through their lives with no symptoms. I would watch for limping, stiffness, or reluctance to use stairs or jump which could signify pain due to arthritis. While there is no cure for arthritis the symptoms can be alleviated with pain medications and supplements. Continuing the glucosamine is a great idea, and I would recommend trying to keep Charlie pretty lean since being overweight can make joint issues worse.

Danny does appear to have an angular limb deformity, valgus refers to the toes pointing out rather than in. It can be caused by individual genetics or inappropriate nutrition. Nutritional causes can happen in any breed. It is important to look at a puppy's parents to see if they have good conformation since this condition is heritable. Once a puppy is fully grown, it is unlikely that we can try to correct this defect without surgery.

Hi and thank you for using pet coach! Below you will find a link for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, a very reputable website where you can find the most accurate and up to date information on many things including osteosarcoma. The carpal issues you see in your dog is what is known as carpal valgus. This does not predispose to osteosarcoma formation and in Brunos case I would say that it is not bad enough to require surgery unless it is causing an obvious lameness. Surgical correction is the treatment for valgus deformity. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. https://www.acvs.org/small-animal/bone-tumors

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Pillow, Lu. Poor boy. Premature closure of the carpal growth plate leads to a shorted bone, which in turn leads to leg deformities and problems with walking. Yes you should definitely have x-rays done as soon as possible. If he does have this problem, surgery is done to correct it. I hope this helps!

Without seeing him myself my first thought is that he has carpus valgus which is a congenital abnormality that cannot be fixed. If you really want to know if there is anything you can do you would need to take him to an orthopedic specialist for a consultation. Bone deformities are not an unusual problem for this breed. It could be that he has elbow dysplasia and depending on the severity there may be a surgery that could help him. I strongly suggest you get him to a specialist for an exam and x-rays. They can give you the best information. Best wishes.