My dog has carpal valgus. Is it genetic, from diet, or flooring?

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.

At his age, Danny is likely done growing. Having a valgas deformity will predispose him to developing arthritis or other joint issues later in life, but should not affect his lifespan. There are treatment options you can discuss with your veterinarian or a veterinary orthopedic specialist.

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.

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.

Slick floors won't contribute to angular limb deformities. It is hereditary. Injuries could contribute as well--an angular limb deformity could develop following a fracture. (if he breaks his leg) Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

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

It sounds like Scrappy Coco is suffering from an angular limb deformity called values, which is when the legs are bending outwards. This occurs when the growth plate in the one of the long bones of the forelimb (either the radius or ulna) closes and that bone stops growing while the other bones continues to grow. This isn't caused by a calcium deficiency, it's typically caused by trauma but it can be inherited (rarely though). The way to fix this is surgery, which I imagine it would be very difficult for you to find a veterinary surgeon in a remote area of India. This may be something you'd have to travel in order to get fixed, and I would recommend having it fixed as it's a painful condition. You can speak to the visiting vet to see if they can recommend a veterinary surgeon to see Scrappy Coco.