Is my dog's leg issue a risk for osteosarcoma? What causes it?

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.

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.

From the pictures, it looks like Bruno is suffering from valgus deformity of his front legs. This is when there is a lateral (outward) turn of the feet. It occurs when the ulna stops growing while the radius continues to grow, causing the radius to begin bowing at the top and rotating outward. This is can cause discomfort to Bruno and it is something that can be fixed surgically. You can speak to your vet about surgical treatment of this deformity.

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.

That is very unlikely. Osteosarcoma is most common in large breed middle aged dogs, and it is usually only in one bone in one leg. The legs are not usually swollen either. This sounds like more of a systemic infection in his joints than cancer. I recommend a veterinary exam and X-rays to determine if the cause is in the bones, joints or soft tissue. I’m sure this is very painful and that’s why he’s not walking normally. Once they have a diagnosis they can start treatment and get him on pain medication to make him feel better. They may need to do cytology on his joint fluid or take a bone sample to get the diagnosis. This sounds very serious so please take him for treatment soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Cookie.

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.

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.