Will slippery floors cause leg deformities or issues in my puppy?

Puppies tend to be very pliable and not easily hurt when slipping, so I would not worry about any major problems with her slipping. She may pull and muscle, tendon or ligament if it is a forceful slip, but these tend not to be too bad and will not result in any long-term health problems. It is actually good for her to adapt to this type of flooring as a puppy, because she will be more cautious as an adult and as a senior. Senior dogs can definitely get bad injuries like fractures or dislocations from slipping, so I would take more caution if you have a senior dog. I hope that helps and all is well with Harley.

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.

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is most certainly a congenital problem, essentially a birth defect. Whether there are any treatments depends on how severe the problem is, does it involve all the long bones in the legs, it this mainly a problem with joint & tendon laxity, or are certain structures underdeveloped or missing all together. X-rays are imperative. Depending on what is seen, & how much time & money you wish to spend on this poor little guy would determine a treatment plan. Surgery may be an option, but leg braces & splints may be appropriate, too. In the short term, he will probably do fine, but with time & age, he may be very prone to developing abrasions & pressure sores, & most likely arthritis. If you decide to adopt this sweet guy, go in with the anticipation of higher than normal care costs, & unexpected problems that can arise. A special needs pet needs a very special owner. Thank you for considering adoption. Take care.

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.

Some causes of hindlimb lameness in growing dogs that are less than 12 months of age include: Hip dysplasia, Avascular necrosis of the femoral head - Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, where the ball of the thighbone in the hip doesn't get enough blood, causing the bone to die Osteochondritis of stifle - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the knee joint Patella luxation - medial or lateral disorder, in which the kneecap dislocates or moves out of its normal location Osteochondritis of the hock - fragments of cartilage or bone have become loose within the hock, the joint of the hind leg Panosteitis – inflammation of the bones Hypertrophic osteodystrophy - a disease characterized by decreased blood flow to the part of the bone adjacent to the joint Trauma to the soft tissue, bone, or joint Infection – may be local, or generalized (systemic) Nutritional imbalances Congenital abnormalities (present at birth) If the lameness persists, even if she seems better afterward, I recommend getting her seen by your vet as soon as possible to check for one of these conditions and get her started on treatment if need be.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Damian. His leg appears quite deformed. He will need to see a veterinarian to discuss treatment options. X-rays will likely be needed to see the quality of the bones. In the meantime, do not allow him to perform strenuous activities or jump off of furniture. You do not want any unnecessary stress on the limb. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Congratulations on your new puppy Griff! At such a young age, it’s hard to say how things will develop and I agree that monitoring him is appropriate right now. He will see the veterinarian frequently since he is getting his vaccine series. Make sure they check his legs and hips each visit and watch him walking. You can get radiographs done but at such a young age, it may be hard to identify any pathology. Radiographs done when he is 9-12 months old will be more likely to be diagnostic. Sometimes a CT scan can catch bone abnormalities earlier. It’s very important that you feed him a puppy food and that he does not become overweight while he is developing. Royal Canin makes specialized puppy food based upon the expected adult weights so you might check them out. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.