Common Canine Skeletal Diseases: A Comprehensive Guide

Proper care and attention are crucial for maintaining a dog's skeletal health. In the course of domestication, it's not uncommon for dogs to develop deformities in their front or hind legs due to improper care.

Correct Care Methods:

1. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to joint diseases. It's important not to overfeed puppies, and avoid placing undue weight on their undeveloped limbs.

In cases where a fastgrowing dog breed is prone to joint issues, scientific feeding is essential.

2. Breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Alaskan Malamutes, and German Shepherds are prone to hip dysplasia. While medication can often help, severe cases may require surgical correction.

3. Bernese Mountain Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and Rottweilers are susceptible to elbow dysplasia, which typically requires surgical intervention to repair the affected joint.

4. Cartilage disease is more common in large, fastgrowing breeds with highenergy diets. Some dogs may recover with simple rest, while others may need surgery to remove floating cartilage.

5. Smaller breeds, such as Pomeranians and West Highland White Terriers, are prone to hip dysplasia due to their femoral head's vascular vulnerability. Surgery is the only treatment for ischemic hip dysplasia.

6. Managing weight, increasing exercise, and alleviating pain are key treatments for degenerative joint diseases. A dog's weight should be proportional to its breed and gender. A balanced diet, moderate exercise like walking and swimming, can be beneficial, but avoid intense activities like running and fetch games. Supplementing with glucosamine and chondroitin can also be beneficial for joint cartilage.

7. Multicentric arthritis often resolves after discontinuing allergic medications.

8. Follow medical advice for the continuous use of antibiotics as a treatment for joint and bone infections.

9. Dogs with dislocations, fractures, or bone tumors should seek veterinary care for proper and timely treatment.

Important Tips:

Most skeletal diseases in dogs require careful attention from their owners in daily life. Proper care is essential to prevent and minimize the occurrence and progression of diseases.

1. To ensure your dog's safety, lay nonslip mats in areas where your dog frequently plays and rests. This allows them to stand firmly and prevents them from altering their normal posture to maintain balance on smooth floors, which can lead to leg deformities and affect their movement.

2. Add a plastic tray to your dog's cage to provide a stable surface for standing and protect their paws. A wirebottomed cage can cause dogs to grip the bars, leading to toe deformities and affecting their walking on normal surfaces. It may also cause issues like narrow front paw spacing, splayed feet, or bow legs, as well as elbows that are too wide apart, leading to an unnatural gait.

3. Dogs may arch their backs when climbing stairs with shallow depths, which can lead to lumbar and joint problems over time, especially as they age. Breeds like Golden Retrievers, Pomeranians, and Pekingese, which may already have genetic joint diseases or long bodies, should avoid stairs.

4. If your dog's hind legs are deformed, consider the following treatments:

① Spend 20 to 30 minutes daily climbing slopes on flat terrain, or invest in a treadmill with an incline.

② Perform daily stretching and groundpounding exercises for your dog's hind legs, gradually pulling them back and forth multiple times.