Slight Deformation in front leg

[sarnewfie]

hi, i need to know what others know about growth rates and front legs.
diet, fast growth and maybe damage to front leg at an early age? can any of these cause a slight deformation, meaning it looks as though one longbone stopped growing and the other kept on, it is not at all severe, Tonka has this, and we cant tell if damage closed the growth plates vet said in order to see that xrays must be taken as soon as it is noticed.
can anyone tell me if they specialize in this sort of thing?
she said it just happens, and it is not congenital, but that she doesnt know that diet causes it, just that it "happens" in some and not in others, it seems that those that grow to fast may be at more risk?
Tonka grew extremly fast even on low protein food, his head was huge even at 1 year of age, now it is bigger than emmett his dad.
i took some photos, well burned 3 rolls and a few photos on the didgital wich i hope to print up today......

 

[newfvo]

There is a syndrome,predominately a giant breed defect, where the ulna and the radius bones of the front legs grow at different rates. The growth plates of one or the other (typically it is the ulna)close before the other bones growth plates. The first sign is the appearance of a slight bowing to the front legs or what might be called an "east-west" stance. Because the bones do not have the correct proportions, secondary defects such as fragmented coronoid process (FCP)and degenerative joint disease (DJD)are almost always a result. This occurs most often in the fast growing, extremely large puppy.

One orthopedic solution is to insert a rod to extend the ulna to the proper length thus correcting the improper line of the leg. This procedure is usually done before the age of 12 months. This surgery has had varying degrees of success.

While nutrition, physical activity and overall condition of the dog are components of this defect, genetics do play a role in the propensity of occurance.

 

[newfvo]

There is a syndrome,predominately a giant breed defect, where the ulna and the radius bones of the front legs grow at different rates. The growth plates of one or the other (typically it is the ulna)close before the other bones growth plates. The first sign is the appearance of a slight bowing to the front legs or what might be called an "east-west" stance. Because the bones do not have the correct proportions, secondary defects such as fragmented coronoid process (FCP)and degenerative joint disease (DJD)are almost always a result. This occurs most often in the fast growing, extremely large puppy.

One orthopedic solution is to insert a rod to extend the ulna to the proper length thus correcting the improper line of the leg. This procedure is usually done before the age of 12 months. This surgery has had varying degrees of success.

While nutrition, physical activity and overall condition of the dog are components of this defect, genetics do play a role in the propensity of occurance.

 

[sarnewfie]

Hi Sue
thanx, it is only noticeable when he is sitting and when he stands a certain way, i am thankful that it is slight.
his gait is beautiful, so it has not affected that.
when he is stacked we cannot see it.
his chest does need to drop more, so i will look at him again in a few months to see if there would be a difference once that is complete.
i dont know of any way to slow growth down than what we did, wich is a low protein diet.
i can see how if this was severe that the things mentioned such as cornoid and djd would affect that joint, i was hoping that he would be perfectly straight once full grown, but it apears to me, he is done getting his height, and once that is done the longbones are done.

 

[Karen]

Hi all. My male, Tatonka, has this defect. My vet said it's called "Valgus Deformans" (sp?), and it's exactly what was described in the previous posts. One bone stopped growing while the other didn't. Tatonka has this on both front legs. He looks like a duck sometimes. I got Tatonka when he was 6 months old. I noticed the "oddness" of his front legs right away. My vet said if it was going to affect him, ie lameness, it would have happened when he was much younger, and that it could be corrected with surgery. He's two now and his legs are the same - no better or worse. And he walks, runs and jumps with no problems at all.

 

[sarnewfie]

Tonka is seen here, it is the right front leg, you can see a very slight curve to that leg, Karen do you have a photo?
the other leg is straight, that is why we are wondering if he injured it at a crucial time of his growth period.