rickets

sidebyside

just wandering what causes rickets in pups?is it food or something from the pups mother or what?cheers

lorebringer

Usually a Vitamin D deficiency, which helps the body to absorb calcium. A Calcium or Phosphorus deficiency can also be the culprit but usually it has to do with Vitamin D. The reason the pup isn't getting enough VitD could be due to a digestive problem, glandular issue, improper food or (what is getting more and more common) coming from a dodgy environment where their mother is unable to provide them with adequate milk, because she herself is starved, ill or not being fed correctly. It can also be an indicator of the fact that neither the pup of the mother have been in natural light (skin produces VitD) but not always.

Treatment is very simple - replace the nutrient that is not present. Obviously if there is an underlying health problem (eg. digestive) this will also need to be treated. Quite a few times there will be other health problems (as I was saying above, because the pup could have come from a dodgy breeder) and these would need veterinary care too.

Do you have a puppy with Rickets?

convert

There's some info on this website which you may find helpful.