|
"Knuckling Over"
Large breed puppies are prone to a condition called Carpel Flexural Deformity, also called "knuckling over" by most people due to the way a puppy's legs look when suffering from this condition. The front legs of the puppy may appear to be made of rubber. Notice the picture of the puppy at the top of the page.
While very scary to most puppy owners when first noticed, there is usually no reason for panic. All cases of knuckling over are reversible if caught early and proper measures are taken. The cause of knuckling over can be many things but is usually caused by too much forced excercise, such as walking or jogging on leash, and/or a diet high in protein and fat which results in a food that is high in calories. Free excercise is much preferred. Free excercise means the dog has the opportunity to play at will in a fenced in, safe environment. You can read about the importance of free excercise by clicking HERE. There is an article already on the web written by Great Dane breeder, Linda Arndt. She has had much experience with this condition. She explains the condition, provides many pictures of affected puppies and their outcome, and provides her advice on fixing the problem. She also has many related articles on her website, such as the link above about free excercise. I encourage anyone with a Ridgeback to read the articles on her website as they are very well written and easy to understand. You can read her full article on knucking over at
www.greatdanelady.com/articles/knuckling_over.htm. If your MuZari puppy is suffering from this condition, please don't hesitate to contact me (as with anything) to discuss. We will work together to get the problem corrected! The number one thing is DON'T PANIC!
|