Rickets in Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
The mention of rickets in dogs still sends shivers down my spine. We had a near-scare involving my furry baby, Drogon, and the weekend spent waiting for diagnostics and tests was the longest I can recall.
One fine day, Drogon, who was all of 4 months at the time, began struggling to get up, walk, and even do his business. It was almost as if his rear legs had given away. As his distress became apparent, we rushed him to the vet, who took one look at him and declared he had rickets. No tests, no diagnostics necessary, he said. I wasn’t convinced.
By the time we found another vet and got an appointment, it was Friday evening. The tests he recommended could only be done on Monday. What followed was an excruciating wait of 48 hours. In the meantime, I poured over whatever information I could find on rickets on dogs — articles, research papers, reports published in medical journals. The more I read, the more I was convinced we weren’t dealing with rickets.
As much as medical professionals hate people turning into Google-certified doctors, his test results confirmed my inkling. He had a bad muscular injury, which took a couple of months to resolve completely (a story for another day). However, in the process, I learned quite a bit about rickets symptoms in dogs, its causes, treatment, effects, and prevention. If you’re in the same place I was that weekend, I hope this guide on rickets in dogs will help offer you clarity.
What Causes Rickets in Dogs
Can dogs recover from rickets? This is likely the first question to spring to mind if your pet is handed a diagnosis for this condition or you suspect that they may be afflicted with it. The answer lies in understanding the causes of rickets in dogs.
Rickets in dogs can be of two types:
- Type I: Low levels or lack of essential micronutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D during the growing years. Giant and large dog breeds — Great Danes and German Shepherds, for instance — who experience sudden growth spurts are more susceptible to this condition. An excess of calcium can also put your dog at risk
- Type II: This is a vitamin D-resistant form of rickets that can impair the curvature and growth of bones in puppies
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An imbalanced diet is among the leading causes of rickets in dogs since puppies obtain key nutrients from their food. If essential micronutrients are missing from your pup’s diet and aren’t adequately supplemented, deficiencies can impact the development of bones. Lack of exposure to sunlight can also put your pet at risk of this condition.
Owing to calcium, phosphorus, or vitamin D deficiency, open growth plates — areas where new bones are meant to grow — do not receive the right nutrients. This impeded the development of new bones. With correct and timely treatment for rickets in dogs, this condition can be reversed. However, if ignored or left unaddressed, the effects of rickets can be debilitating, causing joint problems, affecting mobility, and resulting in a lot of pain and discomfort for your pet.
Rickets Symptoms in Dogs
The effects of rickets on your pup can range from mild to severe. Irrespective of the intensity, this condition should not be overlooked or ignored. Seek medical attention immediately if you notice two or more of the rickets symptoms in dogs:
1. Limping and abnormal gait
One of the first apparent effects of rickets is lameness or limping. Your pet may limp on one or more of their limbs while walking, and may not be able to run at all. Rickets can cause stiffness in the limbs, which may result in an abnormal gait. You may notice that your pup is reluctant to bend their joints even while walking, resulting in an awkward gait
2. Difficulty getting up
One of the classic rickets symptoms in dogs is difficulty getting up after sitting or lying down. You may notice that your pup is taking longer than usual to respond to the “up” or “come” commands. In more severe cases, your pet may drag their hind body on the floor as they struggle to get up and may need support to lift themselves. This is usually accompanied by whimpering sounds.
3. Struggle to pee and poop
Given that pups, irrespective of whether they’re male or female, bend their hind legs to pee, and all dogs have a distinct posture of pooping, you may notice your pup struggling with the calls of nature. This is another one of the distinct rickets symptoms in dogs.
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4. Swelling and joint pain
Rickets in dogs can be extremely painful and may result in visible swelling in their joints. As a result, your pet may exhibit extreme sensitivity to touch. They may cry or whimper when touched.
5. Bowed limbs and fractured bones
Rickets in dogs can cause their front legs to curve outward abnormally. At the same time, one of the most incapacitating effects of rickets, especially in advanced stages, is the tendency for fractures without any significant trauma. This happens because the bones become increasingly weak and soft, causing them to crack even under minimal force or pressure
6. Decreased activity levels
Young dogs are a powerhouse of energy and can keep you on your toes all day long. However, a dog afflicted with rickets won’t show the same levels of playfulness and energy. Your pet may suddenly become lethargic, depressed, or unresponsive to invitations to play or run around. This is one of the rickets symptoms in dogs that often gets overlooked because many pet parents cannot make the correlation.
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Treatment for Rickets in Dogs
Rickets in dogs is curable and the prognosis is good if the condition is detected early on and remedied quickly. The course of treatment for rickets in dogs can vary, depending on the specifics of the case. Your vet may use any one or a combination of the following treatment options:
1. Supplements
To make up for vitamin D or calcium deficiency, or phosphorus imbalance, your vet may put your pet on necessary supplements. Highly concentrated supplements in the form of injections or IVs may also be used to replenish the essential nutrients. These may be accompanied by tablets, syrups, or powder to be administered orally. While the injections and IVs are the initial course of treatment, oral supplements may continue anywhere for a few weeks to a few months.
2. Improving dog’s nutrition
The best course of treatment for rickets in dogs is a balanced and nutritious diet. Irrespective of what other treatment options your vet explores, they will recommend dietary changes to ensure your pet’s micronutrient needs are met through their food. Now, whether these dietary changes included premium quality commercial dog food or nutritionally complete homemade meals is for you and your vet to discuss.
3. Treating underlying conditions
If your dog has developed rickets despite being on a well-balanced diet, there could be malabsorption issues at play. These can be an indicator of underlying conditions, ranging from kidney disease to hormonal imbalances. In that case, your vet may run tests to get to the root of the issue and treat it, alongside working to alleviate your pet’s discomfort due to the harrowing rickets symptoms.
4. Pain management and anti-inflammatory medication
Any treatment for rickets in dogs can take days, or even weeks, to kick in. Until then, your pet will continue to suffer from immense pain and discomfort. That’s why one of the key focus areas for rickets treatment in dogs is pain management and anti-inflammatory medication.
5. Deworming
Your vet may also recommend you adhere to a strict deworming schedule if malabsorption or loss of nutrients is due to parasites
6. Rest
Rest is another crucial aspect of recovery from rickets. Your dog will need ample rest until their symptoms and bone density improve. Any exercise or excessive movement can put your dog at risk of fractures, so it’s vital to follow the doctor’s orders in this regard and also keep your pet calm.
This is crucial because rickets usually affects younger dogs, who have way too much energy. Once the pain and anti-inflammatory meds kick in or your dog’s symptoms begin to improve, they’re going to want to run about with abandon. Preventing that from happening is your responsibility.
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Rickets in Dogs Prevention
No matter what the medical condition, prevention is better than cure. Even more so in the case of rickets in dogs because this can easily preventable disease. Here is what you can do so that the “can dogs recover from rickets” question is rendered moot:
- Serve your pup a well-balanced diet. If you’re feeding your dog commercially packaged dog food, make sure it’s one with quality ingredients. For home-cooked meals, consult a vet or a canine nutritionist to devise a well-rounded meal plan
- It’s also important to adjust your pet’s diet as per their changing nutritional requirements
- Give your pup any calcium and multi-vitamin supplements recommended by the vet
- Make sure your dog gets regular sunlight exposure
- Deworm your pet, as per a vet-recommended schedule
Rickets can severely impact a dog’s quality of life. It usually affects neglected and malnourished dogs. However, sometimes, despite doing your best to care for your puppy, they may develop this condition, due to a host of reasons such as imbalanced nutrition, malabsorption, or an underlying medical condition. It’s best to keep an eye out for any emerging rickets symptoms in dogs and seek medical attention immediately so that your pet can make a swift and full recovery.
