RICKETS
Cause.—Perhaps the most common cause of this disease is a faulty diet, as food that is deficient in inorganic matter. Unless supplemented by milk or other foods containing lime salt, the bones are not supplied with the necessary elements; lack of exercise, ill-ventilated, filthy kennels, etc., help in causing the disease. A tendency towards Rickets in pups is no doubt hereditary.
Symptoms.—The dog is usually in good condition at the beginning of the disease. Large, well grown pups may suddenly develop symptoms of paralysis of the hind parts. The weakened condition of the thigh bone, not being able to support the dog’s weight, fractures. At other times there is a weakness and bending of bones in the limbs, breaking down of the feet, bending or arching of the back, straddling gait, deformed or disfigured condition of the face or nose.
Treatment.—Rickets can be prevented by careful feeding on suitable foods and keeping the dog clean in well ventilated kennels, where he can get plenty of exercise. Whenever a litter of several pups show symptoms of the disease, the character of the food should be looked into, and if faulty corrected by adding to it medicines or food containing required elements. It is hardly practical to use medical treatment other than bitter tonics. Unless the disease is in an advanced stage, it can usually be controlled by careful feeding of a ration rich in inorganic substances, as bone dust, lime water, and crushed egg shells, with a view of supplying calcareous matter to the system. This can be fed to the bitch nursing the pups or, if the pups are weaned, feed them carefully.