Diet can also affect the pasterns, particularly very high protein kibble fed to puppies is known to cause very weak pasterns. Clinically affected dogs with Elbow Dysplasia commonly show stiffness or lameness between 5 and 12 months of age. Prevention. In mild cases, simply trimming the heels slightly will rid the foot of the rocking motion and keep the foot on the ground. With the hi protein diet, to the teething, to the hard flooring, to the stress from ear crop. Try this for several days and see how the puppy reacts to the new higher protein food. A rear pastern is something that is responsible for a dog’s gait. Pasterns should run up and away from the paw. This is like any musculo-skeletal condition in large breed dogs, and can be caused by a number of different things. These PI calves may be born weak and unthrifty, but some are normal appearing. Question: Dear Dr Richards - My 6 month old German shepherd male, Tashi, has weak pasterns. The first condition is known as carpal subluxation, while the second is referred to as carpal hyperextension. The rear pastern is the section of the dog’s legs, starting from the ankle and continuing to the ball-shaped joint of their back legs . Nutrition is the leading cause of weak pasterns and splayed feet, with a secondary cause for splayed feet being a genetic thing! If untreated, dogs will cough up a foamy red substance, in an effort to clean out their lungs, since the heart is too weak to circulate blood on its own. The pastern is the metacarpus - the bit between the carpus (wrist) and the digits (foot). These are moderate in degree, not extyensive; he does not walk on his ankles, nor is he "hare-footed" - yet. I feel like everything that could cause it has happened. Weak flexor tendons can occur in mild, moderate, and severe forms. Carpal subluxation, in which the dog stands and walks on its pasterns, is an extreme example of being down at the pasterns, and the similarity is known by breeders who have fed very high-energy, high-protein foods. It is sometimes possible to strengthen weak pasterns in young German shepherds through diet … The number one reason for this is genetics… basically the pup inherited the gene for weak pasterns (although this doesn’t mean his parents necessarily show the same trait, it can be a ‘recessive’ gene). His other dogs, including the littermates don't have the same issues. Some of these are persistently infected (PI) with the virus as a result of infection at 70-120 days of gestation. However this could be a conformation issue of weak pasterns or a bad wrist joint that causes the puppy to 'knuckle over' ie extend the wrist the wrong way. I fear that Bernie was having weak pasterns so I kept him on Canidae All Life Stages it has 24% protein, I was feeding it boiled chicken with it but because Bernie was growing so fast and so much I … If your dog is limping, he does have an injury of some kind. Weak pasterns/fetlocks are a very common finding. If a dog has a weak or high pastern, it might affect their ability to remain stable while walking. Bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVD) infection of calves while in the uterus causes birth of weak calves that don't thrive. A dog that is 'down in the pasterns' has pasterns which slope too much away from the perpendicular Shadowboxer Pasterns is the wrist area of the dog's forelegs. In most dogs with simply weak pasterns, and probably in every case of true luxation, both pasterns are equally affected. This is something that I have been wondering about. Age weakens pasterns and hauling can cause a temporary flexibility of the pastern as can excessive weight such as that of a heavy pregnancy. Once a primary problem has started, secondary change soon follows. Thanks for the correction, now what is your experience with dog food and puppies. The mild form of weak flexor tendons is the most common form seen. Pasterns should run up and away from the paw. My 1 year old dog has very weak pasterns to the point when we walk on concrete he drags his front paws.. molly. A dog with weak pasterns (that touch the ground while walking) will face long-term health problems and may have difficulty staying ambulatory. Also can giving joint supplement which include glucosamine,chondroitin & msm cause carpal valgas problem or weak pasterns or bent pasterns also? But he looked (to me) that if I hadnt of stepped in and changed his feed and some other stuff that he would have gone the way that some other pups have here that I have seen pics of. Poorly trimmed hooves can make the pastern appear faulty. Some of you know that when Deacon was younger that I battled what was dubbed as "weak pasterns" with him. I've seen pics of several of Andre's ancestors; sire, dam, aunts, uncles, cousins, and littermates and none of them had weak pasterns. Extremely adducted pasterns, often described as soft or down, are very characteristic of HOD. Curious if the weak pasterns came on suddenly since I've experienced weak pasterns at times in some of my goats that had an underlying condition like Liverfluke, intestinal worms, lung infection. Carpal subluxation is a serious deformity of the forelegs, in which the pasterns, similar to a human's elbows, are weakened, sometimes to the point of laying flat against the ground when the dog walks. For example, most diseases (including infectious, autoimmune, respiratory, gastrointestinal, bone, endocrine and neurological diseases) will cause a dog to avoid eating because of pain, obstruction, or other factors. Aug 16, 2012 #6 C. cedarcurve Exploring the pasture. In the absence of a vet diagnosis, I would not give calcium supplements to a large breed dog. Pasterns can also "knuckle over" and there are forms of carpal subluxation that cause can cause severe twisting of the pasterns. Sometimes flat/splayed feet or weak/down pasterns are caused by the pup needing more protein in the diet. Some survive but do poorly. Some dogs have bilateral, others unilateral involvement; in many the flexion is greater in one pastern than the other. What makes the condition truly frightening is that the condition could manifest itself in a very sudden manner, seemingly without warning. Get it from the chemist - either in powder or tablet form and add to their food. Ester C - many dane people use this when they start to go down in the pasterns when teething. She said she will not breed from lines that display weak or down pasterns because it is a physical fault/defect which causes a deviation from the standard, and judges penalize it in the show ring. Assess your dog’s abilities to determine which type of, and how much, exercise is optimal. Weak pasterns in German Shepherd pup. Typically it presents in puppyhood- usually in the teething stage of many large, rapid growing breeds, but can happen until dog …