From the Cornell Animal Health Newsletter - Research conducted years ago at Cornell and other institutions proved that overfeeding could result in dysplasia. The latest research shows that reducing the concentration of positively charged electrolytes in the diet and then in the synovial fluid results in less joint laxity and less hip dysplasia in growing dogs. The synovial fluid contains sodium and potassium, so diets that offer reduced amounts of these and increased amounts of chloride are beneficial. It notes that while slowing the growth rate and changing the electrolyte balance of the diet can reduce the severity of the expression of the disease, the disease does have a genetic basis and it is still very important to use selective breeding to reduce its incidence. Toes curve inward and under, so dog looks like it is walking on outside edges of its feet.
Pasterns bow outward.
Tremors common in limbs when under pressure. These disorders are influenced by genetics and nutrition. It has been shown that overfeeding and oversupplementation with calcium can greatly increase the severity of these abnormalities. Whatever the elbow problem, osteophyte growth continues as the dog ages, so if you haven't discovered and taken care of the disorder earlier, your dog will have progressively more trouble in his geriatric years, even though he may have passed his middle years with little or no difficulty. From the article by Drs.