Studies on incidence, and clinical, radiographic and haemato biochemical profiles of growing dogs affected with rickets and their response to calcium-vitamin D3 therapy

The study was aimed to find out the incidence, and clinical, radiographic and haemato-biochemical changes in growing dogs affected with rickets and their response to calcium-vitamin D3 therapy. History, clinical and radiographic signs, and different haemato-biochemical parameter were recorded in the growing dogs during one year period. Among the 387 growing dogs, rickets was diagnosed in 20 cases with an incidence of 5.16%. Spitz (8; 40%) and mongrels (6; 30%) were more affected than other breeds of dogs. Male dogs were affected more (80%) than the females (20%). Eleven (55%) rachitic dogs were aged between 3 and 6 months. Lameness, bowing of radius-ulna, enlarged metaphyses, hind quarter weakness and lateral or medial rotation of the limb were common clinical signs. Radiographic features included varying degree of thinning of long bone cortices, widening of medullary cavity, bowing of long bones, widening of metaphyses, increased physeal thickness, cupping or mushrooming of metaphyses and flaring of metaphyseal border. Hypercalcaemia (3.35±0.66 mmol/L), increased Ca:P ratio (3.72±1.20), hypoproteinaemia (51.65±5.09 g/L), increased alkaline phosphatase (422.86±81.08 U/L), and hypovitaminosis-D3 (134.44±3.11 nmol/L) were the common biochemical finding. Satisfactory to good response to vitamin-D3 and calcium therapy was noticed by 45th day.