Puppy Antibiotics Deformations?

Question

I work at a pet shop and my boss gives the puppies etiher tetracycline or clavamox when they get sick. I recently noticed one of the puppies looks like it has a leg deformation. The legs arent broken but they are almost bent inwards. Can this be from the antibiotics that were given to them?

Answer 1

Tetracycline: Deposition in calcified tissues, e.g., teeth can result in discoloration, especially when given during developmental stages. Higher doses given at inopportune stages of growth can result in bone deformation.

Tetracycline is used in humans also.

Answer 2

Nopes, certainly not. If the puppies were having diarrhoea, maybe.. but i really don't think antibiotics will cause the legs to be bent.

The pup's limbs might be bent inwards due to an angular limb deformity, caused by premature closure of the physis in either the radius or the ulnar (the limb bones). There could be several reasons to why the physis (growth plate of the bone) closed early, including that of a fracture, trauma (e.g. the pup jumped off a sofa etc)... or simply just uncoordinated growth. It could also be due to a dietary imbalance of calcium and phosphate, resulting in a condition called rickets, which can cause the limb to bow out as well.

Survey radiographs can be taken by the vet to confirm the underlying cause, and a treatment can be sorted out as soon as possible. Definitely, the sooner a diagnosis is made, the more likely the prognosis (outcome) will be better.

All the best!!

Answer 3

The antibiotics are very unlikely to have caused the deformation.

It's more likely a developmental defect that is worsening as the puppy grows (due to disproportionate bone growth), though it is also possible that it could be dietary deficiency. Are the other puppies from the same litter? If so, deficiency is probably less likely as you'd expect signs in other puppies, but if this is a single pup and you have none of its littermates it's a distinct possibility.

However, tetracyclines should not be used in animals under 6 months old unless absolutely necessary- it causes damage to the developing teeth (from memory, to the enamel layer).

Answer 4

Gee....they come from puppymills, so a deformity can be the result of most anything. Here is just asnother reason people should not buy these puppies. And the owner is playing vet too!!!!!! Tetracyclines should NOT be used in puppies.

Maybe these poor puppies deserve some better care and a VET!!!

Answer 5

Probably not. What you are seeing is probable due to the inbreeding that often takes place for full bred anydog. I am sure the medicine has been tested and it is unlikely that anymed could changed a dog like that unless given to the mother during gestation. Hope I helped.