RICKETS IN A LITTER OF RACING GREYHOUNDS

Pickets was diagnosed in six 14-week-old racing greyhound littermates presented with musculoskeletal disease, Physical findings included lis tlessness, profound muscle weakness, lameness, lateral bowing of the a ntebrachii and focal hard swellings proximal to the tarsi and carpi, R adiological findings included generalised osteopenia, axial and radial thickening of growth plates, and 'cupping' of the adjacent metaphyses ; the distal ulnar growth plates were most severely and consistently a ffected, The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating subnormal concen trations of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in serum samples collected at ad mission, The pups' diet consisted of an inexpensive generic kibble for mulated for adult dogs, porridge, milk, pasta, minced beef, vegetables and a small quantity of calcium carbonate powder, The pups were succe ssfully treated by feeding a nutritionally complete, vitamin D-contain ing ration formulated for growing pups. Bilateral growth retardation o f distal ulnar physes occurred as a sequel in one pup.