german sheperds legs

Question
i have a 1yr old male who has pain in his front lower legs alot mostly the right on he will limp and when he sits he will hold it up all the time. it seems to carry alot of heat in the pad of the paw and slightly above on the back side of the leg. prevous owners said he grew to fast due to to much protien is that possible

Answer
Hi Mary,  No GSDs don't grow too fast from protein.  Protein affects the kidneys and would actually wear down the kidneys before anything else.  It is  possible he has Panostitis.  It is like growing pains in kids.  Basically it affects different limbs at different times.  They will limp without a cause.  It affects the large breeds more than the small breeds, and they tend to outgrow it by 2 years old.  It will also switch limbs.  The best thing to do when it is acting up is to not let him over or underexercise as you don't want to exasberate the problem.  Hope this helps,

Dawn