Hi, I have a large breed puppy (adult weight 60kg+) that appears to have started knuckling over on one front leg.  I have an appointment at the vets for Friday but wondered if there was anything I can do in the mean time.  From googling protein seems to be a contributing factor.  He is on Simpsons Salmon and Potato puppy which is 30% Protein.  Is this too high and if so what amount of protein should he be getting. I've fed Simpsons for a long time and never had a problem and none of his siblings are affected. Thanks.

I'd get him onto the adult.

I have stopped feeding my own pups such high protein not going above 26 - 28%

I had a few litters of greedy pups, and I felt that that were growing too fast.

My breed are onl6y about 20 - 23kg as adults.

Ive raised a few litters on Orijen puppy which is high protein with no leg problems.
What is more important is the ratio of calcium to phosphorous which needs to be fairly low.

Too much protein (and calcium) = too much too fast which is a sore point with me just now.   I never reared my puppies on anything higher in protein than 28% max. protein.   And probably nearer 26%.   One of my current hounds, reared on 32% protein now has all kinds of problems showing, and even at 8 months, when he went lame (and I went to Pano, which it wasn't) had premature closure of the growth plates, ulna, both sides which has left him with too much front turn out, even for his breed.   Yes, prem. closure is known in the breed, but overall what happened then, and now NEED NOT HAVE HAPPENED had he been brought along at a sensible rate.   As soon as I realised about the protein level in the food he had been eating (he came to us at 4 months), I switched to one that was way less.

If your dog is showing signs of a front leg twitch, this could be because his shoulders are not as laid back as they might be (and could explain why he's doing this, and not the siblings?) other than excess protein/calcium.   I've seen this in a young bloodhound, but actually with sensible rearing, especially exercise, he came right in the end.   We get knuckling over when, as is all too common in my main breed, the shoulders are too forward.

But for sure, if you have a medium to large breed, watch the protein - and it may well be better to switch to a Junior or even Adult version of the food you are using, by at least 8 months - some say 6 months!

Too much of any nutrients (however good) can be as bad as not having enough 'adequate is all that's required' nothing more, nothing less.

I found this website whilst searching to find out exactly what knuckling over looked like, I was aware of the term but didn't know much about it. Don't know if it is of any use, but it appears helpful. Some of the pictures look awful, poor dogs

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/knuckling_over.htm

Some of those pictured look like candidates for Noel Fitzpatrick for sure!!   Ghastly.   The Bloodhound I saw was nowhere near that, just 'twitching' - unstable - when sitting.   We get this a lot in Bassets, but again because of the shoulder placement.   Too forward = too much weight on that joint.   And yes, a youngster can be 'helped' with strapping which I have no doubt happens

Thanks everyone.  I have seen the Great Dane lady website in my search for answers.  He is not as bad as those dogs on there, it's hard to explain but it seems when he puts weight on it the knee sort of comes forward and to the side so it appears bowed.
He is 5 weeks old and weighs just under 5 kg and is the smallest in the litter.  They were weaned onto the Simpsons with a small amount of tripe added for flavour.  They still feed off mum and have water with a splash of goats milk for flavour. They sleep in a whelping box and go in a pen in my living room during the day, both floors are hard but covered with newspaper and vet bed.

I am not sure about changing to adult at such a young age.  What I have done is stopped the goats milk and tripe as I watched him feed last night and he seemed to pick out the tripe.  He is also quite greedy and eats longer than everyone else.

According to one site I found if it's under 8 weeks it's not generally a problem but I'd rather nip it in the bud now if I can so if anyone can see what I am doing wrong above I am open to all suggestions!

Edited to add that when laying down his leg is perfectly straight, it's not permanently bowed rather brought on when weight bearing.  No lameness or pain.

If he's only 5 weeks, I'd NOT be altering his diet and probably looking more to conformation as a reason for what's going on right now and even then it's far too soon to be panicking.   As said, an excess of protein and the other things that may be in a high-protein diet may not be good for medium to large breeds but at only 5 weeks, and that weight right now, it's really early days.   Why not have your vet run the rule over him, preferably one who specialises in bones and perhaps talk to other breeders in your breed (the owner of the sire if it wasn't one of your dogs?)    You are right about not changing any of his diet at the moment, any of it, especially if he is currently the smallest in the litter.

Make sure the flooring he's on doesn't allow slipping - you may find rubber matting or even just ordinary matting, might be worth considering.

Interesting points raised in there including comment about food and protein well worth looking into

Sounds like the start of rickets.
Try really mashing the tripe and food together with a fork so he can't pick it out or just stop giving it for a few weeks and maybe try to stop him from over eating by using a smaller bowl or feed separate with smaller amounts.

As per the link:

Quote: "Early knuckling over - under 8 weeks of age, is not a problem and very common because the large and giant breeds grow quickly during the early stages of development. "

Are you adding anything else to his diet? often this course be a calcium overload. While it's a very good food I would personally and that's just me after a visit with him to the vets to change the food.
I've seen knuckling over in a giant breed because they were fed a complete, tripe and goats milk and it was too much for them the complete was a well known brand for giant breeds. 
The feeding regime was changed to AG large breed and everything was taken away and there was a complete recovery.