Rickets
Rickets is a disease affecting the bones and teeth of puppies caused by a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. Proper diet, adequate sunshine, and vitamins can reverse this disease if treated in time. Symptoms of the disease are bowed legs, weak muscles, deformed joints, lack of vigor, arched neck, and a poor stance.

It is of utmost importance that bitches in pregnancy and lactation have sufficiently high amounts of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus. This is important both for maintaining their own health and for the proper formation of their puppies.

Black Tongue
Black tongue is a vitamin B complex deficiency disease which will not occur in dogs maintained on a good diet. It is not infectious or contagious. Treatment is only effective if the diet is corrected and nutritious foods high in the B vitamins are added, such as meat, milk, eggs, and liver.