Splayed Legs?
I took a closer look at Walter on our walk last night, and noticed that his back feet do sort of point outward (only slightly). His fronts are perfectly straight forward. I also noticed that when he runs, his back legs will kick out to one side or the other...i guess that's called "flapping"? I guess I'm just wondering if there's anything i should be concerned about here - physically, he seems fine, and of course, has all the energy of a 10 month pup. But, is this a sign of things to come in his older years, or would this be something that could hinder exercise, agility, etc.? Or am i just being paranoid, and it's a regular sheepie trait? |
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| It could be something he grows into. Newfoundlands and St. Bernards can have "goofy" back legs like this and it's an adolescent phase for them. Like when we go through puberty and everything is gangly.
On the other hand, it could be a deformity of his legs and the growth plates or a hip problem. (How about that for both sides of the coin?  ) I would say that as long as he's not in pain it could probably wait until you see your vet again. Make the vet check him while standing and watch him gate. A lot of times you'll get a vet who will just say he's fine but make sure they watch him walk!
If there are any other sheepdog people in your area they may be able to watch him and give you some input as well. What you are describing is not a good gate and is not correct but hopefully it is just an adolescent phase and he'll grow out of it. AND if he starts showing any tenderness or signs of pain, have him checked as soon as that starts, rather than waiting. Hope to hear that he's alright!! |
| I would have expected to see the term "Hip Dysplasia" in your response? |
| This is what lead up to Sam having to have the TPLO surgery. The hip and femur aren't properly aligned. After blowing out the cruciates, this was the only choice for such a big dog. One part of the surgery was to break the femur and turn it into proper alignment. His foot finally faced forward!
So for your pup, it if is hip dysplasia, allow the pup to grow at a normal rate, don't accelerate. When mature, work on developing muscles in the back end. Muscles will help hold the joint and ligaments. One Pyr owner kept her poorly "made" Pyr in good condition by carting. Gradually guilding up the rear leg muscles through carting kept him pain free for most of his life. Carting is one option, climbing up hills is another. Anything to force them to use the rear end (hopefully without blowing out ligaments) P.S. Most of my dogs have had poorly built rear ends as they were rescues from probable byb's. |
Ron wrote: I would have expected to see the term "Hip Dysplasia" in your response?
I didn't want to bust out the big guns until the little stuff was checked out. |
Maxmm wrote: It could be something he grows into. Newfoundlands and St. Bernards can have "goofy" back legs like this and it's an adolescent phase for them.
You're totally right about that. We know a Newfie that was so goofy legged at around 6-7 months old that I was sure he was going to have horrid hip dysplasia. I'd never seen a dog move like that. Fast forward to now, almost a year later, he's perfectly fine. He grew right out of it and walks perfect. It never hurts to have things checked but don't worry too much right away. |
Maxmm wrote: Ron wrote: I would have expected to see the term "Hip Dysplasia" in your response? I didn't want to bust out the big guns until the little stuff was checked out. I'm probably wrong...just learning about this stuff, I get confused easily. |
| When the dog is "fully formed" then decisions can be made. That's why hip Xrays are best done when the dog is finished growing. So much can change as the various parts grow at different rates.
Hopefully this goofy foot pup will finish out in perfect structure. |
My first thought was to be super concerned about HD. Though, as some have said, i think i won't get too worried about it until Wally's all done growing...could be a while 
Next time I go to the vet, I'll have them check it out. I've been watching it all day, and sometimes they shoot outwards, and sometime they're perfectly straight. I guess i noticed it more on our long walk - it was causing his rump to go back and forth. Again, he doesn't seem to have any pain, and certainly enjoys tearing around the yard like a banshee...and is actually quite agile when he wants to be. I'll keep everyone informed! Thanks! |
| Sometimes it is just a maturity thing, they are growing at different rates and as they are growing it is not uncommon for them to drop in the pasterns and cause a gawky looking back end. Then they change and grow a bit more and go up on the toes again and straighten out when the rest of the developement has caught up.
The other thing is after he is finished maturing look at the hocks and if they are nice and straight from a back end view when he is standing then normal. If they slope outwards on an angle from the top of the hocks to the ground when viewing the back end, then that is called cow hocks. Sometimes it is nothing to do with the hips, just a maturing thing or cow hocks which won't effect him at all as he gets older. |
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