Cindyg
02-24-2008, 08:59 PM
We have the cutest dog in the world. He's a 15-lb, 1 year old, all-white, all-fluffy Bolognese. He had really long hair, hair that dragged the ground.
About six weeks ago, we had his hair trimmed. I swear he came home from the groomer with straight legs. The groomer even commented on how cute his "post-like" legs looked in his new hair cut.
But about a week after that, his right front leg started to twist at the ankle. Now I can't be sure it actually started then. It could have been twisted under all that hair, and we couldn't have known. But it's dang sure twisted now.
I rushed him to the vet, fearing the worst, but the vet said there's nothing wrong, that it's poor conformation, "knocked knees." He didn't even want to do x-rays. He said because the dog is small, it won't likely cause him serious problems, but that if he were a bigger dog, this would cause terrible joint pain or arthritis. Personally, I can't imagine he's going to age well with the leg twisted like this.
I asked the vet if it was possible that poor conformation was just now showing up. He said the tendency was probably there all along, but he has just now grown into it. :confused:
I e-mailed the breeder -- not a puppy mill, but a very serious breeder; and she is baffled. I can't photograph this because the problem is 3D and the pictures are 2D. In the pictures it just looks like the dog is taking a step. But he's not.
I'll try to describe this: It looks like he's standing on his tippy toes, just on the one foot. But he's not. He's actually standing on his pad. The knee bends the wrong way and the ankle flips out to the side. His hair is still fluffy enough that it's difficult to be any more precise than that.
There is no injury. He's not limping, whimpering, or favoring the leg. He still runs and plays and has a happy look on his face. The leg is simply -- and suddenly -- deformed. ??
The breeder wants a second vet opinion and and x-rays (just for her own curiousity. We're not expecting her to do anything about it). And we're also inclined to see another vet for a second opinion and x-rays. DH and I are concerned -- despite what the vet said, and despite that the puppy seems fine -- that there is something horribly wrong with him, and that this is going to get worse and/or affect other legs or other body parts. :(
Any educated guesses to comfort us (or otherwise)?
About six weeks ago, we had his hair trimmed. I swear he came home from the groomer with straight legs. The groomer even commented on how cute his "post-like" legs looked in his new hair cut.
But about a week after that, his right front leg started to twist at the ankle. Now I can't be sure it actually started then. It could have been twisted under all that hair, and we couldn't have known. But it's dang sure twisted now.
I rushed him to the vet, fearing the worst, but the vet said there's nothing wrong, that it's poor conformation, "knocked knees." He didn't even want to do x-rays. He said because the dog is small, it won't likely cause him serious problems, but that if he were a bigger dog, this would cause terrible joint pain or arthritis. Personally, I can't imagine he's going to age well with the leg twisted like this.
I asked the vet if it was possible that poor conformation was just now showing up. He said the tendency was probably there all along, but he has just now grown into it. :confused:
I e-mailed the breeder -- not a puppy mill, but a very serious breeder; and she is baffled. I can't photograph this because the problem is 3D and the pictures are 2D. In the pictures it just looks like the dog is taking a step. But he's not.
I'll try to describe this: It looks like he's standing on his tippy toes, just on the one foot. But he's not. He's actually standing on his pad. The knee bends the wrong way and the ankle flips out to the side. His hair is still fluffy enough that it's difficult to be any more precise than that.
There is no injury. He's not limping, whimpering, or favoring the leg. He still runs and plays and has a happy look on his face. The leg is simply -- and suddenly -- deformed. ??
The breeder wants a second vet opinion and and x-rays (just for her own curiousity. We're not expecting her to do anything about it). And we're also inclined to see another vet for a second opinion and x-rays. DH and I are concerned -- despite what the vet said, and despite that the puppy seems fine -- that there is something horribly wrong with him, and that this is going to get worse and/or affect other legs or other body parts. :(
Any educated guesses to comfort us (or otherwise)?