Fao Lankeela

[slinkycat]

Just read your reply and link on kitkaats thread. Thanks for that, I'll mention it next time we're at the vets, would say he's level one.
Tbh its his front legs we've been more worried about because of the way they turn out from the wrist (?) joint.
This is probably from poor breeding, he was from an "accidental" litter.
We spoke at length to the vet about this problem. There is a highly expensive procedure which a specialist some distance from us may be able to do, and which may work.
What put us off was the recovery time, up to 6 months of being kept "quiet".
Not sure we could put such a spirited little dog through that, when left as he is, he might or might not suffer from arthritis later in life.

[lankeela]

Many early specimens of my breed had a very 'Queen Anne' front, where the legs bow and the feet turn out. This it is believed stemmed from the Corgi type influence (Cardigan Corgis are required to have a 'wrap around' front to allow for great chest/heart room). Nowadays we have much straighter front legs but the breed standard still allows for the pasterns to allow the front feet to turn out slightly. Unless its actually a physical deformity or fault, then it probably will make no difference and if its in both legs then its probably nothing to do with poor breeding but something he has inherited from one or both parents.

[slinkycat]

Thanks again Lankeela, yes the woman we got him from did point out the "Queen Anne" legs on the mother but tbh I was so entranced with the pup we had gone to view (not to mention totally inexperienced when it came to buying a pup) that I didn't think of the possible problems in later life.
And yes he is very barrel chested, its in both legs, one more prominently than the other. Sometimes when he is sitting it looks as if there is abnormal stress on the joint,which is what worried us.
What is your breed? I'd assumed it was Alsation from your avatar.

[lankeela]

Avatar is indeed my German Shepherd Dog (the name Alsatian is no longer used thank goodness) but my small breed is a Lancashire Heeler.