funny walk

DesertDoggies · Puppy Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Fur Kids: Niko Addie

My 10-week old puppy just starting walking as if his left hind leg isn't working well. He tries to stretch it out behind him, but that doesn't seem to help. It seems to get a little better as the day goes on. Could it be growing pains, a strained muscle, or a more serious orthopedic problem?

I would very much appreciate your feedback on this, as I'm a new Weimaraner owner.

emily · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:37 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure what it could be. Have you asked your vet?

DesertDoggies · Puppy Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Fur Kids: Niko Addie

Not yet, their next appointment is Monday, so I'll definitely ask.
Thanks.

h20fwlkillr · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:14 am Post subject:

Had the sire and Dam been screened for hip dysplasia? If not, I would make sure your vet does a check. It is hard to detect in pups, but if really bad, they can.

heathr · Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject:

I don't know where you got your dogs, but if you can get into contact with the breeder and find out what the dam and sires OFA rating were it might help. Dogs can't really be tested until they are 2 yrs for their OFA's because they are still growing and it takes away from the accuracy, but I would definitely have that looked into. Our rescue dog Riley walks really funny and I suspected there is something wrong with his hips. When I asked my vet about having it looked at he told me, the earlier you can detect the problem, the better chance of having it fixed. Hopefully it is nothing but rather safe than sorry. Good luck. Are your pups from the same litter? Have noticed anything with the other pup?

DesertDoggies · Puppy Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Fur Kids: Niko Addie

Thanks for the good advice.

I took Niko to the Vet today, and the Xray did not show any fractures or obvious hip/leg problems, and agreed that he's too young to make a diagnosis of hip dysplasia. She prescribed Rimadyl, lots of rest, and to bring him back on Tuesday.

The Xray revealed another interesting thing about my puppy - he's been eating large amounts of gravel! Does anyone have ideas about how to keep puppies from eating gravel? Our entire backyard is covered with gravel (the Southwestern version of a "lawn.")

Niko's littermate, Addie, has no gait problems and seems normal in every way.

RK · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject:

i don't know what you can really do about the gravel except to train niko off it and to be extra vigilant. and please be extra vigilant—it's bad for them. also, wood chips as well as they are treated with chemicals (schroeder used to be really into wood chips as a baby—he's still very into chewing wood) and can be poisonous for the dogs.

DesertDoggies · Puppy Joined: 16 Feb 2007 Posts: 8 Fur Kids: Niko Addie

Thanks for the information. Niko is slowing down on the gravel eating due to our constant vigilance. No one said puppies would be easy, but I never imagined me standing outside in my bathrobe guarding the gravel!

Wood chips sound especially dangerous. Do you let Shroeder chew regular wood?

RK · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:11 pm Post subject:

well, it's not so much "let" as he just does it. he will chew any piece of wood he finds—including the firewood in the house. one trick i have learned from a friend about keeping your dog out of or off something (i.e. the firewood or the sofa) when you can't watch them is to cover it with a piece of foil. sounds funny but it totally works. i don't know whether it's the noise foil makes or the shiny-ness or what but they'll avoid it. just waving a piece of foil at schroeder will make him run off. Laughing

nfp20 · Puppy Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 20

you could ask about auto immune diseases inparticular HOD as lacking in the rear legs is one of the signs, they do grow out of it.

http://www.weimclubamerica.org/health/hod2.html
http://www.graceylou.com/

Dog often look like they have drunk back legs that lack co-ordination

weimdawgs · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:26 pm Post subject:

If your pup developes the runs or unexplained vomiting or a fever, HOD may be a concern. I have an HOD pup. Scout is four now and healthy considering what he went through. It was not an easy thing. Hopefully it is just something simple and will be easily resolved. Let us know how he does.

I also have a rock eater...at least he was when he was a puppy. The good news is they usually grow out of that. But.....when Gunnar was the age your pup is now...there was NO stopping him. We have gravel around our shed and rocks everwhere. You would think it was beef flavored the way he would go at it. I had to put him on a leash everytime I took him out and keep him away and his head up. Otherwise, he's be poopin rocks.... I really feel very fortunate that Gunnar was able to pass all the stuff he got into. He was brutal with swallowing things he shouldn't. And I felt bad because I just couldn't let him run in the yard with the big dogs. He did get over it. Now he's a big 90 pounder...maybe there's still some rocks in there...lol

dixiedancr · Puppy Joined: 16 Jun 2007 Posts: 23

my 10week old puppy also eats rocks, mulch, and bark.... is the mulch dangerous if they are jsut chewing on it? chemical wise?

weimdawgs · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject:

I wouldn't let him chew on mulch if you can avoid that. Get him a big Nyla bone to chew on instead. They come flavored. Or even a big soup bone and keep it outside...just make sure the bone is raw, not cooked.

I'm not an advocate of letting them chew anything they shouldn't especially when they are pups. When they get big, they chew things you can even imagine. I had planted a red walnut tree in my yard a couple summers ago, and Scout and Silkie chewed it to a stick. We thought it was dead bit it's growing good now. Very Happy

Kriorska · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject:

RK,

I was floored when I read that your Weim has an aversion to foil - I thought mine was just plain trippy about the stuff. Bowie actually has a fit when I pull some off the roll - and if I don't put it down right away, he zips outta the kitchen like he's on fire.

It's kinda good to know mine isn't the only one!

Wink

Krio

AmyB · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 9:11 am Post subject: