Can You Fix Bowed Legs in Dogs?
While most young dogs suffer from bowed legs, some carry the condition into adulthood.
If yours shows any signs of having leg deformities, don’t panic. There are several treatment options you can consider.
Changing the dog’s diet can take care of the problem once and for all.
Other treatment options include putting braces on the dog, doing massage therapy, and removing a certain part of the plate or bone.
In very rare circumstances, the limb may need complete removal.
However, surgery is the best route for straightening the legs and giving the dog a new lease of life. It has a high success rate compared to other treatment options.
Sure, it is invasive but totally worthwhile. The vet will recommend either stabilization or corrective surgery.
Treatment of Front Leg Deformity in Dogs
Treatment of the deformity will depend on the cause and the extent of the problem. The goal is always to correct the position and length of the limb and regain comfortable joint movement. Of course, preventing further complications that can be secondary to the deformity is of utmost importance, too.
The treatment protocol may involve diet, surgery, splints or physical therapy. For example:
- Corrective surgery will be done, conducive to stabilizing the limb with external or internal braces or framework. Sometimes cutting the bone, with the goal of realignment or equalizing bone length, is a success.
- The use of veterinary applied support splints, bandages, and physiotherapy can bring resolution. In some cases, the complete or partial fusion of the carpus is necessary. A procedure called arthrodesis is done to fuse the forelimb and paw using internal plates and screws.
- This deformity is treated with diet change. Adherence to a complete and balanced diet, with the removal of excess supplementation can have a favorable outcome.
Other treatments for front leg deformity include removal of part of a bone or plate. Some severe cases of front leg deformity will require complete amputation of the limb. It should be noted that most dogs can function very well on three legs.
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What causes a dog to be bow-legged?
A fairly common defect in small breeds of dogs is a medially luxating (dislocating) patella. In these dogs the groove in the bone is too shallow or the attachments of the tendons that keep the patella in place are not normal. … These dogs will walk with their hind legs bent and look bow-legged.
Common achondroplastic breeds include the basset hound, dachshund and corgi. In these breeds such bowing is acceptable, up to the point of being desirable in their breed standard. … However, in some cases, temporary bowing may appear in certain breeds of dogs when they’re puppies.
Rickets. Rickets is a condition resulting from prolonged vitamin D deficiency. This softens and weakens the bones, causing the legs to bow.
Orphan Dog Walks as Casts to Correct Bow-Legs Are Removed
In Corgis, Boston Terriers, Basset Hounds, Pugs, Pekingese, Skye Terriers, and Dachshunds, the bowing is a result of a genetic mutation referred to as ‘acondroplasia’. The gene converts cartilage to the bone making the legs appear deformed.