Anyone with Angular Limb Deformity?

newbie · 08-28-2009, 09:22 PM

Our 7 month old basset was diagnosed with angular limb deformity recently. We were told our choices are to manage pain or surgery. Luckily, it's not an extreme deformity, one of his front legs is just a little bowed, and he limps a bit, so we've decided to manage pain at the moment. We've also taken him off of puppy food and give him glucosamine/chondroitin and MSM. Anyone else with this situation? What did you decide to do? Any advice?

2hounds · 08-29-2009, 10:46 AM

My boy Gibbs has a quite crooked front leg (he's a rescue so we don't know what happened to his leg). Our vet was rather suprised that he gets around so good and it doesn't bother him. I'm no vet but we were told that as long as he's getting around well and it doesn't seem to bother him just keep an eye on it. Some dogs never need surgery other dogs do need the surgery depends on the dog. Hope this helps!

~Heather

Mahna · 08-29-2009, 12:54 PM

My guy is bowlegged in both legs. My vet advised against surgery unless it is causing severe pain. I adopted him when he was over a year old so I don't know how much pain he was in during that time. But I took him to the vet and she advised against surgery unless it is causing severe pain. Now he is 4, and gets along fine. He runs a bit sideways, is very clutzy, and stairs aren't the easiest for him. But he is happy to run around, take long walks, and is in little to no pain. I feed him food that has glucosamine (many lamb based foods have natural glucosamine) in it as well as use the glucosamine treats. I would wait until he stops growing before considering surgery, and see how he manages.

Good luck!

AmyB · 08-30-2009, 11:47 PM

Spencer's front legs are both bowed. The vet advised against surgery, because he never appeared to be in any pain from them. When Spencer was a pup, the vet said he would likely have arthritis in his legs when he got older. He's been clumsy his whole life, & has always tripped & occasionally falls. Spencer is now 13 years old & while he has been diagnosed with arthritis in his spine, his legs don't seem to bother him, other than he's still clumsy.

Tuesday · 05-13-2010, 10:17 AM

Just curious, at what age do their legs begin to bow?

smitte21 · 05-13-2010, 02:16 PM

Not all bassets legs bow. In fact they are not supposed to bow.

At 7 months he should definately be on adult formula or an all life stages formula. You want to slow down his growth a bit in order for his bones to catch up. Because basset bones are so dense in proportion to their size they often have problems with pano and such so it's necessary to slow their growth a bit (by putting them on adult formula). Bassets are not really fully mature till they hit about 2 to 2 1/2 so it takes a great deal of time for their chest to spread and fill out. I would never do surgery on a developing basset... unfortunately some vets are not aware of how bassets grow. With them being a dwarf breed it's best to let them fully mature before considering any sort of surgery unless of course you are talking about traumatic injury type of surgery obviously.

Bassetx2 · 05-20-2010, 05:21 PM

My four year old male Basset's front legs are so bowed he looks like he's striking a ballet pose. We talked to the vet about surgery, but decided against it. It is a very harsh surgery - they cut the bones and screw them back together again. We control his weight and limit his opportunities to jump too much and injure himself. He runs and plays and has a very happy life. His crooked front legs bothered us way more than they did him.

smitte21 · 05-20-2010, 06:41 PM

Unfortunately the bowing of the legs and knuckling over often happens when those who shouldn't be breeding breed.

Lovethedroolmonster · 06-16-2010, 03:41 PM

my Roscoe has the same issue, but Pagoda didnt, and Piee is too young to know as of yet. i was told that the bowing happens if you dont keep there nails trimmed. is that true?

smitte21 · 06-16-2010, 07:30 PM

I don't think the length of the nails has anything at all to do with their legs bowing. However their nails do need to be kept short as they will not wear down naturally if you walk them often enough like other breeds nails will, their pads are far too think to allow for that.

08-29-2009, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
2hounds Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Norfolk, VA Posts: 1,130	My boy Gibbs has a quite crooked front leg (he's a rescue so we don't know what happened to his leg). Our vet was rather suprised that he gets around so good and it doesn't bother him. I'm no vet but we were told that as long as he's getting around well and it doesn't seem to bother him just keep an eye on it. Some dogs never need surgery other dogs do need the surgery depends on the dog. Hope this helps! ~Heather __________________ Mommy to Lily and Gibbs

08-30-2009, 11:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
AmyB Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,826	Spencer's front legs are both bowed. The vet advised against surgery, because he never appeared to be in any pain from them. When Spencer was a pup, the vet said he would likely have arthritis in his legs when he got older. He's been clumsy his whole life, & has always tripped & occasionally falls. Spencer is now 13 years old & while he has been diagnosed with arthritis in his spine, his legs don't seem to bother him, other than he's still clumsy. __________________ Amy, mom to Sadie (ATB, 6/9/06) & Spencer (ATB, 8/19/10) - always in my heart and Clifford (gotcha date 7/2/11).

05-13-2010, 02:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
smitte21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: WI Posts: 295	Not all bassets legs bow. In fact they are not supposed to bow. At 7 months he should definately be on adult formula or an all life stages formula. You want to slow down his growth a bit in order for his bones to catch up. Because basset bones are so dense in proportion to their size they often have problems with pano and such so it's necessary to slow their growth a bit (by putting them on adult formula). Bassets are not really fully mature till they hit about 2 to 2 1/2 so it takes a great deal of time for their chest to spread and fill out. I would never do surgery on a developing basset... unfortunately some vets are not aware of how bassets grow. With them being a dwarf breed it's best to let them fully mature before considering any sort of surgery unless of course you are talking about traumatic injury type of surgery obviously. __________________ Proud owner handler of AKC/UKC Ch. Olde Fashion Agent 99, CGC, TDInc. and Beauregard Smith, CGC www.savybassets.net

05-20-2010, 05:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bassetx2 Junior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1	Ballerina Basset My four year old male Basset's front legs are so bowed he looks like he's striking a ballet pose. We talked to the vet about surgery, but decided against it. It is a very harsh surgery - they cut the bones and screw them back together again. We control his weight and limit his opportunities to jump too much and injure himself. He runs and plays and has a very happy life. His crooked front legs bothered us way more than they did him.

05-20-2010, 06:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
smitte21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: WI Posts: 295	Unfortunately the bowing of the legs and knuckling over often happens when those who shouldn't be breeding breed. __________________ Proud owner handler of AKC/UKC Ch. Olde Fashion Agent 99, CGC, TDInc. and Beauregard Smith, CGC www.savybassets.net

08-28-2009, 09:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
newbie Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	Our 7 month old basset was diagnosed with angular limb deformity recently. We were told our choices are to manage pain or surgery. Luckily, it's not an extreme deformity, one of his front legs is just a little bowed, and he limps a bit, so we've decided to manage pain at the moment. We've also taken him off of puppy food and give him glucosamine/chondroitin and MSM. Anyone else with this situation? What did you decide to do? Any advice?

08-29-2009, 12:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mahna Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 157	My guy is bowlegged in both legs. My vet advised against surgery unless it is causing severe pain. I adopted him when he was over a year old so I don't know how much pain he was in during that time. But I took him to the vet and she advised against surgery unless it is causing severe pain. Now he is 4, and gets along fine. He runs a bit sideways, is very clutzy, and stairs aren't the easiest for him. But he is happy to run around, take long walks, and is in little to no pain. I feed him food that has glucosamine (many lamb based foods have natural glucosamine) in it as well as use the glucosamine treats. I would wait until he stops growing before considering surgery, and see how he manages. Good luck!

05-13-2010, 10:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tuesday Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 160	Just curious, at what age do their legs begin to bow?

06-16-2010, 03:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
Lovethedroolmonster Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 3	my Roscoe has the same issue, but Pagoda didnt, and Piee is too young to know as of yet. i was told that the bowing happens if you dont keep there nails trimmed. is that true?

06-16-2010, 07:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
smitte21 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: WI Posts: 295	I don't think the length of the nails has anything at all to do with their legs bowing. However their nails do need to be kept short as they will not wear down naturally if you walk them often enough like other breeds nails will, their pads are far too think to allow for that. __________________ Proud owner handler of AKC/UKC Ch. Olde Fashion Agent 99, CGC, TDInc. and Beauregard Smith, CGC www.savybassets.net

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