Wobbly back legs

[POPPYHONEY]

Mercedes,

I used to have one big mistake buying an expensive rottie puppy from a pet shop at 8 weeks (or should I say it's my husband's mistake since he bought the puppy for my Birthday present). I guess He was much younger when he brought from the breeder to the shop. He would slip his front legs everytime I put him on my tile. Anyhow, just like you, it was my first rottweiler that I have dreamt for years after having other multiple breeds. I love him very much because he was such a very sweet puppy. He never peed in the house at that very young age and learnt very fast.
I took him to the vet, and nothing was wrong with him with his legs, but he had weak legs, and the worst was he had hernia.
For his legs I just needed to put him on the grassy area for him to do his activity, playing with my other puppies and avoid the slippery tiles. His front legs growed to be strong normal legs at 3mo. ;)

I have my lesson, expensive and heartbreaking.
I wished I had joined this forum earlier.

I hope the best for you and your puppy too...

[Judi W]

Mercedes,
The reason I suggest you consider returning the puppy if the vet finds physical problems is that I know not all families have funds to care for the lifetime of a disabled dog. If the pup is starting out with serious problems, that is likely to be the case. While unexpected things can occur, to start out with a known problem seems unfair and can be a much heavier investment than the cost of travel and the purchase price.

[mmgy]

Originally posted by rottmommie
they call our kind saps,

Rottmommie, say it isn't so!!!:D

Mercedes, I took on 10 rescue dogs in 1993, 5 of whom were rottweilers. Like you, it was not my first stab at dog ownership. But if I had known then what I know now from reading this forum, the last ten years would have been completely different! The occasional gruffness you encounter here is never directed towards the new puppy owners, as it may initially seem, but more than likely towards the not-so-great breeders that effectively put you in the position of dealing with a puppy whose health may be compromised.

But also remember this: Anytime you post a problem, supply adequate background information!! Your first few posts on this topic didn't mention things like the parents' OFAs, and some of the responses you received may have been kinder had they known more details. A 6 1/2 week old puppy is a scary thing to most people here, but had they known you had taken some time to research her bloodlines they might have cut you a bit more slack.

This place is an unbeatable source of information!! No matter how much you and I know, the cumulative mind here knows more. We don't always have to agree with each other's stance, but we do have to agree to get along. So welcome, best of luck with your new baby, and I hope you don't have to make any hard decisions.

M2

[brunie's mom]

I find it highly unlikely that her breeder did OFA's on the breeding stock. I think mercedes told us this because she was embarassed for buying a pup from a BYB.

I breeder that did bother to OFA would not have sold a pup at 6 weeks of age, they also would have sold on a spay/neuter contract....and as mercedes says she plans on breeding this dog.
Also a breeder that bothered to get OFA's on a dog would be helping her now, and wanting to do the right thing...otherwise why would they have bothered to go to all of the trouble of x-rays if they did not care about hip problems.

I do wonder how the vet visit went??:o

Gina

[mercedes]

Burniesmom,

What the **** is your problem? The breeders have all these certificates and I have one of the copies. The breeders also had a very in depth booklet about all the dogs and the pedigrees of all the breeding dogs they have ever had. If anything, I am embarrased about you being so cold hearted, and having a puppy that could have life long problems and having people like you not care. The only thing you care about is that I made a mistake, when maby you should care a liitle more about the dog, and what she could possibly be going through. As for all who show their support, thank you all very much. It means alot to me and my family.

I AM GOING TO THE VET WITH HER IN ONE HOUR. THAT IS 2:40PM IN WISCONSIN TIME, MARCH 18,2003. I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT THE VET SAYS. WE COULNT GET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE REGULAR VET, SO WE ARE TAKING HER TO THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL.

[mercedes]

POPPYHONEY, MMGY, AND JUDIW THANK YOU FOR BEING SUPPORTIVE.

[BostonRott]

Mercedes,

Your assumptions about those on the board are wrong. I don't believe anyone here is made of money. Nor do we buy our dogs in stores. My questions re: your post were a) Why can you not bring these questions to your breeder and obtain a satisfactory answer? Something as serious as a puppy with an improper rear should be addressed by a) the breeder and b) a vet. Also, if your family has been breeding dogs for so long, why are they not able to help you with this?

I'm not trying to be rude, but we certainly get our share of people who "troll" on this board, and you just aren't making a lot of sense to me. You have many resources at your immediate disposal, and it would seem to me that if you were truly worried, you'd utilize them........not come to a board where no one can see the puppy, and ask people to guess.

None of this is meant as an attack on you, I'm just trying to see the whole picture here.

I hope that you took the puppy to the vet today, as you said you would, and I hope that the vet had some answers for you, including "Don't worry, it's nothing."

Good luck

[Bucky's Mom]

I hope your visit goes well - one thing I don't remember reading here - Did you call your breeder and tell them of your concerns? - Perhaps when you get back from the Doctor visit a call to the breeder would be a good thing?

[BostonRott]

Mercedes,

Can you post the puppy's pedigree? Perhaps people here are familiar with the dogs and can offer you more help, based on their knoweldge of the dogs or bloodlines. Sire, Dam, Paternal Grandparents, Maternal Grandparents...........that would hopefully give people a decent place to start.

[brunie's mom]

That's great if you have the certificates with the OFA numbers. Who are your pup's sire and dam?? With the names of them then you can go to the OFA data base and really make sure that they have been OFA'd....there are fake certificates floating around. You will be able to see if the breeder is telling you the truth.

I am upset that you would buy a female to even consider to breed. After being in rescue for awhile...I have come to realize that this is what we are rescuing most of the time. People that breed their females without health certifications, no titles in confirmation or working, and then selling to the first person that has the money. A good breeder will take their dogs back at any time of their life.
Please spay her...and love her.

I also have a dog that has been suffering with hip dysplasia since he was a young pup...I hate to see another dog and owner suffer.
Hope you have good news at the vets.

Gina

[sophie's-mom]

SYMPTOMS
In most dogs, the onset of clinical signs is slow and insidious and not associated with any known external injury. The initial signs of weakness and incoordination occur rapidly, and are most apparent in the hind limbs. The signs worsen, slowly over succeeding weeks. The hind limbs often are spread wider apart than normal and on walking the dog takes longer strides than normal, causing the hindquarters to sway from side to side. The hind limbs may not fully extend, causing a crouched posture, with the toes scuffing on the ground with each step. The degree of forelimb involvement varies from no observable abnormality to an obvious stiffness and awkward use of the forelimbs. In mild cases or early in the disease these signs may be most obvious as the dog turns corners, and are less evident when it walks or runs along a straight path. An abrupt change in speed or direction may exacerbate the neurological signs.


Reprinted from the Rott N Chatter and © by Southern California Surgical Group

[BostonRott]

Here's a thread that may be of interest.

How to research pedigrees

[mercedes]

The fathers name is Schomberg's Shakespeare WP882418/01
dob-10-20-98

The dams name is Holly von Schomberg. Im looking for her paper. I dont remember where i put it. I dont have a scanner, so i am going to try to make the pedigree on the computer somehow.

I WENT TO THE VET. JUST GOT BACK. SHE HAD FULL ANAL GLAND AND THAT IS WHAT THEY THINK IT WAS. SHE ALSO SOMEHOW GOT A SCRATCH ON HER CORNEA(MORE THAN LIKELY BY PLAYING W/THE OTHER PUPS)AND WE GOT OINTMENT FOR HER EYE, HAD HER INITIAL EXAM DONE,AND HAVE A SUPPLY OF HEATWORM MEDICATION FOR HER. SHE DID VERY GOOD AT THE VETS OFFICE. THE VET SAID THAT IF IT WAS THE ANAL GLANDS, SHE SHOULD WALK NORMAL BY TOMORROW. SHE HAS BEEN SLEEPING, SO I HAVENT GOTTEN TO SEE HOW SHE IS WALKING YET.

[mercedes]

MABEY NOW THE DOUBTERS HERE WILL BELIEVE I DIDNT BY HER FROM A BYB AND IM NOT "EMBARASSED" ABOUT THIS

[mercedes]

SOPHIES-MOM, THAT ALMOST SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE HOW SHE IS. WHERE DID YOU FIND THAT?