Front legs

[Urska]

I have a young rottweiler (8,5 weeks) and his front legs are starting to point a little bit outwards. I also have a feeling that his lower joints seem a little larger. What can I do so he will have a nice straight front legs?

[frontierrots]

the lower joints on the front legs are where the growth plates are and they will be a bit larger while he s growing

Be sure to keep your pup lean and never fat. You should be able to see a distint waist when looking down on him and be able to easily feel is ribs. He should not have a ot belly at this age except right after a meal

Feet often do turn out while young and if not extreme it usually corrects to the norm (very slight turn out) when an adult after the chest drops

[los1]

Originally Posted by frontierrots

the lower joints on the front legs are where the growth plates are and they will be a bit larger while he s growing

Be sure to keep your pup lean and never fat. You should be able to see a distint waist when looking down on him and be able to easily feel is ribs. He should not have a ot belly at this age except right after a meal

Feet often do turn out while young and if not extreme it usually corrects to the norm (very slight turn out) when an adult after the chest drops

When you say the chest drop what excactly do you mean?

[frontierrots]

Adult dogs have chests at or below the elbow. Pups and teens have chests at or above the elbow. When the chest drops in adulthod it forces the elbows out a bit which twists the feet in a bit (I'm talking a small amounthere not inches)

[Urska]

Thanks for the advice. Legs are just slightly pointing outwards so I will take your advice and keep him lean.

[rottsnroses]

Originally Posted by frontierrots

Feet often do turn out while young and if not extreme it usually corrects to the norm (very slight turn out) when an adult after the chest drops

This is why I love this place! You learn something new every day! Max's front feet have been sort of easty-westy since he was a pup, but I've noticed in the last few weeks that they are starting to straighten out. Very cool!

[sherri]

SOME people (not all) believe that feeding a puppy from a raised feeder will help with that also. This was the advice that I was given, I tried it and whether it was that or just her getting older but she now stands straight. Also keeping the dogs nails nicely trimmed is a good idea.

[Sharon Marples]

And, if he happens to be down in the pasterns as well, start adding Vitamin C to his meals if you are not already doing so.

[Urska]

Thanks guys, the situation looks a lot better now and he has grown so much in one week that I can't belive it. I will give the calicum pills to a friend of mine.

Puppy has a raised feeding bowls, a larger rubber rug on the floor and we walk on gravel every day for 10 minutes (we will start longer walks when he is bigger). He is also a bit leaner. And everything helps a little.