Hi all

My first time on the site. Firstly we have a fantastic puppy Rottweiler,  4 months old. His name is ted. We have had ted at the vets several times and now being referred to our second specialist. I am basically looking for some who may have had the same issue so I know what to expect from the specialist, as I am sick of waiting and really need to know If I can be doing anything in the mean time to help him.

Ok so the problem is his back paws, I have spent numerous hours looking for the same problem but to no prevail, the term I believe is used is easty  westy! The vet says it is a birth defect and is grossly defected. But has no other information on it. I will upload a picture soon as I can, but in short his back paws are constantly twisted outwards. He walks a bit funny but does not seem to be in any pain. I'm just wanting the best quality of life for ted , no intention of mating him or showing him. 

Thanks dan

Sorry I cant help specifically with knowledge of this but I did come across a site with things about deformed limbs in pups when I looked for other things for one of our dogs - I found it for you here: (but it does depend on what the vet has specifically diagnosed his deformity as, and whether related to growth plates etc I think - has your vet come up with any name of any syndrome? Has he also checked for any nerve damage like slow correction of back paws if you knuckle them over or anything like that to rule out nerve damage or spinal damage and narrow it down to just the legs?):  Anyway hopefully others can help but this was the site I saw about various dog deformities with limbs:

http://www.willows.uk.net/specialist-services/pet-health-information/orthopaedics/limb-deformity

Hi
Thanks for that I will have a good read, he has been fully checked over for any other problems. According to the vets it is just the ankle and he is "perfect from the ankle up including his nature" that was the exact words of that last orthopaedic specialist.  I say specialist loosely because he has referred us onto another specialist.

My main concern is the weight he will be carrying on his back legs when he gets bigger, he is 4 months and 15-16 kilos.

The rest will be along to help shortly I hope as many know about Rotts etc in particular but I think in general any bone issue, ie hip, ankles, elbows, spine, are far worse with a dog that is in any way carrying too much weight - with hips for example with our dog it was absolutely key to keep him on the light side of normal rather than let him settle on just normal weight - and when he was exercised to keep his weight down we had to find ways which were stress free on his bones - ie field not tarmac - and swimming.

Hope someone with more specific knowledge comes on to help soon for you.:)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Cowhocked+dogs&tbm=isch&imgil=rPLkAI_4XZabnM%253A%253BnKHUx1-O_p3odM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.mastiff-forum.com%25252Fshowthread.php%25252F11708-Cowhocked-info&source=iu&pf=m&fir=rPLkAI_4XZabnM%253A%252CnKHUx1-O_p3odM%252C_&biw=1024&bih=634&usg=___nttSfo1w3rySq_3boeSdypH_SA%3D&ved=0CEAQyjdqFQoTCKTUqqur7sYCFUVvFAodQ9sADA&ei=v1avVeT4GsXeUcO2g2A#imgrc=rPLkAI_4XZabnM%3A&usg=___nttSfo1w3rySq_3boeSdypH_SA%3D

Hopefully this will load - there are other websites to explain what I suspect is 'cowhocked'.    It is a fault but given his age, he may improve as his muscle-tone improves.   I'd be concerned about why he's like this - is there any Hip involvement?   Did you get him from a 'reputable breeder' because this is where you should be asking the questions you obviously will have, with any 'fault' that appears.   Puppies do go through ugly duckling stages of course (especially with the medium to large breeds) and in that you may have to wait for him to be the finished article (adult) and meanwhile, be careful with how much exercise you do with him, and what sort of exercise.  Yes, muscle-build, but don't do a lot of hard road work.

Obviously if this is a serious defect, you may be looking at corrective surgery - but don't be pushed into this, and especially not at only 4 months!!

ps   Make sure you aren't feeding him a high-protein food.... 26 - 28% is high enough and for a medium/large breed, more isn't necessarily better - it encourages too much growth, too fast.

Obviously without pictures it is difficult to see what you are describing. But from my experience (have had the breed 20 years) sometimes, especially in young male puppies they are a bit cow hocked, i.e when viewed from behind the hocks are touching or almost which makes the legs below turn outwards. From my experience if the pup ends up a large adult, this phase often happens at this kind of age. Usually a good diet which is not too high in protein will help, aswell as decent structured exercise (i.e not allowing them to do too much, he IS a baby) will help to build the muscles as he's growing. I have a 13 yr old here, who when he was about 5 months had awful trouble getting up from lying down and looked all gangly and as if he had some issues with his legs. Turned out he was on a too high a protein food causing his bones to grow too quick for his muscles (think at the time it was Pedigree Advance food) we changed him to Beta Junior and lessened his exercise a bit and he was fine.

As an off shoot, we are seeing an awful lot of foreign dogs being used in breeding programs. Along with some breeds, foreign is often being seen as being better than using dogs of which we know the history of in this country, but anyway... I've noticed that puppies from predominantly foreign breeding do appear to have a slightly different appearance, do you know your puppies breeding?

That said, he may well have a deformity of some kind, without seeing, it's hard to say. have you spoken to the breeder of your pup? Was there are sign of what you are describing before you took him home?

Hi all
And thanks again for the replys.
I will upload some pictures as soon as I can hopefully in the next hour.

We feed him on weinwrights dry (with a little bit
weinwrights meat for his first meal of the day). The dry was recommended from our vet. The meat is us in the process of us weaning heed on to totally dry food.

We found ted on pets for homes, with pictures of his parents who where kc registered. And went to meet the parents of ted who were beautiful dogs, and to be honest I did not notice the ankles. As did none of the vets until recently. The latest vet said he must have been born with it and it is unlikely that it was not apparent at the age of 8 weeks ( the age we picked him up at).

By looking at the post I'm pretty sure this is what it is, he can struggle to get up after he has been lay down for long periods of time, he can run and jump up on his hind legs( we don't advocate this), never looks in pain.

I will upload some pics so you are not guessing. But thanks again for all of the info.

And to the person who said they have been involved in the breed for 20 years, what a beautiful breed they really are. Such a loving pupand very kind natured.

You can't post pictures on this site but can include a link to a photo site in your profile.

I was just trying to find out how to do it! Could you recomend any quick and easy sites to do it on please?

Sorry I don't sue photo sites as I either post pic tures on my own website or facebook.

Something like photobucket would work

Hi all
I am having massive amounts of trouble trying to upload any photos. I've tried flicker and photo bucket and neither will let me upload photos.

Or film your pup to show the problem,
Upload to YouTube and then post the link here.

The only other thought is you email direct to the Secretary of the breed club and ask if they could look at pics and give an opinion?

Can you send them in a PM? Not done that with photos or whether it's an option?
If not then an email wouldn't so much harm if you get enough decent photos of the feet: close up and a little bit further away
Id contact first to The Rottweiler Club as they are good and should assist

Iv only really seen what you describe in front feet/ legs, where the long bone has grown slightly faster than the short, causing a twist which over time corrects when the pup grows more evenly, or where there was a problem in the elbow joint, alternatively Iv seen it where the food doesn't agree with the pup.

Wait and see what the specialist says and go from there