Hi all

I have a chocolate labrador girl, Luna. I have noticed that she has started turning her frontlegs inwards, well not the entire leg, but from what I would call her ankles and down. You know the joint from just above the extra claw.

I'm worried if this is something serious. I don't use her for shows or anything, she is "just" my little baby.

In the future 2-3 years down the line I would like her to have a litter, and keep one of her puppies, but if this could turn out to be hereditary, I would forget all about that, and have her spayed.

It doesn't seem to bather (sp?) her in any way, so its more me its hurting.

Have any of you experienced this or heard of it before?

Jeanette

I make Luna around 18 months old now?
Obviously you should talk to your vet but it could be nothing. Without being able to see her it is difficult to say but you sometimes find it in a dog well muscled across the shoulders. It is as if the muscle is literally wedging the shoulders around and turning the legs in.

Best wishes, John

Hi John

Luna has just turned 1 year on april 5. so she's a bit younger than your guess :-)

I've been studying a picture of the dog skeleton, and translated from danish to english I can tell you that the joint where the bend starts is called "carpus" and its the "metacarpus" she is "turning" inwards. So not the whole leg. That's how I understood your reply, sorry if I misunderstood. The words are taken from my danish-english dictionary. Directly translated from danish I would have called the carpus: handroot and the metacarpus: middlehand. Does that help?

She isn't that broad yet. I know you don't do much in measures, but she is about 20-25 centimeters if I measure her in front of her chest. We've met a male labrador, he's 10 months old, and he is a bit broader.

I am thinking of taking her to a vet, but I'm told by my mother that I'm too fussy. But Luna is my first dog, and she walks on a lot of stairs everyday. We had a black lab when I lived at home, but back then we lived in a house, so the dog didn't have to walk stairs everyday.

And being a lab, Luna is proned to HD and Elbow dysplasia. I'm probablely worrying to much, but I would never forgive my self if something happened to her.

I've tried to make a link to a picture of her, but I don't know how much you can see, if the link works at all :-). I think its a couple of months old. I'm getting a new batch developed these days.

http://www.shutterfly.com/view/picture_dt.jsp?state=67b0de2196fb90e39429&idx=8

Jeanette

Hi Jeanette,
The carpus is the wrist, so I think you're saying that Luna is turning her 'hand' inwards as she moves. If it is how I imagine it, it is a common and harmless movement defect which shouldn't have any effect on her. When she stands still is the leg straight?

Hi Jeangenie

Yes you're right, it is her "hand" she turns inwards. And yes when she stands her legs are straight. Its just because she does it on both front"hands".

Jeanette

Hi Jeanette - it sounds like nothing to worry about - just a minor technical imperfection that won't affect her day-to-day life at all. If she were a showdog it would be a point that would mark her movement as less than perfect, but unless it becomes extreme (unlikely) I wouldn't worry.

Hope this helps!
:)

Hi Jeangenie

Thanks and oh yes it helps! I just have to learn to look at Luna and see her signs. If it bathered her, she would show it! And she doesn't. She is more of lead than on lead, and she is always running not walking, and she wouldn't do that if she was in pain, right?

Thanks again.

jeanette

Hi Jeanette.

Yes, Labradors are suseptable to both HD and Elbow dysplasia, and for that matter OCD but don't over worry about it. Unless you have reason to believe you have a problem or of course you are going to do something which could be affected such as breed or very energetic exercise it is easy to get over concerned. We all worry about the well being of out dogs so it is only natural :)

There is an ailment, Carpal Valgus Syndrome, which can affect dogs. It is a form of Osteochondrosis, but I must stress, it is rare! The chances on Luna having it are a thousand to one against. Dont forget, no one is perfect. Some of us turn our feet out a bit, some even turn in! Dogs are just the same. My Bethany tended to turn her feet in just a little and a Golden at training on Sunday was decidedly spray footed.

I tried to get onto your site to see the photo but could not get on. If you would like you can email me a picture and I'll have a look at that. Click on my name and you will find my address.

Best wishes, John

Hi John

I've sent you a mail, and hope you can see the pictures. As I've also written in the mail, I have no pictures of her "hands" turning in, because it only happens when she is walking or running.

Thanks again

Jeanette