Hello all,

We've recently lost our 13yr old Border Terrier and decided to replace her with a new pup as soon as we could. A little boy became available not too far from us. The Sire and Dam are DNA tested, SLEM clear and the pup has a COI of 5.7% which is below breed average. He's absolutely lovely and all seemed perfect until I noticed this evening that he is missing 2 toes and nails from his rear left paw. This hadn't been picked up by the breeder or by her Vet at the health check, or by my vet yesterday when we took him in for vaccinations and a further health check. I really don't know what to do next other than go back to the vet for some advice and further checks.

I've contacted the breeder, she has confirmed that she definitely didn't notice it and has asked me what I'd like to do next.
My gut feeling is to return him for a full refund. Can anyone here advise or help if they've experienced a similar unfortunate situation? Of course, we don't want to send him back, we'll be heartbroken but need to make the right decision and avoid further heartache down the line. I have no idea what the long term issues could be for him as he grows

What an unusual thing to happen. What are your plans for your pup in the future? Had you planned to show him? If so, then it might be a good idea to return him to the breeder; if he is to be just a pet then it's unlikely to affect him  to any great extent. (I myself have had a dog who had to have a toe amputated in adulthood and his speed and agility wasn't affected in the slightest; your pup will never have known any differently and so will be naturally adapted.

Just out of interest, which toes are missing?

Good morning,

No, we have no plans to breed or show him, he's our family pet so long walks and the odd jog here and there will be his future.

It's the rear left, two outer toes that are missing. I can feel a small short bone where the 3rd toe should be and nothing where the 4th would be on the far outer edge of the paw. Interestingly, he has 4 paw pads but the 3rd and 4th are mostly conjoined.

Our main worry is him being lame as he grows and it causing him pain and devemopental issues later on.
It'd such a shame, I spent ages looking for all the right credentials to make as sure as possible, we got a healthy pup. I even lost a deposit on a pup that I discovered before picking her up that she had a high inbred coefficient (Coi) and I was worried about the impacts on her long term health.

Have had dogs in past with toes missing not made any difference to dog your vet will tell you the same don't worry enjoy your pup

In a way it's 'lucky' these are missing from a back leg.   We had one, a Basset, who was born with a similar abnormality but on a front leg.  After much discussion (and heartbreak has to be said) with our vet, we all felt it would be kinder to pts - the reason being Bassets carry so much weight on their fronts and he'd definitely have been badly affected had we let him grow up.  This was a 'Sectioned litter, and we all noticed it pretty much immediately so let him go there and then.   I'd not have felt happy to sell him, and with our small show/breeding pack, and him being a male too, keeping him as a pet wasn't really doable, especially if he was likely to be badly handicapped.

How strange that breeder hadn't noticed the problem with your puppy.   I'd suggest you do see what your own vet says but being a light(er) dog, and with a rear foot, I'd suggest he'll be fine going forward.

If he's been born that way it's easily missed I found a hind dewclaw on a pup I bought never saw that before or since.
Got it removed after she'd had her vaccinations so not a big deal,her breeder had never noticed either.

My previous flat coat had a toe removed from her front foot due to a tumour.
Once healed she never looked back ,no limp and no problems.

>It's the rear left, two outer toes that are missing.

That shouldn't cause much of a problem; if it was the two middle ones then - which take the most weight - he might have had more difficulty, but with it being the two outer ones he will probably only be likely to slip a bit when cornering at speed to the left. Otherwise he should lead a perfectly normal life, especially if you don't allow him to get overweight in adulthood. Good luck; I'm sure he'll give you many years of pleasure!

You might find there's no problem at all.  A few years back a Welsh dog rescue and sanctuary took in a collie pup with no toes on his front paws at all, and he does very well.  He stayed there as he needed some extra behavioural support and the right home didn't materialise.  Lives normally, as far as I can tell.

Again it does depend on the weight distribution and whether the dog is going to structurally be able to survive.

Thanks you and yes I think that's a very good point. As it's the rear outer toes, my gut feeling is they are far less weight baring and critical for balance than the inner front or rear toes. I'll get the vets opinion tomorrow and hope for the best. Of course, after only a few days, he's already settled in and is part of the family. It will be very very hard to send him back

Jayne Alpe says:  Years ago we had a miniature poodle with only 3 toes on both front feet. The middle 2 had developed into one with just one claw. Strange to see but didn’t effect him in any way.