Can anyone help, A five month old newfoundland puppy weighing 23kilo,and standing approx23" has developed bowed legs, this puppy has seen a vet and a consultant which have come up with no name or ideas for the cause both parents have good hips and the father 5years old does water work as does the 4 year old mother with not problems, the pup has not been over exercised and has a good diet, one explanation was that it was just a growth spurt and could correct itself with time, the dog is in no pain, the legs are cow hocked with ten to two feet.All the other puppy's from this litter have no problems, either has a litter from the same pairing that are now 2 years old.Also they have been told it could be luxating patelas as the joint seems very loose.

The description reminded me of a photo in "Veterinary Notes for Dog Owners" (p 307) of a Newfoundland with "radius curvus syndrome" where the front legs are very deviated due to one or more of a number of factors including oversupplementation with calcium or trauma to the growth plates. Is it the back or front legs?

Hi

I have a friend who has a 13/14 month old Newfie Dog which she hasn't shown yet as he keeps going lame. He has been to specalists and vets etc and they can't find anything wrong with him at all. They have just put it down to growing pains etc and hopefully everything should be sorted out by the time he is 2.

HTH

Dessie

Hi
There's also something called calpas valgus which is bascially one bone grows faster than the other and causes a curve, as the one that is still growing pushes the other one out..usually in the largest puppy in the litter...it can rectify itself ... as long as the growth plate doesn't close.
Tracey