Why is my dog's back leg shaped differently or looks abnormal?

Hello and thank you for your questions. I hate to hear that Bandit is injured. Since Bandit can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. A pulled muscle will result in limping but this sounds different based upon your description. If the leg is not appearing to move like it should, I am more suspicious of nerve damage, a broken ligament or (less likely) a broken bone. Since you are noticing that something doesn't seem right when he walks, I recommend to have him examined since this appears more involved than just a normal limp. Some of these causes need to be addressed quickly for best long term results. At home, you can apply a cool (not cold) compress to the area you suspect is the problem every hour for 10 minutes. A gentle massage twice a day can also help. Until Bandit is examined, I recommend STRICT rest until he is given the clear by the veterinarian. That means no walks, running, jumping or stairs. He should also be crated anytime you are not watching him. Not resting your pet can allow this to get worse. Any limping pet who is not improving within 3 days of strict rest, needs to be examined by the veterinarian. Bandit may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope your pup starts feeling better quickly.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I can’t actually answer this question without a physical exam to feel the legs at the same time. But yes, in the picture they look basically symmetrical. If you have concerns about it, take him in to the vet for a physical exam to be sure.

It looks as if Bobby has sustained some type of injury to her leg. But based on photos alone I can not determine what caused the injury. If Bobby is still walking abnormally then I recommend that you take her in to be examined by your veterinarian. She may just have a superficial (skin) injury but it could be an injury involving the bones/joint. Your vet may recommend doing X-rays to better assess the legs. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck!

Limping is a sign of pain and if there legs are uneven then one may be swollen if there was trauma or an injury or one may be small from atrophy from not getting used as much. At that age it may be a soft tissue injury from playing and jumping or it may be a genetic or growth problem such as panostitis or hip dysplasia. The best thing to do for today is rest him and do not let him run and play to make it worse. He does need a check by your vet to evaluate for these problems to see what medicines you can get to help him

This is most suggestive of lower spine injury. This is not uncommon in older dogs, where the vertebral canal, or intervertebral disks can pinch the nerve. Treatment is possible depending on the cause of this, so I recommend taking Bandit to the vet for an evaluation. They should be able to identify the cause of this and at-least get him started on medication to relieve pain and hopefully the mobility and incontinence issues. I hope that helps and all is well with Bandit.

It sounds like your pet could have dislocated her hip joint. Please have her exaxmined by your vet to have this checked. X-rays of her leg will likely be needed. Best of luck moving forward and I hope that you can get Pancha's leg repaired soon. Take care.

This is not normal behavior for such a young dog, she appears to be much narrower over her back legs with poor muscle development, likely due to pain and weakness. Please schedule a full physical exam and likely xrays of her hips and pelvis to investigate the underlying cause of her discomfort