Why do my dog's legs look bent? Is it normal? What's the treatment?

Bruno's leg looks like it is in a normal position to me. Sometimes dogs that have knee pain will sure with their knees falling out to the side and slightly extended, but Bruno's leg does not appear to be in that position. Dogs with hip dysplasia can have an abnormal gait when walking or can hop with both legs together when running. If you're concerned that Bruno isn't walking normally you should have him examined by your vet.

From the pictures, it looks like Bruno is suffering from valgus deformity of his front legs. This is when there is a lateral (outward) turn of the feet. It occurs when the ulna stops growing while the radius continues to grow, causing the radius to begin bowing at the top and rotating outward. This is can cause discomfort to Bruno and it is something that can be fixed surgically. You can speak to your vet about surgical treatment of this deformity.

Dogs can lie in positions that we feel may be uncomfortable, but it's comfortable with them. Without being able to see how his legs are bent when he lays down, I can't say if there is something wrong with it. Unfortunately, you can't share photos in the forum, but you could request a consult with an expert online to share photos. You could also have Baxter seen by a vet, who can tell you if there is a problem with the way he lays down and positions his legs.

Hello and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. Without examining Bruno it is difficult to say what it could be. He could be dealing with a nerve injury or neurological condition, soft tissue injury (strain or sprain), ACL injury, bone trauma, infectious, etc. If x-rays have already been performed, I would suggest having an orthopedic specialist take a look at Bruno. Bruno may need a CT scan of the leg to help determine what this could be so that the most appropriate diagnostics and treatments can be recommended. It is also possible that this is a soft tissue injury and Bruno will start feeling much better and then run or jump leading to a re-injury of the leg. You may need to look at keeping Bruno crate confined or restricted to a small area so that he cannot run or jump for at least 4 weeks to see how he does with limited activity. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any additional concerns. I am also available via consultation if needed.

Great Dane puppies, like many of the giant breed dogs, can often grow vary strangely. As long as they are receiving an adequate diet (standard large breed puppy food) and have adequate space in a crate, they shouldn't have any issues growing unless there is an underlying pathology. This is a tough one to assess without not only seeing photographs, but also seeing your puppy in motion. There are certainly orthopedic and congenital conditions that can cause the kind of stance you are describing, but these could not be positively diagnosed without radiographic imaging. If you are concerned about the way she is growing, I would have a vet take a look at her in person to assess her gait, posture, and bony structures. If you have any other questions in more detail, please feel free to consult with me personally. Hope this helps!

I am sorry the pictures of Tyson did not come through. dogs can be born with valgus and Vargus which are congenital leg deformities. I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian to have his legs checked out and x-rays to determine if there is a problem with the growth and formation. Unfortunately there is nothing you can really do at home. Hope that's helps!

HI, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The best thing to do is to have an X-ray of the legs done at your Vet. I would highly recommend a boarded orthopedic surgeon. The cause can be from a nutritional deficiency, genetic malformation or premature closure of the growth plates. There could be options of a brace or surgery to correct the leg. I do not recommend doing anything at home with out the supervision of a Veterinarian as things could worsen. Be sure that Trigger is on a commercial puppy food for large breed dogs. I hope this helps and I wish you and Trigger the best!