My dog has a funny leg and a smirking face. Is it congenital?

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is most certainly a congenital problem, essentially a birth defect. Whether there are any treatments depends on how severe the problem is, does it involve all the long bones in the legs, it this mainly a problem with joint & tendon laxity, or are certain structures underdeveloped or missing all together. X-rays are imperative. Depending on what is seen, & how much time & money you wish to spend on this poor little guy would determine a treatment plan. Surgery may be an option, but leg braces & splints may be appropriate, too. In the short term, he will probably do fine, but with time & age, he may be very prone to developing abrasions & pressure sores, & most likely arthritis. If you decide to adopt this sweet guy, go in with the anticipation of higher than normal care costs, & unexpected problems that can arise. A special needs pet needs a very special owner. Thank you for considering adoption. Take care.

She is so cute! This is likely just a normal malformation. I would make sure she is getting good nutrition and this make correct itself. If it doesn't, she will likely have a normal life and not have issues with this. If she is having trouble walking, I would have your vet take a look at her to see what options there are for correcting this. I hope this helps !

Congrats on your new puppy! It could be that Peanut has a congenital deformity causing the shorter leg. I would have her seen by a vet for a physical exam and x-rays. If it isn't causing her any problems, then it may be nothing will need to be done for it, but the vet may discuss surgical options that may apply to help with the leg. Without seeing it in person, I can't say for certain if anything needs to be done, but it's a good idea to have her seen by a vet. If she does have trouble jumping onto the bed and into your SUV, I would help her do that. Certainly there are dogs who live perfectly normal lives with just three legs, and Peanut may be one of those dogs that can live a normal life with one leg shorter than the others. You just have to adapt to her limitations, such as trouble jumping. Have her seen by a vet however to get their take on it. I hope this helps :-)

What a cutie she is! Some dogs do lay in funny positions. If she seems to walk normally and has no lameness I wouldn't be concerned by her laying down this way, but if she hasn't been to the vet with you already I would make an appointment for them to look her over and palpate the hips to be safe, and at that time they can get her up to date on vaccines if she isn't already as well as test her for intestinal parasites and deworm her (she looks like she could be underweight based on this photo but it is difficult to say without being able to put our hands on her).

Hello. Without x-rays it is impossible to know what is actually going on in the paw. It is difficult to say if this will bother her more as she matures, but you really do not have too many options. Perhaps a surgery to fuse & stabilize the paw may be helpful, but will not eliminate all pain & discomfort & you certainly would not amputate the leg unless she began to self-mutilate the paw. So, unless you can have the paw x-rayed, I would take a wait & see how she does. If she over does it when you play with her, then make sure she rests the leg. Otherwise, I would try to avoid pain relieves in such a young dog. Perhaps, once her bones are finished growing & maturing, she may actually do quite well. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Congrats on the adoption! The leg positioning is sometimes called "Queen Anne" legs, or leg splay, and is very common in short-legged long-bodied dogs such as Dachshunds or Basset Hounds. While it doesn't usually cause any harm and isn't dangerous in minor cases, it can sometimes cause additional arthritis or joint issues down the line and sometimes requires surgical repair in severe cases, so preparing for proactive care such as a joint supplement and regular check-ups of the legs is a good idea. Since Sport's legs do look very splayed, a vet check up after adoption to make sure there isn't any arthritis present (and it isn't affecting any of the other tissues in the legs) is also smart.

I suspect this is a congenital abnormality. I recommend to get Ares examined by the veterinarian. With puppies, sometimes there are treatments available since they are still developing but sometimes there are not any options. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.