My French Bulldog puppy has a flat chest. Can I tape her legs?

He may have Splay puppy syndrome, sometimes called Swimming Puppy Syndrome. If you really want to buy this puppy, I would have it examined by a veterinarian before buying it making sure it it is healthy. If the breeder does not want you to have it examined by a vet of YOUR choice, then I would say: hands off. If the puppy has health issues, I would not buy it either. There are many healthy puppies out there to buy.

Hip dysplasia can only be positively diagnosed with x-rays. There are certain indicators that can be noted on a physical exam, but they can only be considered supportive of the actual radiographic diagnosis. I would have his leg looked at and examined for fractures, evidence of soft tissue injuries, or as you have mentioned, evidence of hip imperfections. Based on the nature of the injury, the solution to the problem maybe something as simple as rest or medical therapy, or as complex as surgical procedures. Hope this helps.

Thank you for more information on Boogie! Hemivertebrae can be common in brachycephalic (short nosed) dogs such as the French Bulldog. It is when the bones of the spinal column are abnormally shaped. This leads to the bones not aligning correctly with their neighboring bones, and this in turn causes damage and compression of the spinal nerves. This isn't something that correct itself as he grows unfortunately. It most commonly affects young dogs because the problems arise as their skeleton grows. Without surgery, the skeletal deformity is permanent. It is best that Boogie has the MRI as soon as possible so this condition can be definitely diagnosed and he can be treated. This condition can severely limit both the quality and length of life, so it's important to have it diagnosed early so it can be treated as needed. I hope this helps!

I think it's a good idea to consult with a vet just to make sure everything is on the right track and there isn't another underlying problem that needs to be corrected as well to help your puppy grow up healthy.

Hello. This pup has a deformity that involves the joints of the rear legs. You should have your veterinarian assess the puppy immediately and see if there is a way to tape or wrap them to help. This will probably not correct in its own without some type of support wrap and physical therapy and even then it may not get better. Please have your vet examine the puppy ASAP. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Poor guy. Your pet Chuck has severe hip dysplasia and possibly even early signs of arthritis. It is so severe that the femoral head doesn't even appear to be in the socket, creating a subluxation appearance as well. I would highly recommend having your vet send Chuck to an orthopedic specialist to get a treatment plan to help stabilize these joints for Chuck so that he does not succumb to a permanent debilitated state due to this defect. I am so sorry that you had to go through so much with your pet and I am glad that his condition is at least stable for now. Here is more information on hip dysplasia in dogs and some of the procedures that can be done to help manage this condition--> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952203 Best of luck with Chuck moving forward and I hope that you are able to manage his hip dysplasia condition well. Take care.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the blood results and x-rays were normal, it could be a problem with a nerve or with the spinal cord. It may be worth to rest Nacho for a few days (only short walks on a leash) and use painkillers. If after 3-4 days this treatment does not help, you should consider more advanced imaging of the spine, for example contrast x-ray, CT or MRI scan. French Bulldogs do suffer from spinal problems, like slipped disc, vertebral instability, vertebral body maldevelopment and more. Plane x-ray is not useful in diagnosis most of these problems, therefore the only sensible way to go is advance imaging.