My puppy has a strange cone-shaped body. Should I take him to the vet?

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.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I unfortunately cannot tell much about how the anus is functioning by looking at a photo. Testing has to be done in person by a vet to see if the sphincter is responding. I do not see a prolapse in this photo. I agree the anal opening looks flaccid but that is all I can say. I strongly recommend you take him to a vet for an exam especially if you think he is straining. At 2 months old he is ready for his first vaccinations anyway and if he has not been dewormed already that needs to be done as well.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Hunter. That behavior does sound a little bit strange, and I'm wondering if he may be painful in his back end, like his hips or spine, or there could be a problem with his anal sacs (impacted). I do think this is worth a vet visit, so I would take him into one in the morning. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Charlie. His legs look normal in the picture that you have provided. If you are still concerned though, bring it to his veterinarian's attention at his next appointment. I hope this information helps!

Congratulations on your new puppy Griff! At such a young age, it’s hard to say how things will develop and I agree that monitoring him is appropriate right now. He will see the veterinarian frequently since he is getting his vaccine series. Make sure they check his legs and hips each visit and watch him walking. You can get radiographs done but at such a young age, it may be hard to identify any pathology. Radiographs done when he is 9-12 months old will be more likely to be diagnostic. Sometimes a CT scan can catch bone abnormalities earlier. It’s very important that you feed him a puppy food and that he does not become overweight while he is developing. Royal Canin makes specialized puppy food based upon the expected adult weights so you might check them out. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This could be a malformation or development problem. You will need to take this puppy to a veterinarian for an exam, best would be a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. Your puppy may need orthopedic care in order to facilitate normal use, if possible. I would need to do a hands-on exam in order to give you more conclusive information. Your puppy will definitely need radiographs as well in order to assess the condition properly. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian,

When puppies have limb deformities or difficulties walking normally, I'm always concerned that there could be growth issues. These can be due to nutritional deficiencies, trauma, or hereditary bone or joint problems passed on by the parents. Since you've stated that he's very skinny, I'm especially concerned about his nutrition. King needs to see a vet, not just for this problem but because he needs to start getting routine vaccinations and anti-parasite medications. I would recommend he see one very soon, since it's critical to correct the problems now. PetCoach now offers veterinary housecall visits in the San Diego area. Read more at https://www.petcoach.co/house-call-veterinarians/ or email us at housecalls@petcoach.co.