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Old 08-03-2009, 07:01 AM   #1
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Default Puppies Legs

can anybody provide me information about puppies learning to walk. I have two babies they will be four weeks tomorrow, the boy is a little over a pound and seems to be starting to walk around fine.

The girls is 15.4 oz and her two hind legs stick our like little sticks. they can bend but she mostly looks like she is walks on sticks. She also can sit fine.

Does she just need to practice or could something be wrong? I called my vet today and they seem to think she just needs to practice but wanted to get some other thoughts.
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Old 08-03-2009, 07:24 AM   #2
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Some puppies do take longer in learning to walk, especially if they are overweight. The most important thing is to make sure they have a rough surface to walk on. I will put down a rug or flannel sheet that has a rough surface so they can get better traction with their legs. Make sure their toenails are clipped so they don't hangup on the bedding. At four weeks they need a nice size area to walk in so they can start exploring and getting some exercise. I have mine out of the whelping box in a exercise pen at that age.

When I have a overweight pup with weak rear legs, several times a day I will hold the pup with his rear legs in the palm of my hand and let the pup push up on the rear legs to help strengthen them.
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Old 08-03-2009, 08:10 AM   #3
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Some puppies do take longer in learning to walk, especially if they are overweight. The most important thing is to make sure they have a rough surface to walk on. I will put down a rug or flannel sheet that has a rough surface so they can get better traction with their legs. Make sure their toenails are clipped so they don't hangup on the bedding. At four weeks they need a nice size area to walk in so they can start exploring and getting some exercise. I have mine out of the whelping box in a exercise pen at that age.

When I have a overweight pup with weak rear legs, several times a day I will hold the pup with his rear legs in the palm of my hand and let the pup push up on the rear legs to help strengthen them.

they are in a very good size box 40 inches by 36 inches, I have a thin blanket and a bath mat rug down. The smaller one, is the one that is having problems but not sure what is overweight. I looked at their toe nails and this being my first litter, I am not sure what to do and am a little intimated by their tiny little claws and don't want to hurt them. How can I clip them.

I will try the excercises. Thank you, thank you !!!!!!!!!
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Old 08-03-2009, 08:25 AM   #4
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they are in a very good size box 40 inches by 36 inches, I have a thin blanket and a bath mat rug down. The smaller one, is the one that is having problems but not sure what is overweight. I looked at their toe nails and this being my first litter, I am not sure what to do and am a little intimated by their tiny little claws and don't want to hurt them. How can I clip them.

I will try the excercises. Thank you, thank you !!!!!!!!!
Puppy toenails by 4 weeks can be very pointed and sharp. It can be very uncomfortable for the nursing momma having those sharp toenails scratching on her teats. I use a small pair if fingernail clippers and just clip off the tip where it is pointing down.

You might want to think about giving them a little more room. Here is a picture of my setup I had for some 4 1/2 week old pups. Mom can go in out of the puppy area and not be trapped
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Old 08-03-2009, 09:33 AM   #5
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Puppy toenails by 4 weeks can be very pointed and sharp. It can be very uncomfortable for the nursing momma having those sharp toenails scratching on her teats. I use a small pair if fingernail clippers and just clip off the tip where it is pointing down.

You might want to think about giving them a little more room. Here is a picture of my setup I had for some 4 1/2 week old pups. Mom can go in out of the puppy area and not be trapped

The set up you have looks almost like the same size as my box. the box I have is 4 feet long and 3 feet across. We also bring them downstairs and let them roam around little out of the box, when there is not much going on.

Have you ever seen this where their legs stick out like two sticks? I can bend them and she doesn't whine. I went home at lunch and tried to get her to stand on them but she doesn't, she just sits there. She walks great with her front.
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Old 08-03-2009, 10:15 AM   #6
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It sounds like she just has not build up any muscles. Do her legs just stick straight out to the side or straight back? Just keep trying to exercise them and unless something else wrong, she should start walking in about a week. I have heard of some pups just being born crippled. If she does not start responding to the exercise and try walking on her own within a week or so then you should have her checked by a vet.
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Old 08-03-2009, 10:23 AM   #7
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I couldn't say for sure but your little one may have a condition called swimmers. My Hope was a tiny little thing, progressing well but were as her larger sister was getting up and moving around her back legs weren't comming up under her. I took her to my vet and he diagnosed Swimmers. For about 2 weeks he taped her back legs together, changing regularly, they stayed in place, after this we would masage her legs and hold her in a mug- yes a mug- of water to excercise them. They were weak to start with but gradually improved, She was almost 12 when we lost her.
I looked it up on the net a few months ago and apparently it can be caused by having the whelping box too warm. According to the page I read the pups need to huddle together, climbing over each other helps the hip joints into their normal position. Made sence for Hope as the litter was born on 2nd January, we had the heating on all the time as I was worried they'd get too cold. I dont know if its the same for your baby but apparently it does come right with time. A visit to your vet should clear it up.
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Old 08-03-2009, 10:33 AM   #8
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I couldn't say for sure but your little one may have a condition called swimmers. My Hope was a tiny little thing, progressing well but were as her larger sister was getting up and moving around her back legs weren't comming up under her. I took her to my vet and he diagnosed Swimmers. For about 2 weeks he taped her back legs together, changing regularly, they stayed in place, after this we would masage her legs and hold her in a mug- yes a mug- of water to excercise them. They were weak to start with but gradually improved, She was almost 12 when we lost her.
I looked it up on the net a few months ago and apparently it can be caused by having the whelping box too warm. According to the page I read the pups need to huddle together, climbing over each other helps the hip joints into their normal position. Made sence for Hope as the litter was born on 2nd January, we had the heating on all the time as I was worried they'd get too cold. I dont know if its the same for your baby but apparently it does come right with time. A visit to your vet should clear it up.
That is interesting. It does seem that all the occurrences I have encountered with pups having a hard time learning to walk were either single or two puppy litters. I always figured they were just over eating. I imagine it is a combination of both.

I read in the 'birth defect' article that Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can result in skeletal defects and abnormal dentition. Vitamin D excess has been implicated in impaired bone formation and some "swimmer" puppies.
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Old 08-03-2009, 10:53 AM   #9
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It sounds like she just has not build up any muscles. Do her legs just stick straight out to the side or straight back? Just keep trying to exercise them and unless something else wrong, she should start walking in about a week. I have heard of some pups just being born crippled. If she does not start responding to the exercise and try walking on her own within a week or so then you should have her checked by a vet.
they stick out on the side.
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Old 08-03-2009, 10:58 AM   #10
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I couldn't say for sure but your little one may have a condition called swimmers. My Hope was a tiny little thing, progressing well but were as her larger sister was getting up and moving around her back legs weren't comming up under her. I took her to my vet and he diagnosed Swimmers. For about 2 weeks he taped her back legs together, changing regularly, they stayed in place, after this we would masage her legs and hold her in a mug- yes a mug- of water to excercise them. They were weak to start with but gradually improved, She was almost 12 when we lost her.
I looked it up on the net a few months ago and apparently it can be caused by having the whelping box too warm. According to the page I read the pups need to huddle together, climbing over each other helps the hip joints into their normal position. Made sence for Hope as the litter was born on 2nd January, we had the heating on all the time as I was worried they'd get too cold. I dont know if its the same for your baby but apparently it does come right with time. A visit to your vet should clear it up.
I was actually looking at this also, just now and it looks like it could be that. the heat maybe right, the whelping box or cage in my case was in my bedroom and I ran a small heater to make sure it was warm enough in there. I had read different stories about having and not having a heating pad so I opted for a small heater.

I hope I did not do this

I am going to try the excersies but if I see no improvement take her to the vet on Friday.
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Old 08-03-2009, 11:01 AM   #11
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That is interesting. It does seem that all the occurrences I have encountered with pups having a hard time learning to walk were either single or two puppy litters. I always figured they were just over eating. I imagine it is a combination of both.

I read in the 'birth defect' article that Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can result in skeletal defects and abnormal dentition. Vitamin D excess has been implicated in impaired bone formation and some "swimmer" puppies.

UGH. We got the mom only a week before she had her babies. this was....ugh, I hate to say it, her 5th litter, she will be 4 in October. It sounds like all other litters were fine. I know that she did not have any prenatal care but was given enough food.

The boy who was smaller at birth is doing great a little slow at walking but his hind legs are fine. He was 2.25 oz when he was born and now over 1 lb. The girl who is having the problems was 3.75 at birth and now at 15.4. I called the vet, they said the weight is not the problem.
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Old 08-03-2009, 11:15 AM   #12
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UGH. We got the mom only a week before she had her babies. this was....ugh, I hate to say it, her 5th litter, she will be 4 in October. It sounds like all other litters were fine. I know that she did not have any prenatal care but was given enough food.

The boy who was smaller at birth is doing great a little slow at walking but his hind legs are fine. He was 2.25 oz when he was born and now over 1 lb. The girl who is having the problems was 3.75 at birth and now at 15.4. I called the vet, they said the weight is not the problem.
She does not sound overly fat. Just keep working with her and keep us posted on how she is doing.
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Old 08-03-2009, 11:29 AM   #13
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I would have her looked at by a vet. There may be something structurally wrong with her legs. You really need a trained person to look at her. If there is something wrong, you want to address it before her bones have set. Many times a little physical therapy will help but you need to know what it is (if anything) that is wrong.

I had a little girl born earlier this year with rear legs that turned inward and her toes curled under. I had her at an orthopedic vet's when she was only a few days old having her checked out. He checked her structure and recommended physical therapy for her and showed me what to do. It worked and she developed just fine but, if she hadn't showed good progress, we would have been doing some kind of binding to align the legs properly.

From my experience, I would say she needs to be checked out while you still have a window of opportunity before the bones set.
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Old 08-03-2009, 12:06 PM   #14
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She does not sound overly fat. Just keep working with her and keep us posted on how she is doing.

I will, thank you so, so, so much for your help. You guys on this site have been such a help to me. I never knew there was this much involved in this, the worry, the every two hour feedings, etc. even knowing what I know, I still would do this over again.

Miracle (the mom) has only been with us a little over a month and I just love her to pieces. I know this is a continue learning process so again, I thank you for all your help and advice.
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Old 08-03-2009, 12:07 PM   #15
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I would have her looked at by a vet. There may be something structurally wrong with her legs. You really need a trained person to look at her. If there is something wrong, you want to address it before her bones have set. Many times a little physical therapy will help but you need to know what it is (if anything) that is wrong.

I had a little girl born earlier this year with rear legs that turned inward and her toes curled under. I had her at an orthopedic vet's when she was only a few days old having her checked out. He checked her structure and recommended physical therapy for her and showed me what to do. It worked and she developed just fine but, if she hadn't showed good progress, we would have been doing some kind of binding to align the legs properly.

From my experience, I would say she needs to be checked out while you still have a window of opportunity before the bones set.
I have an appointment of Friday to take her into the vet.


Thank you.
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