Quote:
Originally Posted by WendiD  Hi all. I don't think anyone has answered the original poster's question and I would really like to know the answer, as well.....
Is it possible for a growing puppy to temporarily have a hunch backed appearance because they are growing unevenly?
My little girl had a straight back two weeks ago at 14 weeks old, but now at 16 weeks, she seems to have a roach back. I hope this isn't permanent because I paid a ton of money for what I thought was a quality yorkie and now I love her way too much to even consider returning her.
Can any of you experts answer this "temporary hunch back/growing puppy" question?
Thank you in advance!
Wendi and Tinkerbell |
I am hesitant to answer because I'm far from an expert but I do have some experience with this in particular. It is possible for a topline to be
slightly off or appear
slightly humpy during stages but in most cases it will not go away. The roach back is not a spinal problem it is an indication of a rear assembly problem. It often accompanies a front assembly flaw where the shoulder is at a steep angle, rather than properly laid back. This gives the puppy the appearance of a short neck because much of the neck is actually hidden by the upright position of the shoulder. The severity of these two will result in the "roach' look to the back. Sometimes the back will just slope down toward the front. These are structural problems that are the result of poor joint angulation. They will affect the overall mobility of the dog and his ability to move efficiently. This can make it difficult for him to stand comfortably, he will prefer to be in constant motion or lying down. He may move with a hopping motion rather than a smooth gait. This is exceedingly common in pet quality breeding programs, especially those geared toward smaller size, so common that many are not aware it is a flaw.