Curved back? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

MeggieNRoxie · 04-11-2009, 09:34 AM

I know I could take her to a vet, but I thought I'd ask you guys real quick before I do. Do any of your yorkies have curved backs? From what I've seen/read, yorkies should have a straight line from the base of neck to their tail, but that's not the case with Roxie. She kinda walks a little funny with her back hunched and her bum tucked down. She's so small, so I'm wondering if her previous owner had stepped on her or if her kids threw her around. I'll attach a pic so you know what I'm talking about. She doesn't seem to be in pain anywhere from an old injury..

The pic is slightly exaggerated because she is bending down on her front legs, but you can kinda see what I mean here-

speleogirl37 · 04-11-2009, 09:43 AM

No mine does not. But from what Ive read before a roach back is simply a structural fault. It is generally not considered a health issue.That's just what I've read though don't hold me too it!

MeggieNRoxie · 04-11-2009, 09:50 AM

Ok, thank you! That's what I was wondering. I'd feel terrible (and angry) if it was some old injury that was never taken care of, before I got her.

nvnvgirl · 04-11-2009, 10:52 AM

My Madison's back sort of curves too. I noticed it as soon as he came to my house (he was 2 yrs old then and an abandoned dog, so I don't know anything about his "family"). I've read where it's a genetic defect called "roachback" (which is not a very attractive term, but I suppose it's fairly descriptive

).

I wish I had a better photo of Madison's but this is the best one I could find that just barely shows it. His is less pronounced than your pup's but I can definitely tell the difference between his back and Max's.

It doesn't cause him any problems whatsoever and I've had him a little over a year.

MeggieNRoxie · 04-11-2009, 11:24 AM

His back is what Roxie's looks like, when she isn't bending down like the pic I posted.. wish I had a better pic! ok, I'm a little relieved to know that it's "normal", haha. Thank you!

PiePiper · 04-11-2009, 11:51 AM

I noticed Piper's back was a little hunched and she was walking with her butt tucked in. I 've had her since she was 10 weeks and I didn't notice her curved back until she was about 5 months old. By 7 months old we found out she had Legg Perthes Disease. She was walking like that because her hip was damaged and she was in pain. I didn't know she was having a hip problem until she started to carry her back leg. She showed no signs that she was in pain. She had her surgery a couple months ago and now she can prance around with a very straight back but then there are times if she gets tired from a lot of exercise she'll walk a little hunched with butt tucked in again.

misskate · 04-11-2009, 01:18 PM

Yeah, have that looked at. My Spice (age 5) is a little uneven almost as if her hind legs are a bit too long but it's not pronounced. Her twin sister Sugar's back is perfectly straight. I know it's something the judges look for immediately and it would be a fault in the ring but that's just the way she is. They are otherwise totally beautiful. Good luck.

gzarr · 04-11-2009, 01:46 PM

My Isla also has a slight curve in her back and I remember asking about it on a thread awhile ago, too. I got similar answers to yours (structural, not health issue unless it's causing problems). So I think you're fine!

FlDebra · 04-11-2009, 01:46 PM

Roxie is pretty pronouced. I would definately ask the vet to take a look. My dachshund has a humped back a lot but it is because she has severe arthritis at 16 years old. Some days it is worse than others. Roxie's might just be the fault of roachback, but better to feel safe that you check it out against some sort of injury or condition that needs attention.

amandawash · 04-11-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlDebra

Roxie is pretty pronouced. I would definately ask the vet to take a look. My dachshund has a humped back a lot but it is because she has severe arthritis at 16 years old. Some days it is worse than others. Roxie's might just be the fault of roachback, but better to feel safe that you check it out against some sort of injury or condition that needs attention.

I have to agree. Ranger is walking around super hunched right now, but that is because of his surgery. However, it confirm it could be a pain-thing, as he is certainly in a little pain only 4 days post-op. I would have a thorough exam done just to rule out any knee/hip/back pain. When Ryder hurt his back last week he was standing around pretty hunched up. After a few days rest it flattened, but then after acupuncture yesterday it went totally back to normal.

majic50 · 04-11-2009, 03:39 PM

Lucy walked like that, but she was born with very bad luxating patellas.

kidmuzicdotcom · 04-11-2009, 03:58 PM

my shelby does that when she is just wandering around but if she gets focused on something her head goes up and her back is perfectly straight...when she goes outside she holds her head down and her hind legs appear longer...I just figured she was slumping lol because like i said when she wants to she holds her head up, ears up and perfectly straight back.

cococalypso · 04-19-2009, 06:22 PM

Coco has a little bit of a roach back too, kinda looks like she's fixing to poop! My sister makes fun of her. My poor little baby, it's not too bad though, definitely not an old injury, one of her parents was roach backed. I didn't know much about it though when I got her, but other than that she is super healthy with an awesome temperment so I can't complain!

BellaAmore · 04-20-2009, 05:46 AM

My baby Bella has a curved spine. I was wondering if this was normal or not. Then we got Luigi and his back is straight. I read a few weeks ago about Roachback and it is exactly what her back is like. Next time we go to the Vets I will ask him about it. She seems to walk and run fine and never seems to be in pain. It is just an arched look to her back. Hopefully. Here are some pics of Bella where you can see her arch.

daphgirl · 04-22-2009, 06:00 PM

Burke also has a cuved spine. I've noticed that it gets more pronounced when he's in pain. He has been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease (of a disc in his neck) and pancreatitis.

With plenty of exercise, watching his diet and no going down stairs he's doing great. I wish I could stop him from from jumping up on the bed and couch. I tried ramps and stairs, but he thought they meant he had to scale them, and jump as far as he could over them. Ramps and stairs are for old men, and hes feeling too young to use them.

04-11-2009, 09:43 AM	#2
speleogirl37 ♥ Luv My Lil' M&M ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: USA Posts: 1,572	No mine does not. But from what Ive read before a roach back is simply a structural fault. It is generally not considered a health issue.That's just what I've read though don't hold me too it! __________________ Angie Madison Chance Our Future Baby Tatum

04-11-2009, 11:51 AM	#6
PiePiper Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 759	I noticed Piper's back was a little hunched and she was walking with her butt tucked in. I 've had her since she was 10 weeks and I didn't notice her curved back until she was about 5 months old. By 7 months old we found out she had Legg Perthes Disease. She was walking like that because her hip was damaged and she was in pain. I didn't know she was having a hip problem until she started to carry her back leg. She showed no signs that she was in pain. She had her surgery a couple months ago and now she can prance around with a very straight back but then there are times if she gets tired from a lot of exercise she'll walk a little hunched with butt tucked in again. __________________ Mom to Piper & Chipper

04-11-2009, 01:46 PM	#8
gzarr Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 194	My Isla also has a slight curve in her back and I remember asking about it on a thread awhile ago, too. I got similar answers to yours (structural, not health issue unless it's causing problems). So I think you're fine! __________________ Geri, Mom to 4 kids, and 4 furkids: Dozer, Indie, Isla, and Baxter

04-11-2009, 01:46 PM	#9
FlDebra Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FL Posts: 7,651	Roxie is pretty pronouced. I would definately ask the vet to take a look. My dachshund has a humped back a lot but it is because she has severe arthritis at 16 years old. Some days it is worse than others. Roxie's might just be the fault of roachback, but better to feel safe that you check it out against some sort of injury or condition that needs attention. __________________ FlDebra and her ABCs Annie, Ben, Candy Promoting Healthy Breeding to the AKC Yorkshire Terrier Standard

04-11-2009, 03:58 PM	#12
kidmuzicdotcom Shelby Rae's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cypress Posts: 815	my shelby does that when she is just wandering around but if she gets focused on something her head goes up and her back is perfectly straight...when she goes outside she holds her head down and her hind legs appear longer...I just figured she was slumping lol because like i said when she wants to she holds her head up, ears up and perfectly straight back. __________________ Shelby Rae's Mom and Kaylee's Nana[SIZE=2][COLOR=Red]

04-11-2009, 09:50 AM	#3
MeggieNRoxie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Salt Lake, UT, USA Posts: 110	Ok, thank you! That's what I was wondering. I'd feel terrible (and angry) if it was some old injury that was never taken care of, before I got her.

04-11-2009, 11:24 AM	#5
MeggieNRoxie Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Salt Lake, UT, USA Posts: 110	His back is what Roxie's looks like, when she isn't bending down like the pic I posted.. wish I had a better pic! ok, I'm a little relieved to know that it's "normal", haha. Thank you!

04-11-2009, 01:18 PM	#7
misskate YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: italy Posts: 263	Yeah, have that looked at. My Spice (age 5) is a little uneven almost as if her hind legs are a bit too long but it's not pronounced. Her twin sister Sugar's back is perfectly straight. I know it's something the judges look for immediately and it would be a fault in the ring but that's just the way she is. They are otherwise totally beautiful. Good luck.

04-11-2009, 03:39 PM	#11
majic50 YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 299	Lucy walked like that, but she was born with very bad luxating patellas.

04-19-2009, 06:22 PM	#13
cococalypso Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: East TX Posts: 143	Coco has a little bit of a roach back too, kinda looks like she's fixing to poop! My sister makes fun of her. My poor little baby, it's not too bad though, definitely not an old injury, one of her parents was roach backed. I didn't know much about it though when I got her, but other than that she is super healthy with an awesome temperment so I can't complain! __________________ Mandara COCO Maggie and Snuffles dogster ID's dogster.com/dogs/701851 and 710304

04-22-2009, 06:00 PM	#15
daphgirl YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Western NY Posts: 7	Burke also has a cuved spine. I've noticed that it gets more pronounced when he's in pain. He has been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease (of a disc in his neck) and pancreatitis. With plenty of exercise, watching his diet and no going down stairs he's doing great. I wish I could stop him from from jumping up on the bed and couch. I tried ramps and stairs, but he thought they meant he had to scale them, and jump as far as he could over them. Ramps and stairs are for old men, and hes feeling too young to use them.