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Will a short front cause health problems for my dog in the future?

By a short front, I mean that her back end is taller than her front end. Will this cause any health problems (hip problems, etc.) in the future for her? She's almost two. There isn't a huge difference at all, but you can clearly see the angle as she has short front legs.

Public Comments

  1. Before i answer has your dog finished growing yet?? EDIT: There is a chance that due to her being higher at the back end it could pressure on her elbows in time. Is there are huge difference between the front and back end?? TBH i am going to ditto the person's response below me as this is what i was going to say.
  2. It's possible but by no means certain. Some dogs that are poorly structured can develop problems later and others go through their life with no problems at all. As with any medium to large dog, keep her weight under control, and get moderate exercise without too much jumping. This will protect from arthritis and injuries later on. I have dog that does not have quite the right conformation for his breed (golden retriever) and he has a bit of an odd gait but has no hip problems or arthritis whatsoever at age 8. Both parents were OFA hip tested and despite his build, he seems to be fine so far.
  3. I would expect any structure other than a rectangular frame to have a problem - in her case, it would almost have to put stress on her shoulders and elbows, as well as some back muscles. The best thing you can do is to take her swimming, and running UP hills, to lessen the stress where it would naturally fall. You should also keep her weight down, and get her started on some fish oil capsules for the omega 3 fatty acids - which are very good anti-inflammatories.
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