Bulldogs World

A genetic defect in the leg/knee.  

but you can leave it if it's not too severe.  However, they can live normal lives with the defect just are more prone to arthritis etc.  Have your Vet do some radiographs and see how bad it is, they can repair the leg if deemed necessary.    

We have a couple dogs that are at our clinic with this defect, some have gone to the orthopedic specialist and been repaired a few left them and other than the deformed looking limb they are perfectly normal.  

We have a Shepard we see that is 10 years old with this in both front legs, his legs are bowed and feet are turned in, but he's a happy and healthy dog otherwise.  

As they get older you may have to have them on Rimadyl or some other type of NSAID to help control the arthritis.  But definetly make a "life plan" with a Vet that you trust. Have the radiographs reviewed by an Ortho and get an opinon from them as well.  

Additionally, you should never breed this dog (if you planned to) as it's a recessive gene that will be passed on

While my boy Farley does not have this, he has Spina Bifida, Hemivertabrae, ACL issues and secondary degenerative joint disease.  He is on NSAID's as needed and once a year we see the Ortho specialist to just have his x-rays compared from the previous year to ensure his quality of life is not compromised.  

Dogs can live a normal life with defects, they are just more "fragile" than an average Bully. 

If this is what it is I hope this breeder sterilizes their dogs they are using in their program.  What did the breeder tell you it was?

CHONDRODYSPLASIA

It's a genetic disorder in dogs which manifests itself in puppies born with crippling deformities, eventually evident in the abnormal shape and length of their limbs. Chondrodysplasia is present in adult carriers as an auto-somal or simple recessive gene.

When chondrodysplasia occurs in dog breeds, however, it can be crippling and can be found in association with other problems, such as deafness and shortened lifespans. In the general dog population, chondrodysplasia can occur in varying degrees. With the main focus being the front legs, chondrodysplasia can range from appearing "nearly normal" to crippling with all legs severely deformed.

We, as Malamute owners and prospective owners, have an opportunity to control the proliferation of chondrodysplasia in the Alaskan Malamute. And, with such control, there is also hope of its total elimination. Chondrodysplasia is a simple autosomal recessive gene. To produce a chodrodysplasitic offspring both parents must be carriers.

There are several steps in the elimination of the recessive gene from a breed gene pool:
1) All chondrodysplastic animals are sterilized.
2) All animals producing a chondrodysplastic pup are sterilized.
3) Littermates of all known carriers either undergo a test breeding to determine if they are carriers or are sterilized.

History and Explanation For a number of years, breeders in both the United States and Canada were aware of occasional litters that contained deformed or "dwarfed" puppies, produced by parents who, themselves, showed no physical evidence of such deformity. It was not until the early 1970's that these puppies were conclusively proven to be the manifestation of a genetic disorder. At first, these affected dogs were known as "dwarves" because of their diminutive size. This term gave rise to considerable confusion. Veterinarians associated it with the dwarfism found in Hereford cattle, while owners associated it with any small Malamute. Since neither is correct, another name, chondrodysplasia (meaning "faulty cartilage"), was coined and brought into usage.

Chondrodysplasia in dogs was originally diagnosed as a form of rickets. Upon closer examination at various veterinary schools, it was determined that this diagnosis was incorrect. While it isn't known exactly what this crippling problem is, it has definitely been proven to be genetic, or inherited. A more technical description of this gene is "auto-somal," or "simple recessive." This simply means that the sire and dam must both carry this gene in order to produce an affected chondrodysplastic puppy.

In very young puppies, under six weeks of age, the deformity is often very difficult, if not impossible, to detect without x-rays, even to the practiced eye. But as the puppies grow older, the deformity becomes more evident in the shape and length of the front legs. However, not all chondrodysplastics are severely affected. In some adults, the front legs may appear "almost" normal.

It is not the chondrodysplastics themselves that are the major problem. The greatest concern is the use in breeding of the completely normal appearing dogs that possess or "carry" this gene. (A good parallel of this among humans is two brown-eyes parents producing a blue-eyed baby. In spite of their brown eyes, the parents both "carry" the gene for the blue eye.) While the breeding of two carriers can produce a chondrodysplastic, a litter from a breeding between a carrier and a "non carrier" (or clear) will contain only normal appearing dogs. Nevertheless, an undetermined number of puppies will themselves be carriers, having inherited the gene from their carrier parent. The continued whelping of such litters increase the number of carriers "at large" in the total canine population.

they can live normal lives, they will just be "different".  If you really want her and she fits in with your crew then keep her.  I don't know about paying $900 for her, maybe have your Vet look at her first before you decide what to do.  See what they determine her life to be like.  All dogs with genetic defects are different.  

Good luck with whatever you decide.  Don't feel quilty about taking her back though if you do.  

I volunteer and foster for Bulldog rescue.  I while back we had a 5 month old pup surrendered that weighed 15 lbs (yep!).  He had this leg condition.  He was underweight, but even with weight on him, he is a 35 lb full grown adult male.  He never left our house. He ocassionaly limps, but lives a normal bulldog life.  There is surgical corrections that he can be put through, but why?  As he ages he may need Rimadyl etc but in the meantime he gets regular joint suppliments like ever other bully in my house.  We just love him!!

Too much protein in a puppy's diet can cause the legs to bow. Try a dog food with at the most 18% protein or less if you can find it. 

apparently she sold her to someone else because she didn't hear back from me. This is the entire email she sent (I copied and pasted). i'm sorry i already sold her i didn't think you were interested because i didn't here back from you I also talked to my vet and he said because we are feeding  science diet puppy it might be making her grow to fast and she will need time to catch up i knew it was nothing surgery or anything like that but glad she got a good home  i will let you know for sure what it was when she takes her to the vet next week thanks again.

It sounds very shady to me which is why I had my doubts to begin with but it is what it is. I just hope that who ever did buy her gets her checked out by a reputable bully vet and takes care of her.

What cracks me up is she said I didn't get back with her. She sent me the original email Saturday morning and I emailed her yesterday morning. Wow, one whole day to give me time to think about it.

thanks everyone for the feedback and the advice. Much appreciated and loves to you all.