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Adopting a dog with congenital leg issues: Treatable or worsening?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Male | neutered | 7 lbs

We are considering adopting a dog who has pretty severe leg problems. His front legs bend forward at the 'wrist', and his back legs drag behind him on tile (on grass he has sort of a bow-legged awkward stance). If we don't adopt him, they may be able to get a rescue shelter to take him (with money to get his medical care). They said it is a congenital issue, and has no treatment. Is this treatable, and if not, will it worsen?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on December 20th, 2017

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is most certainly a congenital problem, essentially a birth defect. Whether there are any treatments depends on how severe the problem is, does it involve all the long bones in the legs, it this mainly a problem with joint & tendon laxity, or are certain structures underdeveloped or missing all together. X-rays are imperative. Depending on what is seen, & how much time & money you wish to spend on this poor little guy would determine a treatment plan. Surgery may be an option, but leg braces & splints may be appropriate, too. In the short term, he will probably do fine, but with time & age, he may be very prone to developing abrasions & pressure sores, & most likely arthritis. If you decide to adopt this sweet guy, go in with the anticipation of higher than normal care costs, & unexpected problems that can arise. A special needs pet needs a very special owner. Thank you for considering adoption. Take care.

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    Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    It's not possible for me to know exactly what's causing this without seeing x-rays and reviewing the veterinary records, but it appears that he may be missing some carpal bones, or has a great amount of laxity in his ligaments. When they are born with this condition, they can adapt surprisingly well and will be able to live a fairly normal life. However, the chances that he will get arthritis and other painful conditions is increased and I would expect that he will need long-term medication to manage the pain if this is left uncorrected. Surgical correction is possible, but it would take an evaluation by an orthopedic surgeon to help give an understanding of how likely surgical treatment is to correct Tiny Tim's problem. Either way, you should expect that Tiny Tim will require multiple vet visits throughout the year if you adopt him. It should be expected that he will eventually require medication that will cost upwards of $1000/year. If you pursue surgical correction, then you can expect vet bills exceeding $3000. In order to get more information, I recommend consulting with an veterinary orthopedic specialist prior to adopting him. The orthopedic vet will be able to better evaluate the situation and give you more accurate treatment plans. I hope that helps and all is well with Tiny Tim.

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