By: Leigh Meeks

Don't Panic, Don't Euthanize...... Dealing with newborns with leg anomalies.

This page is intended to share with you my experiences and experiences of other breeders that have dealt with this birth condition in newborn bulldog puppies. In the hopes of saving just one puppy.

Photos to be added soon documenting this condition from birth thru the corrective phases.

February 20, 2000 I had a healthy litter of 5 bulldog puppies born via c-section. Imagine my horror as it was noted that all 5 puppies appeared to have their legs on backwards!!! Thankfully, I faintly recalled an article in the Bulldogger (see article below) that suggested that this was a temporary condition that would self correct. After trying for this litter for 2 years,  I made the decision to wait it out, but was willing if the need be to cull the puppies if it did not correct.  I called one of my mentors who was also the co-breeder of this litter and described the condition to him. He also reassured me that all would be well.  He explained that while it was a horrifying sight that it should self correct before the pups were up on their feet.  These pups all were active from the start and did not seem to be bothered by the legs being turned. They vigorously pulled themselves around the whelping box. I made sure to give them a good griping surface as well as making sure they received plenty of exercise by knotting up socks under their blankets. Sure enough one by one the legs started to turn. And by the time they were up on their feet, the condition had corrected itself.

Since that time I have read numerous postings on various bulldog forums where the breeder has euthanzied the pup and sometimes the entire litter due to this condition on the advice of their veterinarian.  It is with much heartache that the breeder finds out all too late that the pups would have been ok.

An Interesting Note.. All the pups in the litter which I have spoke about were all in the breech postion in the uterine horns at the time of delivery. The bitch was on day 63 and we feel certain that this is how they would have presented themselves naturally had we not done the planned c-section. I cannot say that this caused the condition but found it interesting to note that all 5 affected pups were in this same postion. There is always something new that presents itself with bulldogs. I guess that is why I have such a fascination with them. I also honestly feel that we need to share our experiences good and bad for the benefit of this wonderful breed.

I had one pup in the litter that was slower to get up on her feet than the others.  I cannot honestly say if it was related to the birth condition of her legs or not as all of her affected siblings were up on their feet sooner. I was not an advocate of hobbling as I did not feel that I was qualified to set her legs. Nor did I feel that vets saw enough hobbling of bulldog pups to go that route. I had my husband make me an exercise shoot on the advice of a fellow bulldogger. It consisted of 3 boards, one on the bottom and the two sides. It was only as wide as the pups shoulders this allowed her to pass through and would only allow her back legs to be that far apart while in the shoot. We put her through this daily and left it in the exercise pen with the litter. Her littermates found it a great source of entertainment as well. Today this pup is known as Ch. Bullywood's Steel Magnolia.

Puppies' Legs Attached Backwards Dear Editor:   I write this letter hoping that it may save the life of at least one puppy somewhere. It has come to my attention that breeders around the country have experienced a similiar situation that I have gone through. I only apologize for not having done this sooner.   My story started about seven years ago when a friend, Dan Saxton, was waiting on the birth of a litter. The reason that I was so excited was that I would be purchasing a bitch from that litter if all went well and there were enough quality bitches available.   I received a phone call from Dan with some possible bad news. He had four puppies, two boys and two girls. The problem was that one of the bitches' feet were completely turned around. They were pointing backward and the vet had checked with him to see if he wanted to put the puppy down.   Dan decided at that point to take the puppy home and to confer with other breeders and area vets. As you can imagine, I was very disappointed and all I could do was wait and see what information came from all the experience in that area. We were very lucky to have called Dr. Nancy Rose to see if she had ever heard of this happening and what could be done. She advised Dan to wait and see if the ligaments and tendons in the back legs would tighten and pull the feet around to the front where they belonged. We decided to take her advice and see what would happen since the puppy did not seem to be in any pain. I stopped by just about every day and watched the little female squirm around with the same vigor as the others. Just as Nancy had said, about 10 days later the feet began to turn around to the correct position and she started walking at the same time as her littermates.   Other breeders in the area had said they had never had similiar problems, so Dr. Rose's counsel saved the life of this particular puppy. I have head of this happening several times since our experience, and each time the puppy's feet have turned to the correct position within weeks. That puppy that was saved in our case, was a bitch that went on to win National BOS and two National Awards of Merit. Other puppies that have come from these circumstances have gone on to their championships, also. Another of these puppies with backward feet went on to two National Awards of Merit and countless specialty wins. In every case that I am aware of, the animals have been exceptional movers, and have no hip, knee or leg problems. The reason I ended up writing this letter is that a friend Kathy Eke, has recently experienced the same situation in her very first litter, and was told by others that she should euthanize the puppy, Kathy decided to wait, and the puppy's feet straightened out as usual. Thank the Lord, she waited, and did not follow the advice of the people who had never encountered this situation. At least one breeder had given the advice to wait and see.   I am sure that others across the country have had similiar experiences and hopefully have saved the puppy. In any case, I hope that this will serve as a warning for others who will be making the decision of whether or not to save a puppy in a similiar situation.   I would really like to hear about any other similiar cases that other breeders have had. Please write or call me. Paul Thornburg 108 Blackbird Greenspring Road Smyma, DE 19977 (302) 378-3240 The Bulldogger No. 87 February 1999 Reprinted with full permission from the author.

By: Leigh Meeks