Has anyone ever had experience with a Fiddle Front? I have a 7 week old puppy (out of 5) who might have this.

Her front legs are certainly not straight but she is not hindered either! She just looks out of balance (not dwarfed).

We have an appointment with the vet next Friday for their well baby checkups before they start to go home at 8 weeks and I would like to go with intelligent questions if she thinks that is what it is.

Can a pet puppy live a long and useful life with this or are their other medical conditions that can go along with it. I have never experience it before.

Thank you in advance for any information.

Could be caused from some deficiency, or could be genetics. I'd do a DNA test for retinal dysplasia. I have seen many dogs go in and out of the kennel I work at with fiddle fronts and they lead a normal life in many respects; however, some do have pretty severe limitations due to the extreme twisting. I've seen this mainly in hounds such as Bassetts and Beagles. Shitzus and Lhasas are the others I've seen it quite often in.

Can someone please describe a fiddle front? I think it means the front legs are bowed outward -looking from the front head on- ( ) < like this, but I am not certain?

Here is a link with a picture, scroll to the bottom of the page

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/showdogs/showing.htm

Thank you "Just Me". It it was I thought it was, good clarifiaction though. :-)
Is this considered just a conformational abnormality, or is it heritable, RD/OSD/dwarfism aside? Is it associated with (heritable) Elbow Dysplasia?

Had 2 puppies in a litter w/severe deformity in both front legs. One puppy was apparent from birth, the other became more obvious at 4 weeks onward. Front legs bowed and much shorter that rear. Both parents and all puppies in the litter where tested for RD by Optigen, all were clear. Both parrents has also had eye clearances done at 7 weeks.

X rays showed such major curvature of both ulna and radius that they were displaced from the elbow. As the puppies grew it was apparent that the front legs were not going to be able to support a lab bodyweight.

Both were put down at 8 weeks. This was a breeding that was a total outcross. Bitch had a previous litter of 10 that were/are all normal, other puppies in this litter are normal and have passed prelim elbows at 18 months. Vet specialists I saw could give no good reasons for issues. Perhaps viral exposure, chemical exposure or just sh&* happens. Thay suggested if the bitch is bred again to avoid the same pedigree combination.

This was terrible thing to go through, I hope your puppies are not as severe.

I have a very large litter (11) and two of the males had bowed front legs at 6 weeks that weren't there at 5 wks. I took them to the vets and he told me to supplement calcium. I did as he told me and by 9 wks they were normal.