La Fontaine aux Maléfices

Preliminary comment : this article is talking about Bulldogs, but this condition could appears in other breeds, so don't think that this can't happend to you ! Take the time to reed this article and see the pics, this can save a puppy without effort !!

Inverted hind feet

A mysterious physical anomaly found in some new-born Bulldog puppies has led some breeders and veterinarians to reach some apparently unfounded conclusions.

The anomaly is characterised by hind feet that are inverted -- that is the new-born's hind feet are turned backwards instead of forward. (To put it another way, the pads of both hind feet face upward at birth, rather than downward.) This condition initially appears to be an irreversible deformity of the hind legs in an otherwise perfectly developed and healthy puppy.

Until fairly recently, most puppies born with this condition were thought to have a serious birth defect and were euthanased to prevent a life of misery. Unfortunately, many breeders and experienced veterinarians who never encountered this condition advise others not to save puppies so afflicted at birth.

However, an item published in the Bulldog Club of America's official quarterly. The Bulldogger, alerted breeders to this previously unpublicised phenomenon. Soon after publication, the BCA member who reported having had new-born puppies with inverted hind feet said he received numerous calls and letters from other breeders who had similar experience.

To his surprise, this so-called birth defect was not nearly as rare in Bulldog litters as he had anticipated. He was also surprised to learn that this condition is apparently only temporary!

Breeder after breeder who intuitively chose not to euthanase affected puppies reported that in less than a month, the inverted hind feet returned to normal without therapy of any kind. Absolutely no traces of this condition were observed after the puppies began to mature. Neither -were there any reports by the breeders of an abnormal rear gait or impaired mobility when these Bulldogs reached adulthood. Many were shown quite successfully and achieved their championships. Furthermore, many breeders said that the offspring of these previously afflicted adult dogs and bitches seldom, if ever, produced puppies with inverted hind feet at birth.

A veterinarian who breeds and shows Bulldogs advises breeders to wait and see whether the affected puppy's ligaments and tendons tighten and turn the feet around to the correct position. Thus far, no reports have suggested that this condition will not correct itself on its own.

The factors that may cause this condition, clinical, environmental or otherwise, remain somewhat of a mystery. Whatever the cause, this temporary, alarming condition is more widespread in Bulldog litters than formerly realised, but euthanasia is apparently not indicated. It would appear that the odds are overwhelmingly in favour of saving these pups.

Actual congenital deformities such as cleft palates and harelips are indeed life-threatening to puppies, and little can or should be done to save them. Most breeders are convinced that these conditions are genetic in origin. Extreme caution should be observed in the use of the sire or dam of puppies born with these deformities for further breeding purposes.

To say that breeders should not be vigilant and concerned about inverted hind feet at birth would be a mistake, but neither should breeders overreact by attempting surgery or reverting to euthanasia. In this case, It's best to let nature take its course.

From :
South Africa Bulldog Club (http://www.allpets.co.za/sabulldogclub/articles_inverted_hindfeet.htm)