5 month old rottie with morning stiffess in back legs

by Margarett
(Antioch Ca)

I have a five month old male rottie that is growing very fast, he seems to have stiff back legs in the morning and it takes a few minutes for him to get up and move around but then he is fine and running all over the place... should I be concerned?






Hi Margarett
I wouldn't be too concerned right off the bat, puppies of this age are growing very quickly and this can cause their joints/ligaments some transient issues.

Panosteitis is also a possibility here - this is what is often referred to as 'growing pains' in puppies. It's basically an inflammation of the bones and it is usually as self-limiting condition that puppies grow out of. It's most often seen in the front legs first, but could still be in play here.

Of course it is possible that it's your puppy's hips that are causing the problem, or his back legs, but it's very difficult to actually confirm hip dyslpasia in dogs when they're this young.

Check out the symptoms of canine hip dysplasia and discuss this with your vet to put your mind at rest. There are also other joint/bone conditions that could cause stiffness like this so it's a good idea to get a professional evaluation now so that you can see if there is anything to worry about, or any treatment necessary.

Best of luck with your pup, hope he is doing much better soon.