Bunny Hopping Rottweiler Puppy – Sign Of Hip Dysplasia?

I have an 8 week old male puppy who just recently started to “bunny hop” as he runs. He walks normally and does not seem to be in any discomfort. I know that it is still too early to tell if he has hip dysplasia, but I have had a dog with it in the past and am just really concerned.

Is this common for puppies this age and does it lead to any future problems, or is it nothing to worry about? I have read different articles on the web that say it may just be that he does this to gain speed but on the other hand some articles say it is a sign of early hip dysplasia.

Should I be concerned?

Hi
This is a really difficult question to answer as there are so many variables! At 8 weeks of age, many puppies run ‘funny’ – perhaps hopping, turning sideways, tripping over their feet etc. etc. Rottweiler puppies are notoriously clumsy too :o)

I’m not a veterinarian so this is only my personal take on the subject, but I would imagine that at 8 weeks old it’s much too early to think of hip dysplasia… unless it is an extremely severe case. If that were true then I would also expect to see some degree of pain or stiffness, difficulty getting up and so on. If you’re not seeing that then personally I wouldn’t say you need to worry just yet. However, I’d definitely recommend that you discuss your worries with your own vet as he/she is in the best position to advise you and can examine your puppy.

While canine hip dysplasia is fairly common in Rottweilers (and other breeds including Labrador Retriever and German Shepherds), if you’ve bought your pup from a reputable Click here to post comments

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About The Rotty lover 2159 Articles
My name is Dr. Winnie. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Duke University, a Masters of Science in Biology from St Georges University, and graduated from the University of Pretoria Veterinary School in South Africa. I have been an animal lover and owners all my life having owned a Rottweiler named Duke, a Pekingese named Athena and now a Bull Mastiff named George, also known as big G! I'm also an amateur equestrian and love working with horses. I'm a full-time Veterinarian in South Africa specializing in internal medicine for large breed dogs. I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 kids and Big G in my free time. Author and Contribturor at SeniorTailWaggers, A Love of Rottweilers, DogsCatsPets and TheDogsBone