Puppy with extra ribs? (aDork)

    • Gold Top Dog

    Puppy with extra ribs? (aDork)

     alittleoffkey is looking at getting a puppy (a mutt dropped off in the road with her brother [ETA - the puppy and her brother were dropped off]), but today discovered that both pups have a significant number of extra ribs on their left sides. These ribs do not appear to be attached to the spine, but their rib cages end about a hand width further down on the left side. This hasn't caused problems with them as of yet, but we're wondering what sort of complications these could cause later on. Also wondering if there is anything that may indicate why the pups have extra ribs. Both appear normal from the top, bottom, and sides even when stretched out. Any ideas?

    • Gold Top Dog

    aDorkable
    This hasn't caused problems with them as of yet, but we're wondering what sort of complications these could cause later on. Also wondering if there is anything that may indicate why the pups have extra ribs.

    I can't answer your first question, but there are a number of web sites that talk about extra ribs in dogs being the result of in utero exposure to toxins such as pesticides.