I'm considering adopting a greyhound dog missing a toe on it's front foot (the one on the right side, so it's 'pinkie' in human terms). It doesn't seem to hobble or act weird about it, it does sometimes tend to lean on the other three toes (so they kind of curve a bit more than they probably should), as if the fourth one was there. I actually didn't even notice it until someone told me the first time I met the dog. Anyone have experience with dogs with missing toes? Will this cause problems in the future, like arthritis or the loss of ability to walk? What should I look out for? The greyhound agency had the dog checked out at a vet for all the shots and everything and they tell me it's ok. I'm a little apprehensive though. Thanks for your help!
posted on Jul 9, 2008 - 12 answers

I'm looking to get a dog in the next month from a shelter / rescue league. I'm wondering: - How can you tell which one is 'the right one'? - How can you make sure to pick one that won't snap and eat a baby? (I'm leaning towards puppies/younger to try and combat this, there's a lot of dog fighting and douchebags in Florida.) - What breeds do you recommend? - What breeds do you recommend staying away from? - Without the parents on site, how do you assess if an animal is going to be healthy? (I know the shelters do basic checks, but ... I get really attached to my animals and to have one die prematurely would be really rough) [more inside]
posted on May 28, 2007 - 37 answers