Thanks-well I talked to his foster mom and she said she had him taken to a specialist and the specialist is the one who said he won't have any long term effects-he said the most that will occur is he may get arthritis in 10 or so years; which I figure is likely to happen with most dogs. Also I should correct myself, he doesn't bite his paws-he nibbles at that bone you see protuding, but thats usually only after we play hard or take a long walk. I just wondered if I should see another specialist or if anyone has had a pet experience the same.