Sam and Abby,
There are a couple of things that could cause these symptoms. She could have
some type of congenital leg or spinal cord problem. Some of these are very
treatable; for example, patella luxation ( knee caps popping out of their
sockets). Some of these problems require an orthopedic specialist to
diagnose. Dark red stools could indicate a bacterial infection, parasites,
or stomach ulcers. Abby is very young to have stomach ulcers.
A good physical exam and a fecal analysis would be a good place to start.
Good luck,
Dr. Weiss
(301) 299-4142
[Posted in FML issue 1287]