My Dachshund mix has bowed legs. Will this cause issues later?

Question

My dog has had legs like this since he was about 8-9 months old. It wasn’t noticeable/showing when he was a puppy, but once his legs started growing it was. He has no issues with running or walking at all, and he’s otherwise a healthy dog. I’m just wondering what you would call this medically, and if there was anything that caused this, or that we could have prevented, or could this be breed related (we think he’s a dachshund/jack russell mix). Also, will this cause issues when he’s older? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 3 years and 2 months old | 30 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I am not aware of a specific name for this, but it is very common in dachshunds. Any dogs that have shorter than normal legs (like Dachshund or Basset Hound) can have a twisting appearance to the front limbs as the bones grow and harden. It can be a heritable condition, so dogs that are affected should not be bred. The twisting bones themselves shouldn't cause problems, but since his anatomy is not completely normal, he may be predisposed to developing arthritis as he gets older. Making sure that he stays a lean body weight and continues to get exercise will help a lot.

My Dachshund mix has bowed legs. Will this cause issues later?

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