My dog looks Corgi. Will his short legs cause future health issues?

This type of leg conformation can be "normal" in Corgis. Hist left front leg seems more affected than his right. X-rays are always a good idea to make sure there is nothing concerning that can't be seen from the outside.

Wow, Rowan is such a cute boy! As I'm sure you know Dachshunds have a genetic trait that causes them to have disproportionately short legs. This can lead to problems with the bones, joints and cartilage in the dog. Most notably, dachshunds are prone to intervertebral disc disease (like a buldging disc in their spine) that can cause loss of motor function and can be painful. Bowed legs can also be common in this breed. X-rays would be helpful to assess the hips and knees and to look for any signs of early onset arthritis. The X-rays would also be helpful in determining whether or not surgical intervention is needed. I would also recommend starting Rowan on a joint supplement such as Dasuquin to help keep his joints as healthy as possible. Rowan will likely develop arthritis because of his legs at some point in his life but if you start joint supplementation now and keep him nice and trim, it can help delay the onset of arthritis.

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I can’t actually answer this question without a physical exam to feel the legs at the same time. But yes, in the picture they look basically symmetrical. If you have concerns about it, take him in to the vet for a physical exam to be sure.

Hello. I would agree that the female does not have the typical confirmation of a border collie. This may indicate a possible congenital problem, a type of dwarfism, but most likely there were two fathers for this litter. Because of the way a female dog ovulates, you could have two different males inseminate a single pregnancy. The only other option is the breeder intentionally duped you. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I know you say Boosie's shape shows best in this photo but it is not easy to evaluate him from it due to the angle. Without feeling him myself and just seeing him standing/walking normally it is difficult to say. I does look to me like his stifle (knee) area is thick in this photo but it could just be the way he is laying.... I do think you should take him in for a veterinary exam. If nothing else, he should be due for his 2nd round of vaccines anyway so this is a good time to do the exam. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Congratulations on your new puppy Griff! At such a young age, it’s hard to say how things will develop and I agree that monitoring him is appropriate right now. He will see the veterinarian frequently since he is getting his vaccine series. Make sure they check his legs and hips each visit and watch him walking. You can get radiographs done but at such a young age, it may be hard to identify any pathology. Radiographs done when he is 9-12 months old will be more likely to be diagnostic. Sometimes a CT scan can catch bone abnormalities earlier. It’s very important that you feed him a puppy food and that he does not become overweight while he is developing. Royal Canin makes specialized puppy food based upon the expected adult weights so you might check them out. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.