My Jack Russell has bowed front legs but seems fine. What to do?

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Beau. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian again or you seek a second opinion if she is not improving. She may need additional medications or different doses to help get her more comfortable. Occasionally dogs with back pain do not respond to medical therapy and need surgery by a neurologist. In the meantime, keep her very quiet and carry her as much as a possible. I hope this information helps!

The most common reason for lameness of a back leg in a small breed dog is a luxating patella - a knee cap that does not stay in place. Without examining him myself this is my best guess. I believe this would be the most likely issue and should be easy for your vet to diagnose. If it is getting worse then he probably needs surgery to correct it. The photos do not show anything outwardly abnormal. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/luxating-patella-in-dogs )

From the pictures, it looks like Bruno is suffering from valgus deformity of his front legs. This is when there is a lateral (outward) turn of the feet. It occurs when the ulna stops growing while the radius continues to grow, causing the radius to begin bowing at the top and rotating outward. This is can cause discomfort to Bruno and it is something that can be fixed surgically. You can speak to your vet about surgical treatment of this deformity.

This is common in some toy and small breeds and is not treatable but in other cases can be nutritional or due to joint problems. I recommend a full physical check up, acupuncture and chiropractic care may help if no obvious cause is identified

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.

If it doesn't seem to get any worse I wouldn't worry about it too much, it's probably going to stay the same way for life. The only advise I have is to be careful with him exercise wise as it can over time affect his joints in a negative way. Continue with the joint supplement as well.