Yellow Dog is a special creature. He’s got attitude and personality. He’s also got some twisted little feet. It’s probably a result of his mixed breed; we guess he’s a Dachshund-Jack Russell-Beagle mix.
“Yellow has chondrodystrophic legs, which just means the cartilage model his bones are made from didn’t form quite right,” Dr. Brandy Vickers of Avenues Pet Hospital says. “It’s normal for several breeds, including dachshunds and bassett hounds.”
Check out how his paws roll over:
When Yellow walks, his nails grind directly on the pavement with every step. We never have to cut his front nails and in fact, we need to protect them and allow them to grow, otherwise he hits the quick when he walks.
We worried Yellow might need surgery to correct his crooked legs but since he didn’t seem to be bothered by it, the vet said it’s not a problem.
“The only time we do surgery is if there is a lameness, usually caused by one bone growing faster than the other,” Dr. Vickers says. “In Yellow’s case, surgery would do more harm than good since he is not having any lameness.”
Yellow has some interesting feet; they’re almost square, measuring 2.1 by 2.3 inches. Pet stores like Petco or Petsmart don’t have a vast shoe selection, so we did all our shopping online at Amazon. Most sellers list the shoe’s dimensions but it still took four orders before we found the right fit.
Here’s a comparison:
The shoes on the left were okay; they fit fine and did not slip off but they wore out quickly and Yellow had a tougher time walking/running in them. The shoes on the right are the big winner! They are a perfect fit, the zippers hold them in place and they are quite durable. We have bought replacement shoes but it took several months of regular use before they wore out, which probably had more to do with the way Yellow walks than the integrity of the shoe.
You have to be careful when putting shoes on your dog. If they wear the shoes too often, they can lose the callus on their pawpad, and that’s not good. We try to regulate walks with Yellow to keep his calluses intact. Keep this in mind if you are putting shoes on your dog for the snow or hiking trails. And remember, shoes aren’t always just for being cute or fashionable! Sometimes, they’re doctor’s orders!
Yellow Dog Blog 
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I’m doing a drawing of my friend’s dachshund and researching their feet. I didn’t capture them in the photos I took. 😕. This is how I happened on your site to see your puppers. What a pretty guy! Your post is a bit old, thought did ask how he is! Merry Christmas!
its very nice and pretty shoes. it is very fashionable and attrective. SassyDogFashion also told about fashionable for dogs and they also nice.
Yellow Dog is Amazing and sooo Cute. Your blog shows the love you have for Yellow and you are a true inspiration for all Dog Lovers. Keep it awesome and do keep sharing the importance of Shoes for Dog.
Thank you, I really appreciate that comment! It means so much!
By the way, I also think he’s pretty darn cute, but I’m biased! 🙂
Yellow Dog is Amazing and sooo Cute. Your blog shows the love you have for Yellow and you are a true inspiration for all Dog Lovers. Keep it awesome and do keep sharing the importance of Shoes for Dog. Michael
Awww thank you so much, Michael! I just discovered Trex by Ruff Wear. They are on the expensive side, but they will certainly hold up over time!
I think my dachshund has the same condition, although not as severe. Are there any updates on Yellow dealing with his leg? Experiencing any lameness now? I’m really nervous my Vet will suggest expensive surgery although is doesn’t bother my little guy at this time.
Hi Mackenzie! Yes, Yellow still has his crooked little legs but they still don’t seem to be a problem. There is no lameness at all and the shoes really work to protect his nails from the concrete. If your vet does recommend surgery and you are questioning it, I would get a second opinion. I think surgery should be a last resort, especially if it’s not bothering you dog. Thanks for the comment!
Bless you for all the love you give him. He is such a beautiful little dog, and you are a wonderful person for loving him and caring for him so much!
Thank you so much for that sweet message! It really made me smile! It would be hard not to love Yellow, he’s just such a riot! 🙂
Yellow is stylin’ !!!!
LOL I have to admit, his tennis shoes are pretty cute. But also practical! 🙂