An online survey of owners of purebred Dachshunds in Finland has found that musculoskeletal disorders and abnormal limb conformations are common in the breed and are associated with reduced exercise and impaired mobility. The study, published in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, set out to determine owner-perceived exercise habits, musculoskeletal health, limb conformations, and the prevalence of pes varus in the Finnish Dachshund population.
The Dachshund is a chondrodysplastic breed, meaning it has a short-limbed body structure. According to the researchers, chondrodysplasia may result in angular limb deformities such as elbow incongruity or pes varus, a hind limb growth disorder. However, the consequences of this short-limbed structure on exercise habits or mobility had not been extensively investigated in the breed before this survey.
The survey responses showed that the majority of the dogs, 75.8 percent (485 of 640), exercised for one to three hours each day. Intense exercise accounted for less than two hours per day for most dogs, with 88.7 percent falling into this category, indicating an otherwise active breed.
Musculoskeletal disorders were reported by 17.9 percent of owners. Pes varus was the most frequent disorder, affecting 6.9 percent of dogs, followed by front limb growth disorders at 5.8 percent. More than half of the dogs, 54.6 percent, had an abnormal angular conformation in one or more limbs.
The survey data also revealed associations between these conditions and activity levels.
Mobility was likewise likely to be decreased in dogs with any musculoskeletal disorder (P < 0.001) or any limb malposition (P = 0.007), according to the owner-reported data. These findings link the conformation-related conditions of the breed to measurable reductions in daily activity and willingness to move.
The authors concluded that musculoskeletal disorders and abnormal limb conformations related to the chondrodysplastic structure are common in Dachshunds and are associated with decreased amounts of exercise and impaired mobility in this otherwise active breed. They stated that, because of these welfare problems, healthier breed standards and breeding towards more normal limb conformation are warranted.
The study was conducted using an online survey for data collection, so the results reflect owner-perceived exercise habits, musculoskeletal health and limb conformation rather than clinical examinations. The work was carried out by Kami Turunen, Anu Katriina Lappalainen, Jouni Juho Tapio Junnila, Heli Katariina Hyytiäinen and Liisa Iiris Onerva Lilja-Maula, and was published as an open access article on 13 August 2026.
Subject of Research: Exercise habits, limb conformation and musculoskeletal health in the Finnish Dachshund population, assessed through an owner online survey.
Article Title: Exercise habits and musculoskeletal health of the Finnish Dachshund population: an online survey study
Article References: Turunen, K., Lappalainen, A. K., Junnila, J. J. T., Hyytiäinen, H. K., & Lilja-Maula, L. I. O. (2026). Exercise habits and musculoskeletal health of the Finnish Dachshund population: an online survey study. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-026-00877-2
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1186/s13028-026-00877-2
Keywords: Dachshund, chondrodysplasia, pes varus, musculoskeletal disorders, limb conformation, dog welfare, exercise habits, mobility, online survey, breed standards, veterinary medicine, Finland
News Source: William Thompson. (October 29, 2026). Survey Finds Limb Deformities Common in Finnish Dachshunds and Tied to Less Exercise. Scienmag.
