Cow hocked

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Dogbone

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Hi, I was going to put this in the vet section or is it just for horses?
Anyway I have a 1 year old that's standing cow hocked and seems to walk with close rear legs if that makes sense. Now I'm aware of cow hocks are genetic ie from birth but in my case when as a puppy he had parallel legs. I checked videos to prove to myself I didn't imagine it!
I'm wondering could this be from injury as he has pulled up lame several times the past few months.
If from injury what exercises would best help?
He's pain free/has full movement of all rear joints it's just he seems to prefer standing with close rear legs. Parents, past pedigree all good hips.
Is this possibly related to slipping on floors? This has happened several times.
Hopefully not too long a post so anyone with some veterinary knowledge or past experience of similar problem could chip in much appreciated. Thanks.
 
what breed? i knew a spinone who was completely normal when she was a puppy but her hind legs went very cow hocked and she seemed very weak on them, i assumed it was she was given too much exercise too young as she was a big dog...
 
Breed? Although I have an idea lol. Can you post pics or vid? I hate young dogs slipping and sliding on floors, can you put rugs down?
Road work, swimming and paddling, exercising on sand can all help firm up.
 
Dogbone said:
"We ran into problem " keeps pooping up when I try and add photos.
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That’s the forum unfortunately - you will probably have to re-size your pictures so they are smaller, but it also likes this error message intermittently where it won’t let you post pics at all ?
 
That's more than what my mature adult working dogs are on! Although they are both retired so I've reduced the amount.
Too much protein in growing large breeds can cause growth issues...could you try him exclusively raw for a bit? Ironically, there will be less protein than the dry food.
 
Are you on Facebook? If you post pictures on there, then open them once posted and click them, choose copy, the picture will show on here if you click paste.

If his hinds are an issue, possibly he’s injured his cruciate? I would lead walk only for at least a week. When mine snapped his (one after the other) we had a surgery to repair then walked him uphill, through sand (at the yard) I wonder if it’s his back as opposed to his legs, tho? Maybe a tweak? Either way, lead walk for a week.
 
@ 4 months. Slightly blurry but you can see his rear legs parallel. I'm resizing photos through an app and then I'll post so bear with me.?
 

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This is from a video but video won't upload ?
 

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Dogbone said:
Yes. Russian import.
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Oh, dear. Poor dog.

Why do you support the mutilation of dogs?

It is a welfare issue.

Dogs use both their tails and ears to communicate and their tail for balance, are you unaware of that?

I find it hard to accept that people are prepared to put a dog through unnecessary surgery with the associated pain and distress because they think it is aesthetically pleasing (or they think it makes them look tough?).
 
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It is hard to tell from the pics but wasn't as bad as I was expecting - they're more 'bowed' than anything? Again hard to tell from the pics but he also might be a bit heavy? So watch his weight.
If that's the floor surface he's living on, I would definitely put rugs down.
Panosteitis is probably the most likely if it's moving from leg to leg but again you'll get a better steer when the vet reopens.

With regard to the cropping and docking, it's doubly unfortunate because if he turns out to be good at anything sport or hobby wise, you're severely limiting where and what you can take part in as it's banned by the vast majority of clubs and disciplines.

How is his temperament? I know of a Russian import around the same age which is pretty sharp already, which I don't like to see in such a young dog personally.
 
Looking at the last picture, I’m going to say conformation issue and possibly, as CC already picked up, too much protein too early. Curved leg bones? Hips not sitting properly? I’d be asking for an x ray when you can. One of my springers had curved fores, the vet reckoned due to him being a shortarse, but I think it was a conformation issue.

When Jake snapped his cruciate, we carpeted the kitchen, ick, but necessary.
 
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