Pacing dog

[darli]

Our five year old lurcher (whippet x deerhound) has been intermittently slightly lame usually after an extended run. She is a complete baby and if it really hurt then she would cry. She seemed to be tottering around the house - we have solid floors in all rooms, However I put this down to her claws that were a little long and as she really doesn't like me doing them we popped her to the vet who looked at her walking and trotting up the pavement. I hadn't noticed that she occasionally paces and swaps to and from 'proper' trot and pacing quite a bit. He has asked us to lead walk her this week and given her some painkillers but was suggesting that pacing could be indicative to a back problem. Anyone have any experience of dogs that pace?

This is Weasel.

 

[Alec Swan]

In your shoes, and before anything else, I'd find myself a McTimmoney-(sp) Practitioner. The correct realignment of skeleton, cartilage and muscle is often the route to success. I once had a greyhound bitch that could barely walk and an Irish Vet who resembled a prop-forward, put her on the table, and 'pulled' her, if that's the right word, around his barrel chest. He put her on the floor, a different dog! I followed his example following this bitch, and have done so many times.

Often it's a case of realignment, rather than medication. We have a local girl, too far for you, but she is a genius!! let us know how you progress.

Alec.

 

[Dobermonkey]

My boy has always paced from puppyhood. He will 'trot' and as he has got older he now trots more often but will always 'skip' behind and revert to pacing. He's had mctimmoney and the lady said his pelvis was a little higher on one side but nothing too out of kilter. She said he obviously finds pacing efficient ( especially when his nose is stuck to the ground). Conformation wise he is quite straight behind and upright through his shoulder and as soon as harvest comes rouns will pull a shoulder and have to go on box rest. I know treat him as an athlete and make sure he warms up and warms down and this has minimised his time off. Most recent pull was when he put up a young hare who instead of beggaring off ran circles in and out of his legs and his sharp turns on the forehand were his downfall (ps hare got away unharmed he just likes to poke them no teeth!)

 

[dollyanna]

Mine paces 85% of the time - he only trots if going faster (ie running with me or next to the bike) or rarely when walking briskly on a short lead. Watching him it is clear that trotting simply takes more energy, he has to bounce, pacing allows him to lollop along with very little effort. He is a whippet cross.
I have wondered if it was due to his hips or back problems, he is certainly more reluctant to trot when in pain, but then he is reluctant to walk out properly too. Close observation suggests it is simply the way he moves - I think certain breeds are more prone to it than others, a lot of the short legged bull breeds seem to pace for example.

 

[Paint Me Proud]

my new pup is a pacer too, she will trot normally when the mood takes her but her default appears to be pace. I dont mind too much other than the fact she will need a bit more work in the show ring as pacing is a big no-no!
I wouldnt worry about a dog pacing unless there was other clear lameness associated with it.