Slipping Hocks

[odnarb]

Slipping Hocks are a problem that has just recently been noticed in this breed, and others as well. There is very little information on it. Infact, in veterinary orthopedic textbooks and journals, it's not even noted until after they break down, when it is referred to as "hyperextended hocks." The ligaments in the hocks are loose, making them seem "double jointed." The hocks can be bent in the opposite direction than they should be able to, and the dog has very little support in the hock when trying to jump. I uploaded a video that might make it a bit more clear...

http://www.rosecitydogs.com/slippedhock.wmv

It seems to vary from minor to extreme. I've seen dogs with the hyperextended hocks. Then there are dogs like Grant who appear to move normally, but are resistant to jumping. A friend has a dog with hocks that slip, perhaps not as bad as Grant's, yet she is a jumping fiend.

[cheekymunkee]

Tell Grant I have bad ankles too. I've hyperextended them both countless times & broken one. I can just walk a straight line on a solid surface & turn one. I cannot run, jump or wear high heals. I feel his pain.

[Patch O' Pits]

Does it cause him any pain???

Hugs for you and Grant

At a UKC show in MD the judge actually went around and was pushing on all the dogs hocks looking for it with DDB and APBTs. I dpn't know if she checked any other breeds as I didn't really notice she was doing it until those breeds were in the ring.

[mnp13]

I read that cryptorchid dogs often have luxating patellas due to loose ligaments. Skipping hocks are loose ligaments as well so maybe it's related? I think cryptorchid is genetic, isn't it?