If you’ve been around dogs for a long time, then you might be familiar with cow hocks…
Cow hocks are when the back legs of your dog are bent inward at an angle and that causes your dog to walk on his or her toes…
In severe cases, this can cause pain and discomfort for your pup, so it’s important to know what cow hocks in dogs looks like and how to treat the condition…
In this article, we’ll be taking a deep dive into cow hocks, and we’ll be covering the following information…
- What Are Cow Hocks In Dogs?
- What Causes Cow Hocks In Dogs?
- Cow Hocked Dog Breeds
- Common Cow Hocked Dog Problems
- Can Cow Hocks Be Corrected In Dogs?
- How To Treat Cow Hocks In Dogs From Home
In the end, you’ll know exactly what cow hocks are and how to best help your dog if he or she has this condition…
Let’s start by clarifying what exactly cow hocks look like in dogs…
What Are Cow Hocks In Dogs?
As I mentioned earlier, cow hocks are when the back legs of your dog are bent inward at an angle and that causes them to sometimes walk on their toes…
It also causes your dog’s feet to splay, which can cause them to walk with a pigeon-toed gait…
A lot of people think that cow hocks are caused in dogs as a result of injury, hip dysplasia, or arthritis. But really, these medical issues only cause a cow hocks-like appearance…
True cow hocks is a genetic trait and will be present in your dog even as a puppy. If the cow hocks on your dog are mild or moderate, the condition will likely not cause much harm…
That being said, cow hocks can cause your pup pain and discomfort due to pressure put on their hind legs and feet…
It can also cause medical problems such as arthritis and joint issues. Therefore, if you suspect your dog has any pain or discomfort due to cow hocks, you should contact a veterinarian concerning the issue…
What Causes Cow Hocks In Dogs?
Cow hocks in dogs or a cow hocks-like appearance can be caused by a number of different factors…
First, if your dog has been injured or had surgery that hurt their back legs, they may develop a cow hocks-like appearance because the injury makes it painful for them to walk properly…
In addition to that, it is also possible for a cow hocks-like appearance to happen as a result of an underlying health problem…
For example, if your dog has arthritis or hip dysplasia in their back legs it may make them walk with a cow hocked gait…
It is also possible for the appearance of cow hocks to come from instability of the joints and muscles that surround your dog’s hips…
But all that being said, genetics is the cause of true cow hocks in dogs, and because of that, there are some breeds that tend to see the condition more often.
Cow Hocked Dog Breeds…
You’ll often find cow hocks in breeds such as German Shepherds, Labradors, and Golden retrievers…
In addition to that, herding breeds like Border Collies, Australian Cattle Dogs, and other similar breeds are more likely to be cow hocked as well because of the way they use their back and front legs to herd animals…
Bully Breeds such as Pitbulls, American Bulldogs, and Staffordshire Terriers also seem to be susceptible to cow hocks…
The condition is present when a dog is just a puppy, and even though it will never go away fully, it can be reduced by strengthening your dog’s hind legs.
Common Cow Hocked Dog Problems…
Dogs with mild forms of cow hocks normally don’t suffer from much pain, and the condition usually doesn’t get worse over time…
That being said, the most common problem is usually an uncomfortable walk, in which your dog appears to be walking tiptoed or as if his or her back legs are stiff all the time…
Your dog may also have problems with getting up from a lying position when the front of his feet don’t come in contact with the ground evenly…
If the condition is causing pain, you might notice your dog limping around, and this can lead to muscle strains and other injuries that will need medical attention…
In addition to that, if your dog suffers from hip dysplasia, then he or she will be more prone to a cow hocks-like appearance because the condition puts pressure on the front of his or her feet…
Dogs with cow hocks also have a greater chance of patella luxation, which is when the kneecap moves out of place and causes pain…
A luxating patella can cause issues such as inflammation, ligament tears, cartilage damage, and arthritis…
And you might notice that your dog will be more sensitive to touch in this area or you may hear a clicking sound whenever they move their back legs…
If you suspect that your dog is in any pain due to his or her cow hocks, be sure to contact a veterinarian to discuss the issue…
Can Cow Hocks Be Corrected In Dogs?
Cow hocks will always be present in your dog, but that being said, there are a few ways to help reduce the appearance of the condition and the problems that can come from it…
One way is by using custom orthotics for your dog’s back feet. These can be made with material such as silicone or gel which will provide more padding in areas needed and also offer them some extra support if your dog already has patella luxation…
Another option in severe cases would be surgery, but this is only a last resort option as it may not be successful…
In the end though, the most important thing you can do for cow hocks is to increase your dog’s activity levels so he can strengthen his hind legs.
How To Treat Cow Hocks In Dogs From Home?
As I mentioned before, you’ll want to focus on strengthening your dog’s hind legs because doing so will help reduce the appearance of cow hocks and the problems that can result from them…
The first thing you’ll want to do is give your dog plenty of exercise. This could be as simple as a quick walk around the block…
But keep in mind that you’ll want to avoid any exercises that place too much pressure on your dog’s feet, so don’t make walks or runs too long and taxing…
In addition to that, you’ll want to make sure that the walk is generally uphill and that it’s on sand or another soft surface to keep the impact on your dog’s joints minimal…
Swimming is also an excellent exercise for dogs with cow hocks because it will strengthen their hind legs without putting too much impact on them…
If you have the opportunity for it, exercising your dog on a treadmill in water is also a great way to strengthen the muscles in his hind legs without putting too much impact on them…
Lastly, supplements can provide relief and reduce inflammation as well. Cosequin is a popular option, but as always, be sure to check with a veterinarian before giving any supplements to your dog…
Also keep in mind that if your dog is eating nutritional dog food, there will probably be no need for any additional supplements…
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Final Thoughts…
So all in all, if you have a dog with cow hocks, you’ll first want to assess if the issue is mild, moderate, or severe…
If it’s mild (or even moderate), your dog probably won’t experience too many problems as a result of it. However, if it’s a severe case, your dog could be experiencing pain and joint issues…
I recommend you contact a veterinarian to discuss the issue with a professional, and remember that focusing on the strength of your dog’s hind legs will be important…
Good luck, and I hope your dog remains happy and healthy for many years to come.