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Brando is a 5 yr old neuter male German Shepard owners complaint is occasional dragging rear paws going up stairs and bunny hopping when outside running. Owner did feel that it is gradually increasing. He is a DM carrier. Xrays normal hip conformation. He is very cow hocked on the rear legs bilaterally. No palpable muscle atrophy. I have not seen him for a month but would really love to palpate him after my recent Axial Skeleton Joint Mob class at STAAR! (fantastic class)

He was seen by the neurology department at the local university they did not feel that he was showing any neurological signs at that time and did not do any further testing.

Below are videos and pictures shot by the owner (I hope!)

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/fold ... URLTzNSUUE

Besides getting him back in to check the lumbar and SI joint with my new knowledge. I had questions on what to do to work with the rear legs to strengthen and improve the stance. He had good range of motion in both tarsus.

Thanks for any help.

Nancy Peterson

Hey Nancy!
So glad you like the class at STAAR!

Now, I couldn't seem to get the video to work. (Could make the link work for me and cut and paste of the URL said page not found).

But based on your pictures and description, I'd check the following:
SIJ (as you had mentioned you were looking forward to doing)
Motor control and timing (leg slide) to see about abdominal or gluteal control.

As for strengthening, I'd try:
Hill walking
Step ups & squat blocks
Sit to stands facing up hill
'Stacking practice' - slowly increasing the distance between front and rear legs when standing between two stools / blocks + manual stimulation (poking) of the abdominal muscles.
'Gaiting practice' at a faster speed (i.e. trot) while going over cavalletti poles (low).

That's where I'd start anyways! Best of luck!
Laurie

thanks for the help I'm seeing him this week so will be checking the SI

I'm not familiar with squat blocks?

Check out Video Training 19: Fun with Cinderblocks for a tutorial on 'squat block' exercises!

Laurie