Patella Luxation in Cockers

[CockerCanuck]

I wonder if those with more experience with the breed can help me out here. My 2 year old male cocker is in great shape and very active. He runs lots every day and without hesitation and seems to enjoy every minute of it. He plays very actively with the other dogs and I have never seen any sign of pain or hesitation to be active.

However when he runs he often skips with his back legs. More often with the left. I Googled this and the condition that comes up most is Patella Luxation. However most descriptions seem to describe dogs much more disabled than mine. He shows no sign of disability just the occasional funny skip in his gate.

I am not able to see many working cockers here. Do those of you who see them all the time see this gate abnormality often. Has anyone experience with Patella Luxation or have any other suggestions?

Thanks as usual.

[romanriver]

CC, can you post a video of him doing this?

[CockerCanuck]

I could try but might be hard to capture. He does not do it all the time. Hardly at all when really running hard. It is most apparent in the transition from trotting to really running.

[Judy]

I have one that occasionally carries a back leg for a stride or two at that kind of pace, she is now 11 and put in 30 full days picking up last season. I suspected mild PL as its not unknown in the breed but its never been frequent nor severe enough to investigate.

[dogperson]

A friend has one with a similar level of it happening, as the dog has got older it happens less and less, conscious of having to keep him relatively fit and relatively not over weight, not really ever been a problem but maybe we've just been lucky.

[Judy]

Thats been my experience, she hops less as she's aged, in fact I don't remember the last time she had an 'episode'. Back in the day it would happen off and on for a day of two then stop for months. She can, or could, jump a stock fence which, around here at least, are over four feet in height - well over a metre so whatever it is its never affected her physical abilities. I have noticed her niece doing the occasional hop over the years but the other two are just fine.

CC just keep an eye, if it should get worse then you may have to investigate further but its not something I would stress about just yet.

[ips]

My one does the occasional skip for a stride or two, I never gave it a thought I assumed it was just a comical quirk she has certainly never shown any signs of pain or discomfort.

[CockerCanuck]

OK, thanks for the reassurance. I will just keep an eye on it for now. Our vet is also the wife of a friend. Next time I see her I will ask her to look at him. From what I see on the internet it is quite common in Toy Breeds and most Pet Vets are quite familiar with diagnosing it. What does not fit with what I am seeing in my dog is the internet describes dogs with a lot of pain and disability. I don't see anything of that in Fergie. Everything he does he does with great speed and enthusiasm including just now bounding up the stairs two at a time to see what I was doing up here.

[ips]

And what pray tell were you doing

[Gundogs11]

There are a lot of related cockers on our shoot which all do this.
All of them work hard all season and do not appear lame other the occasional hop. In fairness though, it has put me off getting one as they are otherwise fab little workers.