Dachshund Trotting on 3 Legs? Normal?

[ramama]

Okay, this bothers me, even though I know other dachshunds that do it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's okay LOL! Lola walks on four legs and all-out runs on 4 legs, but she trots on three legs and favors her left hind leg. Is this just a dachshund idiosyncrasy due to their long backs and short legs, or something to be worried about? FTR, she has never indicated in any way that the leg causes pain.

[womenswisdom]

I would suspect medial pateller luxation. The kneecap moves out of place and causes them to have trouble bending the leg. When she runs, does she use the back legs independently or both together like a bunny?

[martinmalin]

Originally Posted by ramama 

Okay, this bothers me, even though I know other dachshunds that do it, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's okay LOL! Lola walks on four legs and all-out runs on 4 legs, but she trots on three legs and favors her left hind leg. Is this just a dachshund idiosyncrasy due to their long backs and short legs, or something to be worried about? FTR, she has never indicated in any way that the leg causes pain.

Hi, my daschund is doing EXACTLY the same thing. I was just wondering if it was indeed a medial pateller luxation and what you did about it? I went to my vet yesterday and he did not find anything unusual...and I was out of there in less than 10 min. It's been two weeks since she's been trotting on 3 legs, I suspect I'm gonna have to find a more competent vet.

To respond to womenwisdom question she does run on both legs like a bunny. 

[PerfectlyMe]

That was my first thought as well, luxating patella. I would get it checked, just to be sure. Dogs with this condition often seem to skip when their patella slips out of place. It's uncomfortable, but is fixable with surgery.

[justmama]

Lots of little dogs have luxating patellas in one or both hind legs.  It is fixable with surgery but unless it's happening constantly or causing them pain, it's not always really necessary.  Some dogs can pop it back into place with a little skip in their step without an issue and it's only occasional and not worth the expense/recovery of surgery.  Some dogs get the patella "stuck" out of place and need surgery to put it back in.