leg

Question
I have a friend that has 4, 8 week old pups,about a wwek ago I noticed that they started walking on the partof there leg right above the paw and it almost looks like a rabbit they have also lost some of there hair. This may help he had put mulch in there cage and he said they had gotten some kind of parisite and they was real sick for about a week. But the mother is fine! What I was wanting to know is do you think this parisite has did something to there nerve system and there not going to get better and maybe even die?  

Answer
Hi Rick, Your friend has GSDs that have what they call "floppy hocks".  It is not caused by a parasite, it is a genetic condition caused by weak ligaments in the hind legs.  It is actually a sad thing as those dogs will never be able to do heavy duty work in their life as they can't hold their legs up good.  Also, their legs will break down sooner as far as age when they get old.  He should not breed that female again to that male as that combination produced that.  The hair loss is from them rubbing the hock on the ground so much. Hope this helps,

Dawn