SYMPTOM
Skipping gait
A distinctive hopping or skipping movement where the dog briefly lifts one hind leg during normal walking or trotting.
Patellar luxation
Medial or lateral patellar luxation is the most common cause of a skipping gait in dogs, particularly in small and toy breeds. The patella intermittently slips out of its groove on the femur. The dog suddenly carries the leg up for a few steps, and may shake or extend it, before the kneecap returns and normal walking resumes. The frequency and duration of skipping episodes can vary from rare and brief to frequent and prolonged, depending on the grade and stability of the luxation.
Intermittent musculoskeletal pain
Brief episodes of pain originating from joints, muscles, or tendons can produce a momentary gait change that resembles skipping. The animal may favour the affected limb for a few strides when the pain is provoked by a specific movement or weight-bearing angle, then resume normal gait when the pain subsides. This pattern can be seen with early osteoarthritis, soft tissue injuries, or minor joint instabilities that produce intermittent rather than constant discomfort.
Neuromuscular
Some neurological conditions can produce intermittent gait abnormalities that may resemble the skipping pattern associated with patellar luxation. Conditions affecting the nerve supply to the hind limbs, or those producing intermittent muscle spasm or involuntary contraction, can create momentary gait irregularities. The pattern may differ from patellar luxation in its consistency and the specific limb movements involved, but the distinction may not always be obvious to the observer.
No identified cause
Some dogs show gait asymmetries or movement quirks that are not associated with an identifiable pathological process. A new or progressive skipping pattern is not put down to a quirk until structural and neurological causes have been looked for.
Why timing matters
Early observation
When a skipping gait is first noticed, it may occur infrequently, perhaps once during a walk or only during specific activities such as trotting or turning. The episodes may be so brief that they are initially dismissed as a stumble or a momentary hitch in the stride. In small breed dogs, the association with patellar luxation is strong enough that even rare episodes of skipping are often linked to the kneecap's stability. Early skipping may occur only in specific circumstances such as when the dog is excited, moving quickly, or changing direction, reflecting a patella that luxates under particular mechanical conditions but is otherwise stable.
Later presentation
As the underlying cause progresses (whether through worsening patellar instability, developing cartilage damage, or accumulating secondary osteoarthritis), the skipping episodes may become more frequent, last longer, and occur during lower-intensity activities. The dog may begin to show additional signs such as hind leg stiffness after rest, reluctance to jump, or a crouched gait in the hind limbs. In bilateral cases, alternating skipping between both hind legs may develop. The transition from occasional skipping to a more persistent gait abnormality often reflects progressive structural deterioration and increasing functional limitation.
The trajectory of a skipping gait depends heavily on the underlying cause and its grade of severity. In low-grade patellar luxation, episodes are often mild and infrequent. The condition often worsens over time, with episodes becoming more frequent and, in some dogs, eventually continuous, as the supporting structures stretch and the cartilage wears. A sudden worsening (from intermittent skipping to consistent lameness) may indicate a change in the joint such as cruciate ligament compromise, which is a recognised secondary complication of patellar instability. Understanding whether the pattern has remained stable or is progressing is important for determining the most appropriate management approach.
Conditions commonly associated
Luxating Patella in Dogs
Skipping gait is the hallmark sign of patellar luxation. It happens when the kneecap slips out of its groove for a moment and then slips back.
Hip Dysplasia in Dogs
Hip dysplasia causes hind-limb lameness that can be mild to severe and is often more marked after exercise. Some dogs show a bunny-hopping gait, with both hind legs moving together, which can be mistaken for skipping.
Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
Loss of blood supply to the head of the femur in young small-breed dogs, especially terriers between 4 and 11 months old, causes a hind-limb lameness that progresses slowly and can reach the point of not bearing weight on the leg.
Cruciate Ligament Disease in Dogs
A partial tear of the cruciate ligament causes hind-limb lameness of variable severity, sometimes seen only after long rest, which can look like an occasional skip on that leg. Partial tears almost always progress to a full tear over time.
Lumbosacral Stenosis
Pressure on the nerve roots at the lower back can cause altered sensation or discomfort in one hind limb, leading some dogs to lift the leg intermittently during walking. The skipping movement may reflect the dog's attempt to reduce load on the affected side or respond to nerve irritation.
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome is the set of signs caused by compression of the nerve roots at the base of the spine, commonly from degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in large breeds such as German Shepherd Dogs. Alongside hind-limb lameness, signs can include tail weakness and incontinence, and pain when the lower back is pressed or extended is the most consistent finding at examination.
When to explore further
A skipping pattern that is increasing in frequency over weeks to months, occurring with less provocation, or lasting for more strides before resolving may suggest progressive instability or worsening of the underlying structural cause.
When skipping is accompanied by other gait changes such as stiffness after rest, a crouched hind limb stance, or reduced willingness to engage in activities involving the hind legs, the combination may indicate that the condition is producing secondary joint changes beyond the primary instability.
A sudden change from intermittent skipping to persistent or severe lameness in a dog with known patellar instability may suggest a secondary complication such as cruciate ligament injury, which can occur at a higher rate in knees with abnormal patellar mechanics.
Skipping that affects the forelimbs rather than the hind limbs points away from the kneecap, which sits in the hind-limb knee, and towards other causes. Patellar luxation is not limited to small breeds: medial luxation also occurs in large-breed dogs and lateral luxation, though much less common, is seen more often in large breeds, where cruciate ligament disease and hip disease are also considered.
Capturing video of the skipping episodes on a smartphone can be particularly valuable, as the behaviour may not occur during a veterinary visit when the dog is in an unfamiliar environment. Recording the gait during normal walks, play sessions, and transitions from rest to activity creates a visual record that can be shared with veterinary professionals and compared over time to assess whether the pattern is changing. Noting the specific circumstances that tend to trigger episodes (such as pace, direction of travel, surface type, or duration of activity) can help build a picture of the mechanical conditions under which the gait abnormality occurs.
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026 · Dr Alastair Greenway MRCVS