Rear No-Knuckling Training Sock
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The Rear No-Knuckling Training Sock is a temporary training tool for short-term use to help correct gait and improve rear paw placement in patients with neurological deficits. They are designed in the USA by Renee Mills, VT, CCRP, to combat knuckling and enhance proprioception (patent pending).
Clinical Advantages:
- Provides training support for pets who drag their back paws
- Stimulates dog between its toes, evoking a withdrawal reflex and causing the pet to pick the foot up higher.
- Lightweight design to accommodate patients with hind limb weakness
- Touch-fastener straps wrap around the leg to provide additional support above and below the joint
- Perfect for rehabilitative use for pets recovering from spinal surgery or suffering from disc disease
For Best Outcome: Guide patients to use this temporary training tool during multiple walks for two to five-minute intervals on one lower hind leg at a time. Wearing the training sock during the beginning of every walk will have the best outcome and remove when the training exercise is complete.
Please note that the Rear No-Knuckling Pro Kit available through this product page is not customizable. This kit will contain five training socks- one of each size.
Ideal for the following conditions:
Professionals Guide to the No-Knuckling Training Sock
The Rear No-Knuckling Sock is designed to enhance proprioception in patients with neurological deficits. The sensory stimulation acts as a reminder for pets to lift their limb higher. It can be utilized as a gait retraining tool. The lightweight nature of the neoprene is ideal for those patients with limb weakness.
Rehabilitation professionals may use this product as part of a treatment plan. Instruct pet owners on how to use it for at-home training sessions. There are numerous ways to incorporate the No-Knuckling Training Sock into your practice.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
No-Knuckling Training Sock Walks:
Apply sock to the affected limb and have the patient walk slowly for two to five minutes. If deficits are bilateral, apply to only one leg at a time to begin. You may progress to longer walks or using both hind legs simultaneously once the patient is ready for this increase.
Enhanced Cavaletti Poles:
Apply the training sock to the affected limb during the Cavaletti poles exercise. This will be an additional reminder to the patient to pick that foot up if they’re still hitting bars.
Enhanced Figure 8s or Cone Weaving:
Apply sock to the affected limb during more difficult walking exercises. This will assist in correct paw placement as you advance your workouts.
Treadmill Patterning:
Apply sock to affected limbs. This will significantly enhance any patterning exercise using land or an underwater treadmill. During this exercise, use and progression are at the professional’s discretion. If used in the underwater treadmill, be sure to remove it after the workout and let the sock air-dry before subsequent use.
If you have questions about how or when to use the Rear No-Knuckling Training Sock, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Veterinary Resources Team at 1-866-578-2926
Measure from Point A to Point B on your dog while standing, to determine which size No-Knuckling Training Sock will best fit your pet.
For best results, the dog needs to be standing when taking this measurement.
Point A: is located at the center of hock joint.
Point B: is located on top of the paw.
| Size | Top of paw to hock | Recommended Weight |
|---|---|---|
| XSmall | 1.25 – 2.25″ | 10 – 15 lbs. |
| Small | 2.25 – 3.25″ | 15 – 30 lbs. |
| Medium | 3 – 4.25″ | 30 – 60 lbs. |
| Large | 4 – 6″ | 60 – 80 lbs. |
| XLarge | 5 – 7″ | 80+ lbs. |
If dog is between sizes, go up one size.
For Best Outcome: We recommend you use this temporary training tool during multiple walks for two to five-minute intervals on one lower hind leg at a time. For at-home use, advise pet parents that wearing during the beginning of every walk will have the best outcome and always remove when training exercise is complete.
Proper Placement and Fit for the No-Knuckling Training Sock
STEP 1
Spread open the No-Knuckling Training Sock (NKTS), attaching each strap to itself while keeping it open. Then wrap the NKTS around the hock joint on the lower hind leg. Be sure to keep the cord loop free and positioned in front of the leg.
STEP 2
Keep the cord loop free and over straps, secure touch fastener straps, starting with the bottom. Then secure the top strap. Finally, if there is a third strap, tighten it last, below the hock joint.
STEP 3
Wrap fleece pad around toe portion of cord loop. This will add extra padding between the cord and toes. Keep soft fleece closest to dog’s paw; touch fastener should face the ground.
STEP 4
Place cord loop around and under the middle two toes.
STEP 5
Pull slowly at the top of the cord to tighten. Then test your dog’s reaction. If there is no reaction, gradually tighten more and test again.
Important:
*Do not wrap the NKTS too tightly, as that may interfere with circulation or limit leg mobility.
*Do not tighten the cord to the point where it could cause irritation or pull the toes up too far.
*Do not leave the NKTS on your pet for extended periods. It’s designed to be a short-term training tool. NKTS should be used for 2 to 5-minute intervals at the beginning of the walk and removed. Misuse or extended wear beyond manufacture recommendations may lead to injury of the paw.
*Softest part of fleece pad should always be touching dog’s skin, with touch fastener edge pointing away from dog’s paw.
*Placement of any brace, wrap, or support on your pet may cause them to kick leg or paw trying to remove the product.
*Do not leave the NKTS on pets unattended.
Note: It is best to use the NKTS at the beginning of a walk or rehab session for best results. Straps are intentionally left long to provide the right amount of support above and below the hock joint where the support is needed. The hock joint is intentionally left exposed to avoid any undue pressure on the joint itself.
How does the Rear No-Knuckling Training Sock work?
The Rear No-Knuckling Training Sock stimulates a dog on the skin between the center two toes, which evokes a withdrawal reflex that causes the pet to lift its paw higher. For best results, wear for short 2–5-minute intervals multiple times throughout the day, at the beginning of your walk. And remove the training sock at the end of the exercise.
How do I know if an anti-knuckling aide will help my patient?
Many geriatric pets or those suffering from neurological problems will benefit from using the No-Knuckling Training Sock.
How should I expect a dog to walk with the Rear No-Knuckling Training Sock on?
Expect your patient’s initial step to be exaggerated. The stimulation to a pet’s paw should cause them to pick it up higher when walking.
What if my patient won’t walk when wearing the training sock?
You may need to use treats and encouragement as motivation to walk. It’s a new concept for a pet to learn and may take time.
Will it be uncomfortable for my patient?
The Rear No-Knuckling Sock is a training tool and not designed for long-term use. If used correctly, it will solely stimulate your pet and not cause any irritation. For comfort, ensure that the fleece pad is wrapped around the cord with the softest part touching the paw; the touch fastener side should always point away from the foot.
What is the reason this product cannot be used on the front leg? Is it a medical reason?
This product is not designed for the anatomy of the dog’s front leg since the angle, and use of the front leg is very different from the rear. Please see Front NKTS for a product for the front leg.
Why would you suggest this item instead of or in place of another? What are the pros and cons of using this item along with or instead of the bootie splint?
The training sock is lighter weight and will train the dog to lift their foot or leg higher and improve knuckling. The Bootie Splint is an excellent product to use along with the No-Knuckling Training Sock.
Will this help with the knuckling of a dog who has DM?
Yes, it will help dogs who have been diagnosed with DM. It will encourage the pet to pick up the foot higher and be more aware of foot placement. There will be less progress in dogs in the later stages of DM, but it will still help by encouraging them to pick up the leg higher and strengthen it.
Why do you only use this product for 2-5 minutes at a time? Can I use it for longer?
This product is designed to be used as a training tool. The dog will be working harder than usual to walk, so you do not want to overexert them or cause any skin irritation to the toes. This product is most beneficial to the pet for short, frequent applications. Wearing the training sock for extended periods is not recommended.
How long does it take to see results?
You should see the results as soon as the dog starts wearing the training sock. You should continue to see noticeable improvement over the next week or two when the dog is not wearing the product.
This is made for short-term use; what is short-term?
There No-Knuckling Training Sock can be used for a few weeks or a few months, depending on your patient’s needs. Patients should only use the anti-knuckling device for a few minutes at a time.
Are there any breeds you would not recommend this item be used with?
The No-Knuckling Training Sock will work for all dog breeds; there are no breed-specific limitations for using this product.
What if the dog is missing a toe? Can they use a training sock?
Yes, a dog can still benefit from the No-Knuckling Training Sock even if they’re missing a toe. For dogs missing one of their middle toes, you would just put the strap around the remaining toe. Putting the strap around the outer toes is not recommended.
How do you know the fitting is correct? Should the nails/toes be 1/2″ off the ground or 1″?
The dog’s toes should not be lifted off the ground when wearing this product. If the dog is walking and the toes are not dragging, the fit is correct. You will need to tighten the cord for patients who can still drag their toes when wearing the product. Tighten the cable incrementally until you see your patient pick up their paw on their own. The hock portion should be visible out of the back of the sock, as shown in pictures on the website.
Will this item still work if the dog does not have toenails due to dragging?
Yes, the training sock is designed to help retrain the pet to lift the leg higher to help prevent the scraping of the nails. The cord sits between the two center toes of the dog’s paw; missing toenails will not impact the function of this product.
Will this work for a dog who “does not pick up its leg”?
If the dog can still use his leg, it will benefit from the No-Knuckling Training Sock. You can also use the training sock in conjunction with our Walkin’ Lift Harness or our Walkin’ Wheels Wheelchair. As long as the dog can move his leg on his own, this product will be helpful.
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