Taping to Improve Proprioception in Dogs

Dogs that drag their hind limbs, for example due to neurological issues or muscle weakness, can benefit from taping applications designed to increase proprioception – the body’s sense of where a limb is in space. The continuous stimulation of skin receptors along the limb helps send more information to the brain, which can support more controlled movement.

Popular products to tape for proprioception

Step-by-step application

1. Cut a Lymphatic-shape strip, leaving one end uncut as the anchor and cutting the rest into several thin strips (“fingers”) to cover more of the limb’s surface.
   
2. Apply the tape from proximal to distal, starting near the top of the limb and working down towards the paw, with no stretch on the anchor.
   
3. Add extra anchors with no tension, proximal and distal to the tarsal (hock) region, to help keep the application secure through normal movement.
4. Alternative: use a simple “I” shape instead of the Lymphatic cut if you prefer a quicker, less detailed application – this can also be effective for proprioception.
   

Important precautions

• Have any new or worsening dragging of the limbs assessed by a veterinarian, since this can have a range of underlying neurological or orthopaedic causes.
• Check the skin is clean, dry and free of irritation before applying tape.
• This application supports movement awareness; it does not treat the underlying cause of the weakness or neurological issue.

More information:

• Shop VetkinTape® rolls »

Please note that applications provided on our website are not clinically proven. All mentioned applications are based on extensive evaluation and case studies with licensed veterinarians and/or canine physiotherapists. Always have the underlying cause of lameness diagnosed by a veterinarian before applying tape.

Attention: Mentioning source is mandatory, when using the content on this page.