An apparatus for treating a hind leg of a four-legged animal, in particular a cow, the apparatus being provided with holding means for holding the animal, the holding means being provided with a retaining member extending, during use, at least behind the hind leg to be treated of the animal when this hind leg is in a standing position, the apparatus being provided with lifting means for bringing said hind leg from the standing position to a raised position for treatment and vice versa, wherein the retaining member (3), at least during use of the lifting means (5) for bringing the hind leg from the one to the other position, is arranged such that the retaining member (3) can only be moved substantially vertically.