Good luck. : You will be surprised to know that tick bites may also cause sudden paralysis in dogs. Thromboembolism: In dogs, the most likely type of blood clot is aortic thromboembolism. As the disease progresses, there will be more noticeable weakness, such as complete paralysis of the back legs. I had him rest as much as possible as we were away at our summer place, couldnt get in to see a local vet, and couldnt travel home due to Covid restrictions. We took to the VET but it didn’t say much. Dog weak back legs sudden. We went to the vet with her 2-weeks ago for a severe limp in a front leg. This will lead to paralysis, leg weakness, and stiffness or back pain. I bought rugs and runners and he has made a significant improvement, but he still sways when he walks and occasionally one of his hind legs will give out. BC died last year, our 15.5 y.o. When you notice such a condition in your pet, you need to rush the animal to a vet immediately. I thought she was just having an allergy issue, because she was chewing her back end. If the spinal cord or back is damaged, bruised or inflamed, the back legs may become weak or unstable. Your email address will not be published. He is 8 years old, his weight is 11 kg, it is overweight. It’s so sad to see him struggle. She is a healthy dog (beside the ear and skin issues that are apparently common with the breed) and is 65 pounds. This has only just started and the local vet has given anti inflammation which don’t seem to be doing much and am we are going back in a couple of days.. She is sitting with her back left leg out straight and the struggling with movement is causing her to urinate inside. I would be thinking about one of the other diseases on the list. I took him to my vet when he was about 7-8 months old and after a series of spinal x-rays and hip -rays, there seems to be no apparent reason for it. Degenerative myelopathy should not happen this quickly. The back legs on your dog may become unstable and weak, if there is any damage, inflammation or bruising to the spinal cord or the back. Sadly I think he was abused. Hi, I have Dachshund that sudden can’t walk with his back legs. My senior has just developed this when walking and is having trouble sitting down, she is panting a lot because of it. old) has had a sudden and progressive weakening of her hind end. This morning, she seems mostly back to normal. Paralysis and leg weakness can effect both your dog’s front or rear legs. My 10 year old German Shepherd was running circles in the yard as fast as he could, while a dog was walking by the house. She needs help getting down the steps to go outside, she’s having trouble standing up, she’s wobbling. Also his bladder … This can be the result of a stroke or disc rupture or even a trauma impact. The hips are not the only cause of hind leg weakness. In other words, the brain fails to send out signals accurately for the body to move normally. Jul 13, 2009 – In some cases, the dog will not be able to move its legs at all. After a couple days, he stopped limping, but kept sliding and splaying out on the new hardwood floors. Canine Degenerative Myelopathy, also referred to as DM, is the most common reason why older dogs develop progressive weakness in their back legs. I have a 8 week old golden. The best way to do this is confinement in a very small area without steps or furniture, or even in a crate. I took her for a short walk and her back feet are scraping, she squatted to pee, and her legs started flattening out behind her. There may be several medical issues that may cause your dog to lose control of its hind legs on a temporary basis. All of a sudden he could not use his back legs to walk. These cause a staggering affect that may appear to be arthritis. She was upset and hiding but didn’t seem to be in tremendous pain although typically, she doesn’t show pain. I plan to take her to the vet tomorrow. Sometimes he knuckles his back paws a bit but not a lot. As a result of this, severe inflammation and pain will take place that may give rise to different other symptoms. Treatment will depend … Hi Karen. Is this normal! However, sometimes there may be situations wherein dogs tend to lose control of their hind legs. This progression has all been while I was gone for only 22 days. As dogs age, their whole body will naturally weaken. But now it is happening again and I do not know … One thing to consider is the combined effect of arthritis and cardiac medications with kidney issues will require more frequent blood testing. His hind legs started giving out as he was walking . Treating diabetes requires insulin injections, along with diet adjustments. Then you’re in the right place. It is better not to take it lightly as it may get serious with time. A second common reason for back leg weakness is injury to the spinal cord or back. But, if it’s possible to say that there is a good thing, it is seen in the non … If no myelogram, CT or MRI was performed, sudden loss of hind limb function is still most likely to be caused by damage to the spinal-cord. At this age I would be looking for other causes than those found on this list and would be seeing a vet as soon as possible. Is he still able to have a long life? OA can affect any joint, but the large joints in the front and rear legs … He runs normally. So basically the symptoms are that his hind legs are giving out 1-2 times a day, he is having a difficult time getting up due to hind leg weakness. If she has neurological neurological deficits, and they seem to come and go, then I would be suspicious of IVDD Or another cause of spinal-cord compression. He is 17 pounds. The vet is supposed to call me back today but i just can’t understand what’s going on : (. There are many diseases that do this, not just degenerative myelopathy. It sounds like you’re doing the right thing – good luck. Taking your pet to the vet will help the professional get rid of the neurotoxin in time. Hi Kathy. The vet also felt his muscles were properly developed. Some of the major causes are discussed below for your knowledge. Copyright © 2021 by k9Magazine. These blogs are from a series regularly posted on email and Twitter. : In dogs, the most likely type of blood clot is aortic thromboembolism. Over the last month, our redbone coonhound (almost 9 yrs. This dragging can cause the nails of one foot to be worn down. A serious injury to the back or spine can affect the nervous system, and thereby muscle function. Due to the risk of IVDD, the most important thing is that until you can see your vet again, to keep him as still as possible. All rights reserved. They find it too difficult to walk around confidently like before and are always seen lying down in one spot for long hours. Tick Bites: You will be surprised to know that tick bites may also cause sudden paralysis in dogs. The back legs will be so weak that the dog will need assistance to get up or hold a position to urinate or defecate. Why Are My Dog’s Back Legs Suddenly Not Working? Eventually, this leads to very poor quality of life. If your dog has been hurt and consequently lost mobility in their hind legs, do have your vet check for such trauma. Also sometimes when she is laying down, if we touch near her hips area she will make a painful yelping noise and seems to be in pain for a few moments afterwards. He has no trouble climbing steps but has some difficulty going down steps. At this age there’s no easy answer. I’m absolutely certain that your vet fully understand the problem and knows exactly what to do, so if it wasn’t clear, get back in touch with them immediately. Hi, I have been trying to do research on possible causes of my adolescent (9 month old) puppy hind leg wobbliness. Disc disease is a frequent cause of a dog’s back legs suddenly not working. If your dog is affected by IVDD, he may start showing pain or arching of the back. I still not sure what is going on … Degenerative myelopathy initially affects the back legs and causes muscle weakness and loss, and lack of coordination. Ticks can easily feed on a host for six days straight. It’s an emergency. She’s on antibiotics but I cannot tell if the weakness is related to an infection or just being malaise from feeling. This sudden or progressive weakness could be a sign of a more serious medical problem. Her appetite is still strong. female toller was in excellent shape until this morning when her hind legs started to give out and be wobbly and uncoordinated. One of the toughest things dog owner can experience is watching a beloved poochs hind legs grow weak. As the prognosis varies greatly depending on the diagnosis and speed of treatment, it’s essential to see a vet as soon as possible. Observe your dog for signs and symptoms that may indicate a health serious problem, such as a loss of appetite, an increase of appetite without weight gain, sudden loss of weight, vomiting, diarrhea, increasing thirst and urination with no connection with activity, coughing, excessive panting, difficulty moving or … The final stages may prove to be too painful for the dog forcing the pet owner to euthanize the pet. Avoid feeding your dog people food, such as macadamia nuts. Although such situations are temporary in nature, it does create huge problems for dogs. The … Accidents or injuries, Osteomyelitis, Diabetes, Arthritis, Poisoning, Cancer, Botulism, Trauma to the spine, Tick bites, Malignant Tumors, etc. She came home from breeder fine within 5 days has developed a high fever and a bit of weakness in back legs. Ask any dog owner and you will be told that they always want their pet dogs to run around and play with their kids. There is still a reaction. It’s been happening for about 3 weeks now. Hi. If true, strict rest is essential until you can see a vet. He had no issues at all before the injury. My friend has a puppy that suddenly his hind legs are weak. Could this be a temporary issue to the anesthesia ? It is a problem that is most common in older large dogs and if your dog is suffering with weak back legs it is likely that his legs may … The video shows one such example. As a result of this, the brain and the spinal cord tend to lose the power to communicate with each other. Pain in the hind legs followed by paralysis are the most common indicators of this disease. Good luck. she seems disorientated . He runs but really can’t jump more than 10 inches. He still can feel the pain or hurt on his paw if I press it. Many dogs can suffer from weakness in their back legs. Given his unknown history, it’s worth being careful and ask your vet for an opinion. Otherwise, I would seek referral to a specialist. He has a vet appointment tomorrow, but this has been going on since the last week in August. It triggers a weakness in the hind legs that leads to paralysis. Since having him, he has had 3 episodes of paraphimosis that I have resolved without going to the vet (not sure if that is related) as it always happens during toy play. Her blood testshowed an elevation in proten, and x-rays looked normal. Hi Russ. feet while dragging the rear legs; Possibly pain in the neck, spine or legs. You may also have to get your dog on a wheelchair to get rid of the pain. Degenerative myelopathy is often inherited and is generally found in large breed dogs, such as German Shepherds. Hi. The most common cause of these signs is a herniated disc in the spine (often called intervertebral disc disease or IVDD). There are several ailments that can cause a dogs hind legs to lo… This may result in your pet … Sometimes, you may also notice that your dog is having difficulties in breathing. However, general weakness may also happen in some dogs. Sick. Hi, my 7 year old very active kelpie. So all was fine. He has been off prednisone for months now and as I said, he is thriving despite his liver failure … Spinal cord injuries, often as a result of trauma, disc rupture or stroke, account for 2 percent of all dog veterinarian visits. We took to the VET but it didn’t say much. Once the deterioration progresses, there will be a point where the nerve fibers get exposed. Weak Hind Legs from Arthritis . These are the signs of a problem with the nerve supply to the hind legs. But dont throw in the towel - you can give your buddy some help. Does anyone know with this case? Here you’ll find a lit of the possible causes. There’s a brief description next to each disease, but you’ll find more at the links (where present). However recently she will whimper in pain when climbing into our couch or bed. I rescued an 8 yr old Havenese a few months ago. This is sudden. But her appetite is as ravenous as ever, and her spirit is good. Intervertebral Disc Disease is another condition that can cause discs in the spine to cause your dog’s hind leg … The reasons behind a weakness in your dog’s back legs can vary. In short, active and alert dogs are always preferred. We have all her papers the breeder has never had this happen before either. My 5 year old yorkshire suddenly lost all the movements of his hind legs. The issue is most apparent when he defecates, he has normal stool but often times in that position he kind of just wobbles and falls over or stumbles. He was bunny hopping at first, but now runs normal again. What will i do. It’s also important to stress that even vets get fooled at times by non-neurological hind leg lamenesses like hip dysplasia or severe arthritis. Recently he fell backwards on his own poop! Hi Kay. Candie is a beautiful precious dog that has a wonderful life. “Sudden hind limb weakness or paralysis can be a clinical sign of several conditions, including degenerative myelopathy, in which parts of the nerves in the spinal cord responsible for hind limb mobility degenerate,” begins Dr. Benson. Most vets would try anti-inflammatories first (like yours did) and now investigate the problem since it isn’t resolving by medical means alone. We put her on an anti-inflammatory until I could get back into town, and get blood work done. She doesnt have much of an appitite, but she does drink a lot of water, she stand and looks like she is going to fall over. Later tonight I have noticed he is walking a bit stiff in his hips and when going down stairs his back leg slipped out and he nearly fell. How long does degenerative myelopathy usually take to set in? All the vets are closed today (26 of Dec) and tomorrow. And then this morning, something seems to have happened to her spine over night…on its own (no accident). The end result is a sort of abnormal movement we call ataxia. He actually runs better than he walks. I was informed he was very much the runt of the litter and his litter mates were twice his size when young. The final stages may prove to be too painful for the dog forcing the pet owner to euthanize the pet. It is needless to say that a good prognosis will depend on how early you can detect the issue and get it treated by a vet. In a Chihuahua I would suspect either medial patella luxation or a cruciate ligament injury. Unfortunately, your dog’s back leg shaking can be attributed to any number of causes, all with varying treatments. These symptoms will largely depend on the exact location of the disc that had ruptured along the spinal cord. When dogs become weak in their back legs gradually over time it’s mostly linked to genetics and this usually happens in older dogs. Hind leg weakness in senior or old dogs. Our previously bouncy little mini foxie/chihuahua x has very suddenly got very weak hind legs, she can’t walk up even one step, and her legs slide out from under her when she stands on the wooden floor! I appreciate your page – you have more information than anyone else I could find. Can drug poisoning paralysis be permanent? He will use them to scratch but every time he tries to stand up he just falls from side to side. Hi Angelina. I adopted him when he was 5 1/2 months old and he had gone through 2 homes before I got him (COVID-19 issues). Hi Marie-Emmanuelle. Even if you try to, you will fail to feel a pulse in the hind leg of your pet’s femoral arteries. He keep urination, he is exactly can’t stop urinating. If your in a cold weather state and realize the weather may play a roll in it, you should start supplements right away and research so when you do go to the vet, you understand everything better. This happened when he was about 10 weeks old and the Vet could not figure out what was wrong but he got better over a couple days. You are right in your suspicions. … X-rays show has bad hips but not horrible. He has also woke me in the middle of the night to go out and it has appeared as if he can’t hold his urine. Deterioration and stress placed on the joints (by age or obesity) are also contributing factors. He is solidly built with short strong front legs and wimpier back legs. I’m sure your vet will want to do an x-ray when you mention this – if it’s quite a while till your six-month check I advise you go in soon. I had thrown out some expired medicines that day and I am afraid he had eaten some in the trash. My 2 year old mini goldendoodle’s back legs have suddenly become weak. Our mobile vet called last night but is not working due to covid. Wobbling in the back legs could be a separate problem at this age, especially arthritis, but it could also be weakness through reduced cardiac output. She is an older dog with arthritis and a heart murmur, but treated for both, and this literally happened overnight. When you look at any dog in … Originally my vet was concerned about the spine but he says it “looks good”. Causes of a back leg weakness can include: Degenerative … Visit this page on degenerative myelopathy. Thanks for any suggestions. If you can, post back here later once the cause is found. Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!!! He does not feel any pain at all, he enjoys extending legs and hips, never is stiff and never seems to feel any discomfort at all. The original owner fed him only chicken and rice (not dog food) until he was a little over 4 months old. I’m not aware of any drugs that can cause permanent paralysis. The vet can also reverse the paralysis if proper treatment is administered on time. I only hope she responds to treatment. It will be worth investigating to manage him better in the future. : This is basically a medical term that refers to a disease of the spinal cord. She seems to be losing control over them? Pain in the hind legs followed by paralysis are the most common indicators of this disease. When your dog loses control of its back legs, it may prove to be a very concerning situation for you. He slid in the wet grass and he landed with his back legs splayed out. She often sits on one leg. Subscribe via email here to never miss a story!Have something to add? Does your dog show any of the following signs? Hi Deb. When faced with a problem, the vet draws up mental list of the likely problems (in vet-speak, this is a list of “differential diagnoses”). : When you talk about a disc disease, it may signify that it may also be causing your pet to lose control of its hind legs temporarily. He will be walking and the back legs buckle and he just lays there looking at me as if hes saying ok mom help me up. He just got progressively weaker in his hind legs the longer he was on prednisone. We are going to take her to a vet for her 6 month visit soon, but is this something we should be more concerned about? I’ve already called and left a message to see a vet early on Monday… My 15.8 y.o. Any ideas? Yesterday, with no warning, her back legs became very unstable and she could not walk nor could she balance when standing. I ordered a radiograph and no bone problems. He refuses to walk on the wood floor (we've had to cover the entire floor with carpets so that he will move around), and he's been panting today. However, general weakness may also happen in some dogs. He still can feel the pain or hurt on his paw if I press it. Diseases marked with an asterisk (*) usually begin in the back legs but progress to involve the forelegs, and even respiratory muscles if not controlled. The vet was looking her over, and suspected arthritis issues. We are distraught. As the disease progresses, there will be more noticeable weakness, such as complete paralysis of the back legs. And is not vestibulitis. Good luck with the vet tomorrow. We live in the mountains and with covid and our small town vet availability, I don’t know how soon we could get her in to see someone. Reasons for Dog Dragging Back Legs. He acts normal and still wants to play but, his legs are - Answered by a verified Dog Veterinarian ... All of a sudden in a hour we noticed he is very imbalanced and cannot seem to walk proper ... my 12 yr old GWP dog has suddenly developed weakness both back legs … Thank you for your work in the world! I took my Dogo Argentino to the vet before I left for a trip less than a month ago. Hypoglycemia. weak sheltie legs Thanks Granite I appreciate the help. She is a senior Maltese cross and had been in my life for 3.5 of her 12-13 years. OA happens when the cartilage in joints breaks down which leads to inflammation and pain. I have come to terms that it just might be the way he is but I love to solve medical mysteries so am hoping you can give me some ideas to research. The symptoms most frequently seen in an animal with problems with their hind legs are: weakness, difficulty getting up and standing, tendency to cross the back legs while walking, running with both legs parallel (like a rabbit), slipping more than often and uncoordinated movements. A sudden loss of coordination or movement of the hind legs in your pet signals a need for. There is still a reaction. I left the vet a message, but I am freaking out. My 14 yr. old Maltese has several problems ( heart murmur, kidney issues) but only recently I noticed her back legs wobbling slightly. I’m sure there’s a solution to the problem, and it’s probably on this page or the one on causes of lameness, but right now it’s hard to see what it is. If the problem is not worsening, it may have to remain a mystery. The vet attributed it to the prednisone at first, but now well we just don't know. . This may result in your pet losing control of its hind legs. When it comes to proper treatment, there are proper rests and medications. They prescribed Gabapentin (she has some kidney deficiency) and she was fine after a few days. Another possible cause of sudden back leg weakness in a dog is intervertebral disc disease, says … spine and the dog will only appear to be weak, or will have difficulty moving its legs. Since then I have noticed he is a bit cautious, then yesterday He was playing again and yelped and started limping on the other hind leg, after a few minutes He appeared fine and did not want to come in and rest. If this condition happens, the myelin sheath that protects and also surrounds the nerves within the spine, tend to deteriorate. They did x-ray her and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary… except the fact that she shows no signs of arthritis…pretty odd for a 15.5 y.o. This came on very suddenly. The paralysis sets in on the hind legs first followed by the fore legs. When to Put Down a Dog with Degenerative Myelopathy, When to Euthanize A Dog with Liver Failure. Note down any occurrences of the shaking and what your dog was doing around th… Signs your dog may have diabetes include lethargy, excessive thirst, weight loss, and changes in appetite. Hi, I was playing ball with my little chihuahua she’s only 5years, as she went too retrieve the ball she left the ball and started walking on only 3legs, her left leg was extended out she was having a hard time getting her leg too do anything for her,there is no pain anywhere around the area,No bones broken not swollen,went too bed hoping she just pulled a muscle or something But after a night of rest she got up and was still favoring that same leg,like I said no matter what pressure I put on it she doesn’t have no pain,please help,thank u. Hi Harris. Hi Sarah. Dog Weak Back Legs Sudden Its main symptom is progressive weakness or paralysis in a dog’s hind legs, which is caused by excessive levels of glucose in the dog’s blood. My dog's back legs are weak (suddenly) Jump to ... 2012. He seemed to be getting better and hadn’t shown any more symptoms of pain but He wobbles a bit and he wants to jump onto things as always but cant anymore.