“This can be a difficult call in the large and giant breed pups because they are usually so gangly and awkward at this stage anyway” says Dr. Melj, a graduate of the University of MN College of Vet Med. *Wag! There are serious symptoms that should never be ignored in your dog. At 14 years old, many things can happen, and she may be sore, or she may be having a GI problem, or there may be a neurologic thing going on with her. Many conditions will need rest, either before or after surgery, which may require cage confinement. Sometimes, you may stumble on videos of dogs happily hopping through a tall field of grass almost as if they were the canine personification of a kangaroo. He was losing control and stability in his back legs and stumbled occasionally when we walked around the house. Activity should be limited to urinate and defecate on a leash. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, bunny hopping may be a sign of spinal dysraphism causing neurological symptoms by 4 to 6 weeks of age or protozoal polyradiculoneuritis causing bunny hopping by 3 to 8 weeks of age. Items are sold by the retailer, not Wag!. Back problems in dogs are common and can be either genetic or result from an injury. Such circumstances usually arise from birth anomalies. Arthritic animals can also benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, and glycosaminoglycan supplementation, as well as changes in your dog’s environment to aid in rest and ease of movement. Reasons for Dog Dragging Back Legs. ... “Licking of the legs can be a sign of arthritis or other sources of pain. It is very possible what you are seeing is either the result of a soft tissue (muscle, tendon or ligament) injury or a pinch nerve along the back as a result of a bulging disc (intervertebral disc disease).This is what you can do: 1- Rest him; no running or jumping for the next 4-6 weeks. Absolutely nothing gets in his way. Dogs that have painful hips take shortened steps and tend to hold their rear legs farther forward under their bellies. My dog was fine last night and then this morning she was up moving around barking at me to hurry then she was on her side pooing. A urinalysis and bloodwork will be performed next to determine your dog’s overall health. It sounds like she is in pain and she needs a vet check. Hello, my puppy(Moka) is 26 days old today, his sister&brother are already starting to walk and can stand still on their 4 legs, but Moka in other hand can’t even stand with his front legs steadily, he will wobble and his head will be thrown to the right or left. A dog may accommodate tooth pain by eating their kibble at a slower rate, dragging each piece out of the bowl one by one, or even choose to skip meals and live off scraps.. Various alternative therapies, such as massage, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy can help as well. If your dog rolls over on her back and goes to sleep with her legs at a comical outstretched angle or curled toward her body, she is well-socialized and feels relaxed, secure, and comfortable in his surroundings, according to Healthy Pets. Dog suddenly can not use back legs My wife and I have a one year old small-medium sized Terrier (puppy mill rescue with no known breed) that has had on and off, but very accute back … While obvious trauma can weaken muscles and tissues, and age can contribute to the degeneration of muscles and joints, other conditions can wreak havoc on the spinal cord, nerves, and hormones. The most common sign of a sprain is a limp. A veterinarian specializing in radiology can sometimes find things on x-rays that a general practitioner may miss. If he is having a hard time walking, or he is staggering and wobbling on his feet, this back leg weakness may be a result of muscle atrophy, pain, or nerve damage. © 2020 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. Also known as luxating knee cap, floating kneecap or trick knee, this condition is graded into 4 degrees of severity ranging from a stifle joint that appears almost normal to a disabling degree where the patella is dislocated all of the time and requires surgical correction. I'm sorry to hear this. I hope that all goes well. As far as his paw, he could have injured a paw that may just need time to heal. Many dog owners report that all-natural CBD oil for dogs or CBD treats help ease seizure symptoms. I do hope this helps. Dr. Benson explains that hip and knee problems, such as cruciate ligament injury and hip dysplasia, can present with what appears to be sudden-onset weakness in a dog’s back legs. 15 Fascinating Facts About the Brittany Dog Breed, The Hunting Technique of the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. and do you have any solution on this? What can cause a bunny hop in a dog who has had x-rays and no signs of hip problems were found? The reasons behind a weakness in your dog’s back legs can vary. Congenital- if your dog was born with a dislocated kneecap. Cushing’s disease and cancer can be treated successfully, but they can also carry a guarded to poor prognosis, depending on the extent of the disease and other factors. And if she stretches she just falls belly flat legs straight out and pees. Other possible causes for bunny hopping in dogs also may include disorders of the nervous system. Luckily for you, a two-wheeled chair is designed to help your dog on either the front or back legs. “I wouldn’t say that bunny hopping would make me concerned,” says veterinarian Dr. Marie on her Ask a Vet Question website. Symptoms of back leg weakness can include: The reasons behind a weakness in your dog’s back legs can vary. A dog with leg pain will groom his leg excessively. Dog is reluctant to move about, play or climb stairs. My dog is walking funny in her back legs. Because there are some medical conditions that may cause a dog to run this way, it’s always a good idea to stop by the vet for an assessment just to play it safe before assuming it’s just a cute quirk that will possibly go away as the puppy matures. This can also reveal the possible presence of an enlarged liver, a sign of diabetes, or a tumor. Anemia / Collapse / Lethargy / Loss of Balance / Pain / Swelling, Urinary Tract / Kidney Stones (Calcium Phosphate), Increased Heart Rate Due to Premature Contractions, Vertebral instability, or wobbler syndrome. If your dog has been hurt and consequently lost mobility in their hind legs, do have your vet check for such trauma. In some cases, vets may prescribe a trial of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to determine if there may be some form of inflammatory process going on. Canine Degenerative Myelopathy, also referred to as DM, is the most common reason why older dogs develop progressive weakness in their back legs. no injury that we know or chemicals etc he could have gotten into. However, if there are signs of pain such as limping or whining when walking or jumping then the situation may be more concerning, she remarks. Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as substitute for professional veterinary advice. For poisonings, the quickness of treatment can be essential, as some toxins can be fatal. Got to the end of a 6 hour road trip and let my dog out to potty and he was fine. Your dog may also lick the affected leg. Let him in and suddenly it was like he couldn't walk on back legs and they were shaking. While obvious trauma can weaken muscles and tissues, and age can contribute to the degeneration of muscles and joints, other conditions can wreak havoc on the spinal cord, nerves, and hormones. No, your dog doesn’t think she needs to go on a diet. Veterinarians rate patella luxation from 0 to 4. “0” is a normally fitting kneecap. Since this is new behavior and seems sort of severe, the best thing to do would be to have her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, they will be able to examine her, see what might be going on, and get you any treatment that she needs. “Clinical signs of hip dysplasia can be seen as early as 4 months of age, however, many dogs are 8 to 12 months of age. If it wasn’t, he would run normally. It’s often seen in young dogs, but sometimes can be seen in older ones too. You may also want to discourage sitting pretty or having your dog walk on their hind legs since it causes a lot of stress on those joints. Here's what you can do to treat and prevent them, and help manage pain. I came home from the shops and my jack russell came to sit with me in the lounge. It’s not a common sight, but when you see a dog bunny hopping you may be wondering what may cause such an unusual gait. Your vet may also ask if your dog has been exposed to any toxins or infectious diseases, such as those found in an animal carcass. The condition arises from the abnormal development of the puppy’s hip joint. Genetics are often the main factor to blame, but environmental factors may also play a role. Dogs who are affected by forms of moderate to severe hip dysplasia may show signs as early as 4 months of age. If your dog or puppy is bunny hopping, please see your vet for proper diagnosis and treatment. Dog Lifting Aid-This handheld device helps reduce stress on your dog’s hind legs by lifting the hips and abdomen together. If your pet is favoring one leg or limping while walking or running, it indicates that he is suffering from severe pain in that leg. Surgery can be recommended for many conditions, such as degenerative myelopathy, intervertebral disc disease, wobbler syndrome, cancer, or Cushing’s disease. Just laying and poking, now I am carrying her down to go outside. Fortunately, there are some all-natural ways you can help ease your dog’s seizures but always consult with your vet before giving your dog any supplement or attempting to treat any condition on your own. While DM may be one cause of back leg weakness, it is not the only reason your dog might be showing signs of back leg weakness. I would reccomend taking him to the ER vet tonight for an exam and see if he has parvo. This can lead to ‘bunny hopping’, which means your dog is holding its back legs together and hopping rather than running in long strides like normal. My dog is trying to walk but can’t use his to front paws he was fine but today out of no where he very weak having a hard time balancing his self when I pick him up he starts to cry for bad like something is hurting him in his body and another thing it’s like he’s popping while I can be holding him up and it comes out like water and he keeps shaking I need some help or how can I help my dog . If the dog is unaware of the skin between his toes being pinched, this is a sign of serious nerve damage. There are a few theories as to why DM occurs, such as an immune-mediated response, vitamin deficiencies, or a spinal injury, but many agree that it is an inherited condition that affects many large breeds, and specifically German Shepherds. Cushing's disease can also be managed through the use of hormone drugs to balance levels in the body, and steroids are discontinued if they have been implicated in the condition. In an elderly dog such as a Shih tzu, this type of behavior can have many causes. Q: My 16 and a half year old cross-breed dog’s back legs are becoming weaker. The causes stated above are the most common causes we see when a dog is dragging his back legs. Usually shaking is visibly noted when the dog has stood for a given period of time. Good Luck. Dogs with no legs are rare. Cancer often uses a variety of treatments to remove or reduce the tumor along with surgery, such as radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Your dog may avoid putting weight on the affected leg and walks with more difficulty. Shaking of the back legs in dogs can be due to pain from muscle, bone, joint or nerve issues as a result of trauma, chronic condition such as degenerative joint disease or spinal disc disease. 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