There are numerous causes of canine hind leg weakness. When a dog loses strength in its back legs, whether from aging or a mobility issue, life becomes more challenging. Many dogs with weak back legs find it difficult to stand up, have trouble jumping, and some even find it difficult to walk.
As a pet owner, you must be alert for any changes in your dog’s mobility. Knowing why your dog’s legs are weakening will help you choose the most effective course of action.
Diagnosis of Atrophy of Muscles in Dogs
Your dog’s medical history will be taken at the outset, and your vet will inquire about its typical daily activities and exercise regimen. Your veterinarian will make an effort to ascertain whether your dog’s muscle atrophy is the result of aging, illness, or disuse. Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination so they can feel for any lumps or masses that might be problematic.
To rule out potential causes, a full blood count, biochemistry panel, urinalysis, and fecal exam will be performed. Your veterinarian may use an MRI, CT scan, and X-rays to identify the cause of your dog’s muscle atrophy. To rule out intervertebral disc disease or degenerative myelopathy, an ultrasound may also be performed.
Causes of Atrophy of Muscles in Dogs
Dogs’ muscles may atrophy for a number of different reasons. An aging dog can experience atrophy of muscles. Dogs’ nutritional requirements change as they get older, and they can’t process protein the same way. Therefore, a special diet with easily digestible protein sources may be required for senior dogs in order to help them maintain their muscle mass.
Disease or illness may also result in muscle atrophy in your dog. You should consult your dog’s veterinarian to identify the cause of any sudden muscle atrophy in your dog.
Simply not using their muscles can result in muscle atrophy in your dog. Dogs who are kept in small cages or who do not get enough exercise will not be able to build muscle tone, and as a result, their muscles will atrophy from lack of use.
Decreased Activity
Many conditions may cause the dog to exercise and move around less. And in a dog that is lacking in daily exercise, muscles will begin to fade as they’re not being purposefully or routinely utilized. A dog may show a disinterest in playtime or walks for a variety of reasons, both mental and physical.
Studies show that the animal might be depressed if they’re left alone at home or in a confined space for a majority of the day; they could be responding to stress as a result of a recent re-homing, loss of family member, or the introduction of a new pet to the home.
Furthermore, physical ailments will prevent the dog from being active. Usually, the dog will have some sort of discomfort with movement, which will lead to progressive muscle atrophy over time.
FAQ
Can an old dog rebuild muscle?
There is a good chance that dogs who have lost muscle mass due to injury or surgical recovery will regain the strength in their back legs. However, dogs with weak back legs brought on by a degenerative disease or other mobility issues might never regain full use of them.
Can atrophied muscle grow back?
We also research muscle regrowth and regeneration, which happens in reambulating muscles after a period of inactivity. Despite the fact that muscles from young, healthy people usually regenerate and grow well, muscles from elderly people typically fail to regenerate and fail to recover muscle mass and function after muscle inactivity.
Does muscle grow back in dogs?
This is a question I frequently get during a physiotherapy session with a canine patient, and the answer is NO THEY WON’T. It is a common misconception that muscles simply return to their normal size on their own following surgery or injury. Unfortunately for the patients, this is just NOT the case.
How can I get my dog’s muscles back?
- Weight Vest Exercises.
- Weight Pulling and Dragging Exercises.
- Swimming.
- Treadmill or Running.
- Spring Pole Exercises.