What could make a dog’s back legs weak or make them give out completely?
I recently had to respond to that query for the worried parents of a middle-aged Labrador Retriever.
Murphy is your typical, eager 6-year-old Lab. He’s a happy soul whose tail is always wagging. However, that morning the energetic ball-chasing dog had a problem walking.
What To Do If Your Dog Can’t Get Up
Dogs with weak hind legs may find it difficult to get to their feet and stand. To give your dog more traction, you can wear dog boots. Your dog can stand with more stability if you give them traction socks and dog boots. Pets can use a simple rear support leash if they need help standing up. You can gently encourage your dog to stand by using a rear support leash that easily slips up your dog’s legs.
Every four hours, if your dog is unable to stand, you should turn him over to the other side to prevent muscle damage from too much pressure. Massage and grooming can be beneficial for promoting blood flow, muscle stimulation, and movement in the hind limbs. A dog that is unable to stand up on its own and has not yet been diagnosed by a veterinarian is experiencing a medical emergency, so veterinary help should be sought right away.
Symptoms that your dog is experiencing hind leg weakness include:
Dogs experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed need to see a vet for immediate care and treatment. Dogs who receive immediate veterinary care will experience a better chance of full recovery. Walkin’ Wheels Wheelchair
Neurologic Causes of Hind-Leg Weakness in Dogs
When a diseased disc (or discs) places pressure on the spinal cord, IVDD transitions from an orthopedic problem to a neurologic one, causing neurologic weakness. Although many of these cases can be treated medically, surgery is necessary if paralysis develops or medical treatment is ineffective.
Spinal tumors and other neurologic conditions cause similar signs. For a diagnosis, advanced imaging techniques like computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as occasionally cerebrospinal fluid analysis, are needed.
An infection of the intervertebral disc and the ends of the adjacent vertebrae is known as diskospondylitis. It can be challenging to diagnose, causes hind-limb weakness frequently, and is excruciatingly painful. Antibiotics are used as a form of treatment for six to twelve months. Your dog may need additional x-rays, as well as more sophisticated testing, like a CT or MRI, to make a certain diagnosis because this condition can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages. These dogs can recover completely if they are diagnosed and treated correctly.
Cauda equina syndrome, or lumbrosacral stenosis, is a degenerative condition that affects only the lumbosacral joint and is similar to IVDD. This joint joins the final vertebra to the pelvic region. It differs from the other intervertebral joints in that it is where the spinal cord’s peripheral nerves that branch out to the back end all converge. Disease in this region is excruciatingly painful and frequently results in neurologic deficits, which causes weakness in the hind limbs.
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a slow-moving spinal cord degeneration that causes weakness in the back legs. Although it affects many breeds, the German Shepherd Dog serves as the disease’s mascot. It usually affects middle-aged and older dogs. There is currently no cure for DM; only supportive care is available.
A neuromuscular autoimmune condition called myasthenia gravis (MG) causes muscular weakness that worsens with exercise. It may begin with weakness in the back limbs but quickly progresses to full-body weakness and collapse.
Here’s a scenario that’s typical for MG: Your dog wakes up from its nap and appears to be in perfect health. As soon as you leave for your walk, he begins to sink, slip, and stagger until he is unable to stand or walk. He can function again for a brief period of time following a period of rest that allows for the replenishment of affected neuromuscular transmitters. Diagnosis requires a blood test. Treatment is long term (six months or longer). Some canines will experience remission and return to normal lives. Others will require treatment and support for life.
Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) is an inherited disorder that affects a small number of other breeds, including Labrador Retrievers. It typically manifests between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. It happens after several minutes of strenuous exercise. The dog suddenly becomes weaker and less coordinated in his hind limbs, eventually collapsing. There is no treatment for this. Prevention involves avoiding strenuous exercise. It is crucial that you buy your puppy from a breeder who has checked the parents for this gene for these reasons. Have your adopted dog’s EIC gene checked if he exhibits any of these symptoms.
In elderly dogs, idiopathic vestibular syndrome frequently contributes to incoordination and hind limb weakness. It starts out suddenly, and you might think your dog has had a stroke. The cause of this disorder is unknown. Frequently, it is accompanied by head tilting and balance problems. Most dogs will recover in time with supportive care.
Several diseases transmitted by ticks can lead to generalized neuromuscular weakness, which may first show in the hind limbs. If you notice ticks on your dog, let your vet know.
FAQ
Why are my puppys back legs weak?
Chronic joint inflammation and pain (such as osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease) are the primary orthopedic causes of hind limb weakness in dogs. Even though arthritis is obviously painful, it is frequently accompanied by compensatory pain, which is muscle aches and pains.
How can I strengthen my puppy’s back legs?
Fortunately, by the time they reach 1 to 12 years old, the majority of puppies who suffer from this condition have recovered. 5 years old. Although most dogs who survive shaking puppy syndrome have mild hind limb tremors for the rest of their lives, less severely affected puppies may return to normal by the age of 3 to 4 months.
How long do puppies have wobbly legs?
The nerves leading to the legs may become compressed due to degeneration of the vertebrae or the discs between them, leading to weakness or dysfunction in the legs. For instance, degenerative disc disease-related herniated discs are frequently responsible for the tingling, prickling, and weakness in a dog’s hind legs.