It happens that a dog suddenly refuses hind legs. What to do in such cases? First of all, there is no need to panic - watch the animal and evaluate its general well-being. If a dog feels bad, it refuses food and water, has lost interest in the world around it, and there is no point in self-medicating. You need to seek help and call a veterinarian to your home.
If a dog's hind legs fail, there may be various reasons. Until the diagnosis is clarified, it is not worth taking the animal to the clinic or anywhere else. If an animal drags its hind or forelimbs, it may have a spinal injury, in which transportation is strictly contraindicated. If the animal walks, eats and drinks normally, the temporary physiological disorder will go away on its own. Most likely, the dog is simply tired after a long walk or active training.
Causes of the disease
An animal's paws may fail for the following reasons:
Puppies
It happens that the legs give out in very young puppies. If your dog has been walking on its hind legs since birth, it may have a birth defect, such as cerebral palsy. Therefore, when choosing a puppy from a kennel, you must pay attention to how they walk and run.
The puppy may also fall on its paws due to rickets. Rickets is a disease that occurs quite often in dogs that were weaned from a bitch early or were bottle-fed from birth (for example, if the mother died during childbirth). Rickets is a disease that is caused by a lack of vital vitamins and minerals in the puppy’s body. . The disease manifests itself as follows:
- Uncertain, shaky gait;
- Restless sleep of puppies;
- Restless behavior (the puppy constantly squeals, whines, refuses to eat, or, conversely, eats a lot, but still loses weight);
- The baby has a sunken chest and a protruding stomach.
If you organize proper feeding for your puppy, the problem with rickets will disappear by itself. Gradually, the puppy will get stronger and catch up with its peers in development.
Animals that are born with weak muscles can also fall on their hind legs. Usually, as the dog grows up, the muscles become stronger and the gait becomes firmer.
Pregnant dogs
Pregnant bitches on recent months During pregnancy, puppies may also fall a little on their paws. This happens in cases where the puppies in the mother's womb are very large, and it is difficult for the dog to carry its huge belly. Usually a bitch pregnant with large puppies moves little, is reluctant to eat and drink, and everything free time spends lying on the mat. The dog can also fall on its hind legs immediately before giving birth, during contractions, in order to relieve pain.
Treatment
Just yesterday the pet was cheerful, cheerful, frolicked on a walk and infected everyone in the household with his ebullient energy. And today the paws of a German shepherd, pug or alabai gave out. What to do? If the animal lies for several hours in a row and does not get up (but does not sleep), you need to offer the dog something to eat and see how it reacts to the food.
You can also carry out simple diagnostics at home. When a dog is so exhausted that he walks on his own and does not ask to go for a walk, you need to pay attention to the color of his urine. Paw failure often occurs in animals suffering from urolithiasis. This happens especially often in French bulldogs: they have weak kidneys and are very susceptible to such infections. Treatment for paresis of the hind limbs can be different, for example:
Prevention measures
In order for a dog to live a long time and please its owner with its excellent health, the animal must be vaccinated against dangerous infections in a timely manner. During a walk, you need to completely exclude your pet from interacting with stray dogs, because they are most often the main spreaders of infections. Also for the prevention of plague and rabies, dogs should not be allowed to dig through garbage bins while walking. This habit must be weaned from a very tender age, as soon as an inquisitive animal begins to show interest in the trash heap.
To prevent mechanical injuries to the paws, walks with the animal should only be carried out in specially designated places, that is, on dog parks or in parks with walking paths for animals. You should not take your pet to the forest or river, especially to places where people often have picnics. In thick grass, a dog can easily cut its paw on a broken bottle or other sharp object left by unlucky “tourists.”
If the owner takes the pet with him fishing, under no circumstances should small fishing hooks be left on the ground. Stepping on the hook can cause serious injury to the animal. After each walk, you need to inspect the animal’s paws and wipe them with a clean cloth. You should also inspect your paws while bathing.
To prevent falls at home, locks should be installed on everything. plastic windows. You can train with your dog in sports such as jumping or steeplechase only at a dog park, under the guidance of a professional dog handler. If the animal shows interest in jumping, you should not leave your pet unattended for a minute while walking. Even a fall from a small garden bench can cause paresis of the hind limbs.
In order for puppies to grow strong and healthy, it is necessary to provide them with proper feeding. If the kittens were weaned from the bitch early, it is necessary to include vitamin and mineral supplements in their diet. This will serve as an excellent prevention of rickets and will help strengthen the weak muscles of babies. It is also necessary to regularly give vitamins to older dogs and pregnant bitches.
If your dog's back legs suddenly give up, the reasons can be very different. The most important thing is not to get nervous ahead of time, but calmly see what happens next. If the animal is still eating well and is very active, most likely it is a simple splinter or scratch. But if the dog feels unwell, has become lethargic or, conversely, aggressive, you should not self-medicate. A qualified doctor will help you easily solve the problem. If it is not possible to call a doctor right away, you can consult by phone at the amateur dog breeders club.
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Pugs are favorites of many families in Russia and abroad, but sometimes pets start to get sick.
The dog’s well-being is literally written on its face - a sad pug with all its appearance demonstrates that something hurts.
What to do in such situations and how to understand what happened to your pet?
There are basic symptoms that everyone knows about, since they are also common to people - acne indicates problems with the skin, red eyes indicate keratitis or allergies, diarrhea indicates problems in the gastrointestinal tract.
The eyes of animals, like those of humans, are one of the most sensitive organs, so their treatment must be approached with extreme caution and responsibility.
In addition, different diseases may have the same symptoms. So, if a pug’s eyes are red, then we can talk about various diseases - both eye diseases, for example, keratitis, and general ones, such as allergies.
Major diseases:
- glaucoma;
- cataract;
- conjunctivitis;
- keratitis
If the pug's eyes are red and the apple itself is significantly swollen, photophobia is observed - this indicates glaucoma.
It is associated with a serious risk of complete blindness, so you need to contact your veterinarian and he will prescribe treatment.
Reddened eyes combined with a noticeable decrease in vision and clouding of the eyeball may indicate cataracts.
This is also a dangerous eye disease, which can be cured with surgical intervention.
If pinpoint opacities are noticeable inside the eye, we are talking about damage to the cornea. In particular, keratitis, its inflammation, is common in pugs.
Superficial or pigmentary keratitis manifests itself in the appearance of ulcers, clouding, redness and pain.
This disease can occur as a result of external influences on the eyes. In addition, there is pigmentary keratitis, which appears as an overgrowth of pigment in the eye.
Most often, superficial keratitis leaves no marks on the eye.. Pigmentary keratitis is treated with surgery and a number of topical medications, such as eye drops.
Keratitis, including pigmentary keratitis, can be one of the types of severe allergies in a pug.
In such cases, the most appropriate treatment is anti-allergy medications.
Skin diseases
Often the cause of concern about the pet’s health is the appearance of “problem spots” on the pug’s skin - pimples, bald spots, and wet wounds form on it.
All this may indicate serious problems. First of all, it is necessary to understand the cause of the problems.
If your dog sheds a lot or has pimples on its face, this could be a sign of an allergy in your pug.
Facial acne is especially dangerous for pugs due to the wrinkles on the face.
They may indicate either an allergic reaction to or external irritants, or demodicosis, a severe skin disease caused by mites.
Single pimples that appear from time to time outside the folds are almost normal if they do not appear on the face too often and do not cause serious inconvenience to the pug.
Such pimples are usually smeared with brilliant green, there is nothing else to do. They rarely become reasons for going to the vet.
However, if the pimples are not white, but red, with a red dot in the center, the dog may have fleas.
You can find the corresponding marks by spreading the hind legs - they are usually located in the genital area and on the tummy.
If a dog sheds heavily in places, hairless, flaky patches appear on the skin, on which pimples occasionally appear - this may mean the appearance of demodicosis.
This disease is caused by mites that damage hair follicles. It is scary because missing treatment can cause the death of a pet.
- breathing problems;
- problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- problems with the musculoskeletal system.
If a dog snores, then sometimes it’s just a feature of it, and you don’t need to do anything. The sudden appearance of snoring may indicate bronchitis or rhinitis.
In addition, the pug sometimes snores and sniffles due to the structure of its muzzle.
Diarrhea is almost always a sign of stomach problems. The pet's stool becomes liquid as a result of poisoning, as well as in case of infection.
Diarrhea can also be caused by a virus such as swine flu. In such cases, it is important to treat the cause that caused the diarrhea, since it is a consequence.
We must not forget that diarrhea can be caused by poor diet.
It can be caused by excessive amounts of fatty, sweet or salty foods.
In addition, diarrhea is one of the manifestations of gastritis and colitis. But a single diarrhea is not a sign of illness - it can be the result of hypothermia or nervous excitement.
But if the diarrhea does not stop, it is better to put the pug on medication along with strict diet- do an enema, give a decoction of rolled oats for 3-5 days, and only when the diarrhea ends, you can give the dog meat and fresh cottage cheese.
It causes panic among owners when pugs' hind legs fail. Usually in the case of this breed we are talking about necrosis of the head of the femoral neck - in this case, the hind legs begin to hurt, and over time the dog simply refuses to move.
In this case, there is only one way out - to have an operation.. The hind legs may become braided in cases of dysplasia, or slight dislocation of the joint.
Paws can also hurt due to less significant problems - a splinter or a wound that causes lameness.
Video
For any pug illness, it is better to show it to a veterinarian - he will suggest the appropriate treatment and tell you what exactly should not be done. However, after watching this video, you will be able to make a preliminary diagnosis yourself.
Almost every owner dreams of his puppy and adult four-legged pet being healthy and happy. And noticing that the dear barking family member begins to drag his hind legs, walks unsteadily or trembles, the owner begins to panic and does not know what to do. You should not try to diagnose your dog yourself; it is best to seek help from a veterinarian.
Of course, it is best to find out in advance what can lead to impaired motor function in a dog. Yes, this knowledge cannot protect the animal, but it can help the owner notice in time that something is wrong with the pet. And if the puppy is sick, then timely treatment will help make the future life easier for the baby.
Causes of weak hind legs in dogs
- Destruction or damage/displacement of intervertebral discs. Pekingese, pugs, bulldogs (both French and English), dachshunds, and poodles most often suffer from these diseases. Damage/displacement/destruction of the intervertebral disc is dangerous for the life of the animal, since the spinal cord is compressed and injured.
- Diseases of the hip joints are most often recorded in large breed dogs (for example, Rottweiler, Alabai, Caucasian, German Shepherd and others). Moreover, a puppy (aged from four months to a year) often suffers, less often an adult animal. In addition, almost always we are talking about acquired diseases, extremely rarely congenital pathology.
What can cause damage to the hip joints in a dog? This and excess weight(unbalanced or excessive feeding is especially often to blame, or rather, obvious overfeeding, lack physical activity), and slippery floors (when the animal’s paws constantly move apart), and heredity, and infectious diseases, and injuries.
And too active training of a dog (especially if it is a puppy) will not lead to good if its musculoskeletal system has not yet fully developed. Jumping from heights, over barriers, running long distances on poor surfaces - all this will cause irreparable damage to the joints.
- Another reason for weakness of the hind legs in a dog of any breed (be it a dachshund or a mastiff) can be myositis - inflammation muscle tissue. It develops after heavy physical activity, but not immediately, but the next day. In addition, adult animals most often suffer from myositis.
- Brain damage can also affect the firmness of an animal's gait. These include tumors and vascular pathologies (which, by the way, are recorded much more often than neoplasms). Without additional examinations at a veterinary clinic, even the most experienced doctor will not make an accurate diagnosis.
- Injuries. Spinal bruises (and more serious injuries) can lead to puppy and adult dogs having an unsteady gait and losing their legs. Therefore, if the puppy fell, was hit, or was hit by a car, immediately contact the clinic without waiting for clinical signs. Sometimes, due to shock, symptoms do not appear immediately.
Symptoms of weak hind legs in a dog
- If the reason that a dog (whether an adult pet or a puppy) has weak hind legs is due to damage to the intervertebral discs (including compression of the spinal cord), then the animal will show “bright” signs of severe pain. Therefore, the dog spends almost all the time in one position (hunched over, but with his neck stretched out), because any movement causes sharp pain. Trembling and shortness of breath are noticeable (it is noticeable that the pet “uses” fully only its front paws and cannot jump onto the sofa). With mild compression of the brain, the symptoms are not so pronounced, but it is still noticeable that the four-legged friend is not able to live a full life (even bending over to a bowl is difficult).
- If a puppy or adult dog has weakness in the hind legs in the morning (or immediately after resting), and it disappears some time after walking, then most likely the pet has problems with the hip joints. And it is not always dysplasia, as the owners think. In addition, it is extremely rare that both joints are affected at the same time, so the puppy limps on only one leg. As soon as you notice something like this in your pet, do not delay a visit to the veterinarian.
- With myositis, the animal develops not just weakness of the hind legs, the dog moves as if on stilts. If you notice that your pet's gait has changed, be sure to consult a specialist!
Treating a Dog with Hind Leg Weakness
The main rule is never start treating a puppy or an adult dog on your own, without consulting a veterinarian! Such self-medication can kill the animal. Especially if you decide to use “human” medicines, and even make the diagnosis yourself.
Therefore, if you see that your German Shepherd puppy, say, or an Alabai, or a terrier (no matter what breed), suddenly begins to “control” its hind limbs worse, then the first thing you should do is contact a veterinary clinic.
Don’t ask for advice on forums on what to give your dog, don’t ask your neighbors what could be wrong with your pet, but run to the doctor! He will prescribe additional examinations (ultrasound, x-rays, blood tests, etc.), based on the results of which a diagnosis will be made. And only after this should treatment be prescribed.
Drug therapy alone is not always effective. Agree, if a puppy has a congenital pathology of the joints, then the use of drugs will only make the animal feel better and “remove” the symptoms, but the problem will not disappear. The same can be said about displacement of intervertebral discs, hernia. Therefore, what to do in a given situation is best decided by the veterinarian, but the owner is required to follow all the specialist’s recommendations.
Some owners decide that if they gave the animal a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, then the dog recovered, because it felt better. But you shouldn’t do this, because this “relief” is temporary, and very quickly for a puppy or an adult dog everything will return to normal. Trust your veterinarian, who will select an effective treatment regimen that will bring relief to both a shepherd puppy and an adult Pekingese.
The dog is a pug, 5 years old. Weakness of the hind legs - as if they are "braided" - cannot climb stairs.
Answer
Hello! It's hard to say what happened to the dog without seeing the dog. Let us assume a number of reasons for this condition.
Causes of weakness of the hind legs - discopathy
The obvious answer is problems with the spine. Unfortunately, pugs are one of the dog breeds that, due to their body structure, are predisposed to discopathy and herniated discs. Poodles, bulldogs, and especially dachshunds have a similar predisposition. To check the condition of the spine, you need to urgently contact a veterinarian and take an x-ray. Disc displacement and herniation is a serious disease; when the disease occurs, the spinal cord is compressed, leading to disability or death of the animal. You can’t delay - if it’s too late to see a doctor, the consequences are expected to be irreversible! More often than not, surgery is required.
With discopathy, the fibrous ring around the intervertebral disc is destroyed, the spinal cord is compressed, sensitivity and the conduction of nerve impulses are impaired. Swelling begins, blood circulation is disrupted, nerve cells do not receive enough oxygen and die. It is necessary to start treatment at the first symptoms.
Damage to the spine and joints is likely if the dog is overweight, to which pugs are predisposed, the diet is unbalanced, and physical activity is insufficient or, conversely, excessive. Heredity and structural features of a particular breed increase the risk.
Symptoms of discopathy
In case of severe displacement or hernia, the dog suffers from attacks of severe pain, it freezes in one position, trembling and shortness of breath appear. In mild cases, the only symptom is weakness of the hind legs. The animal tries to rely more on its front limbs, cannot jump on objects, climb stairs, and has difficulty bending over to a bowl.
Symptoms of discopathy develop gradually. There is a shuffling gait, impaired reflexes and sensitivity. If discopathy is not treated, paralysis of the hind legs, urination and defecation disorders develop.
Myositis
A disease that occurs in dogs regardless of breed is myositis, muscle inflammation. It often develops after a jump from a high object or a fall, or hypothermia. Myositis usually begins in middle-aged dogs after unusually strong physical activity. Weakness of the paws is noted, the gait changes, the animal walks “as if on stilts”, the inflamed muscles are painful. A veterinarian can distinguish myositis from spinal lesions.
Hip dysplasia
Dysplasia, or dislocation of the hip joints, is more common in large breed dogs, including pugs. A genetic predisposition to the disease has been found in some individuals. Risk factors include obesity and the conditions in which the dog is kept as a puppy - if the dog predominantly walked on slippery surfaces, the risk increases.
With dysplasia, the animal begins to limp, especially after physical exertion, and sometimes it is difficult for the dog to get up after waking up. The gait becomes unsteady, activity decreases, he prefers to sit or lie down rather than run, and it is difficult to climb stairs.
Treatment
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and especially the spine, are serious conditions that require the help of a veterinarian, sometimes urgently. You cannot make a diagnosis yourself, much less treat your pet with human medicine! Before visiting the veterinarian, try to keep your pet at rest so as not to worsen the condition. To make a correct diagnosis, you need to do x-rays, ultrasound, blood tests and studies prescribed by your doctor: MRI or myelography. The doctor evaluates the extent to which the animal retains its reflexes.
- Considering the predisposition of pugs to discopathy, we recommend that you consult a doctor as soon as possible. In mild cases it is used conservative treatment. If you start on time, in 90% of cases the functions of the paws are completely restored. To do this, complete rest is ensured, anti-inflammatory and painkillers, corticosteroids, B vitamins for the nervous system, and physiotherapy are prescribed. If measures are not enough, an operation is needed to remove the damaged disk. If your paws have lost sensitivity, surgery is needed urgently! If more than 48 hours have passed since the complete loss of sensitivity, treatment is ineffective.
- In the case of dysplasia, treatment depends on the stage of the disease. On initial stages conservative, includes moderate physical activity, swimming is especially useful - it does not use the supporting functions of the paws. For severe dysplasia, surgery is indicated.
Owners often come to the veterinary clinic complaining that their dog’s hind legs are being lost. Each of them describes the symptoms in their own way: the pet is limping, has a hunched back, drags its paws, and has paralysis.
Introduction
There is no single reason that can cause such symptoms. Dog veterinary evidence suggests that the first step in treatment should be qualified diagnosis. To know how to treat, you need to know what to treat. And you can’t do this without a trip to the veterinarian.
Individual pathologies when a dog loses its hind legs include age and breed predisposition. Thus, pugs, poodles, English and dachshunds and Pekingese have a predisposition to the destruction or displacement of intervertebral
Discopathy
This pathology is quite serious and can pose a threat to the life of a pet. As the disc shifts, it compresses. Outwardly, this will manifest itself as periodic attacks of severe pain: the pet freezes in one position (usually with a hunched back and with an outstretched neck), shortness of breath appears, severe trembling, the hind legs weaken and give way.
Scientists have not yet fully identified the reasons why the strength of the intervertebral disc decreases in dachshunds. A genetic predisposition has been established in some dog breeding lines. Due to the mutual pressure of the vertebrae on each other, the nucleus pulposus moves into the thickness of the fibrous ring and subsequently leaves its limits, entering the paravertebral space. The fibrous ring on the side of the passing spinal canal has the least strength, and therefore parts of the destroyed disc are usually displaced in this direction. This causes compression of the spinal cord overlying it, as well as its nerves.
If the compression of the spinal cord is not so clearly expressed, then clinically it will only manifest itself in this way - the dog’s hind legs have failed. The pet drags them along, trying to transfer the weight of the body to the forelimbs. He tries to jump onto a chair (sofa, armchair), but he can’t. Can't bend over to the floor or bowl. If there is a suspicion of discopathy, it is necessary to go for a qualified diagnosis and prepare for treatment, including surgery. Compression of the spinal cord can cause irreversible changes in the body, when therapeutic measures are simply ineffective.
Dysplasia
Pets of giant and large breeds (Labrador, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Great Dane, St. Bernard, German shepherds 4-12 months old) also have their own predispositions to the disease when the dog’s hind legs fail. This lesion The occurrence of this pathology can be influenced by many things: heredity, overweight of the puppy, unbalanced diet, etc.
Causes of dysplasia
There have been many scientific debates regarding the causation of this disease. And so far, two theories have been formed about the heredity of this pathology and the mechanism of inheritance.
Many geneticists advocate the theory of additive inheritance. That is, the disease develops due to the action of genes that are involved in the final formation of the hip joint.
The second theory is based on the assumption that these same genes influence each other, and their interaction is combined in various ways. This means that the defect has a much more complex hereditary nature than is shown by the first theory.
There is a third theory in the world of geneticists. It combines the first two. According to it, the action of the genes responsible for the creation of joints can be summed up, and individual genetic pairs influence each other in different ways.
The general conclusion of experts: disease is a classic example of a quantitative trait, which is influenced by many genes (polygeny), and in this case there are many factors environment have their impact on the final formation and manifestation of symptoms. Clinical manifestation dysplasia, when a dog loses its hind legs, does not occur in all animals. But this does not mean that a pet at risk is not susceptible to this pathology if there are no pronounced symptoms. When choosing a partner for mating, you should study the pedigree for the presence of ancestors with dysplasia. It should be noted that the disease can be transmitted to descendants through fourteen generations.
Swedish dog veterinary medicine has clearly proven that dysplasia is associated with heredity and is inherent in certain breeds. And if the breed is characterized by a powerful physique and large mass, then the likelihood of disease is very high. The dog carries a huge load. It gives the body a pushing force from the hind limbs when moving. And during this push, the joint extends and moves the head of the femur along the entire acetabulum. Particularly high friction occurs in the joint when the animal, standing on its hind legs, jumps or walks.
If affected hip joints, then the weakness of the hind legs will appear immediately after a period of rest (during the morning rise) and decrease with physical activity. Also, this lesion is rarely symmetrical; the dog will begin to “fall” on only one paw.
Myositis
In middle-aged dogs after too large physical activity the next day, muscle inflammation may develop - myositis. Due to overexertion, tearing, rupture, disintegration of muscle fibers and hemorrhage into the thickness of the muscles can occur. Due to damage, traumatic swelling develops, and with significant rupture of muscle fibers, a scar forms and the muscle shortens. This leads to myogenic contracture of the corresponding joint. If pathogenic microflora enters the affected muscle, purulent myositis will develop.
One of the symptoms of this disease will be a “stilted gait” or weakness of the hind limbs; the dog will limp on its hind leg. Treatment of dogs with such a disease will not cause great difficulties, but only
Osteochondrosis
Another disease that can cause your pet to have problems with its hind legs. The main reason is a violation of cartilage mineralization. Typical for large breed puppies. Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial disease. Nutrition and genetics play key roles. Cartilage separation in this pathology is most often observed in the joints subject to the greatest load (hip). The result will be lameness, the dog will be limping on its hind leg.
Fractures
This pathology is often found among large breed puppies. And many owners consider injury to be the cause. The dog presses his back paw and cannot lean on it. Reacts painfully to touch. In most cases, a fracture occurs with minimal external impact. This type of injury is called a pathological fracture and indicates low mineralization of the skeleton. Causes: low intake of calcium or vitamin D, high intake of phosphorus.
For recovery in this case, it is not enough to fix the fracture. The main thing is to appoint proper diet. The best option is to use ready-made feed, balanced in the content of phosphorus, calcium, vitamins D and A. An excess of these substances will delay bone healing.
Old age
Older dog falling on his hind legs? This may be due to a malfunction of the brain. According to the observations of veterinarians, this most often happens due to various vascular problems, less often - the reason is the presence of brain tumors. Proper treatment in this case can significantly improve the pet’s well-being and prolong its life for years.
What should be distinguished from
Kidney problems cannot be the reason why a dog loses its hind legs and has a hunched body unless the pet is extremely malnourished with autointoxication. But in this case, the weakness will spread to the entire muscular system.
What not to do
The most common mistake owners make when identifying hind limb weakness is self-treating dogs with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, indomethacin, aspirin, etc.). Clinical improvements observed by owners following the use of these medicines They are only temporary in nature, but they hide the underlying disease well, which significantly complicates the correct diagnosis of the disease, due to which the dog’s hind legs are lost. Also, medical anti-inflammatory drugs carry a number of serious side effects for pets, including ulcers on the walls of the stomach and bleeding in it.
