Chihuahua's back legs are weak and painful. What can I do at home?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to a neurologic condition such as a herniated disc. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this and treat him accordingly. Best of luck!

It sounds like Chiquito is in pain. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could potentially be due to trauma, infectious or neurological. If you are able to, I would recommend having a veterinarian examine him so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do without know for sure what this could be. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. You could take him in your house and make sure he is cage rested in case this is an injury and see how he does with cage rest.

I'm sorry to hear that Bandit seems painful. Unfortunately, without seeing a veterinarian, you're very limited in what can be done for him at home since we don't know what's causing the pain, and there are no over-the-counter pain medications that are safe to use in dogs. So keeping him quiet and restricting exercise (short-leash walks to potty only, no running or jumping) is really the only thing you can do for him at home. If this has been going on for more than a day or two, I'm afraid I really would recommend taking Bandit to the vet for an exam. He may need x-rays to help determine what's wrong with his hip, and your veterinarian can prescribe safe and effective pain medication to help make him more comfortable.

This is most likely from a bulging intervertebral disc pressing on the nerves to his legs. I recommend a veterinary exam and spinal X-ray to be sure. Then as long as he’s walking I recommend pain medication, muscle relaxers and I treat these dogs with laser and acupuncture. He needs to rest, no running or jumping and short slow leash walks for three weeks. Usually this will improve with treatment in three to four weeks. He also could rupture the intervertebral disc and become paralyzed. That is a medical emergency and he may need surgery by a specialist so he could walk again. Please take him in soon and get treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Armor.

Unfortunately, there aren't any OTC pain medications you can give him. Many human ones are toxic to dogs, and can be fatal if given. It would be best if Mightus is seen by a vet as soon as possible for this, and I can give you some resources that may help you afford a vet sooner than Friday. Otherwise, I would rest him until he sees a vet. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, and bring him right back in when he's done. I would keep him confined to a small room or crate if possible to keep him from moving around too much. Financial help: You can see if there is a low cost clinic in your area, or you can apply for Care Credit online. There is also an organization called Red Rover that give grants for treatment of sick animals, and you can see if you qualify for one of their grants. Best Friends also has a list of resources that offer financial assistance on their website. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html?credit=web_id91754962 https://www.redrover.org https://www.carecredit.com http://bestfriends.org/resources/financial-aid-pets http://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/when-pet-owners-cant-afford-veterinary-bills/

Poor Chakita! She may have blocked anal glands and that's causing the strange walking and trouble defecating. I would recommend a vet visit for sure, but you can look under her tail and see if any area there in the region of the anal glands looks raw, red, swollen or painful. These glands can get blocked and then abscess and this is a very painful condition, and usually by the time it gets to this point the dog really needs to be on pain medication and antibiotics, and you won't be able to do much for her at home. You can always try to soak her rear end in a warm water-epsom salt bath several times daily to help alleviate anal gland swelling if this is the issue, but it'd be best for her to see a veterinarian to make sure there isn't something more serious going on like a rectal tumor or blockage.