My 1-year-old puppy has back issues, can't walk. Non-surgical help?

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.

Without xrays and records of the physical exam it is impossible to guess what might be causing these symptoms. Paralysis of 3 months in a young pup is unlikely to resolve bit referral to a specialist neurologist and orthopedic surgeon may provide a full diagnosis and highlight any possible treatment options. If he has limited mobility then quality of life should be assessed and it may not be fair to expect him to continue most especially if any incontinence develops

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Golya! I am not sure i fully understand your post, I understand that he was bitten by other dogs and he isn't playing but I am not sure what you are trying to say about his back legs. If he is not using his back legs and that is where he was bitten his muscles could be sore and inflamed form the bites or he could have an infection. Worse case scenario he could have been bitten in his back and he could be paralyzed. It is very important that Golya be evaluated by a Veterinarian to treat his pain and infection. They should be able to tell if he is paralyzed. I hope this helps and I wish Golya a speedy recovery!

If there is a rehab veterinarian in your area they can give you specific exercises after seeing exactly how he stands and walks. Spending time walking and free in a yard should help his legs and muscles get stronger. This could be due to a neurological issue so if he’s not improving a veterinary exam is recommended. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your rescue dog.

Your puppy may have an injury in his back, hips or knees, or something going on in his abdomen that is causing his pain. Because he is so young and there could be many different causes of his discomfort. I would recommend taking him into the vet to be examined as soon as possible. I would also watch him closely to make sure his stool is normal and that he is still wanting to eat and not vomiting. I hope this helps. Thanks reason package. Best of luck.

This sounds like he’s in pain. It can be from arthritis, a knee ligament injury or pain from his back. Arthritis should show up on x rays, and he would be lame on one leg if it’s a cruciate ligament injury. Back pain can be caused by a bulging intervertebral disc and can me difficult to see on x rays. It can cause trouble walking with incoordination. Regardless I would try Tom on pain medication to see if that helps and keep him quiet. No running or jumping and lots of short slow leash walks. Once the pain is controlled he should eat better. If there is no improvement I recommend a rcheck or an exam with a veterinary specialist. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Tom.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! He should be evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check him for any injuries and treat him accordingly. In the meantime, handle him carefully and try to not move his back much. Good luck and have a great day!