My wiener dog can't use his back legs after a clear X-ray. Why?

I would be very suspicious of a disc pushing on the spinal cord (intervertebral disc disease - IVDD). It can't be diagnosed on x-rays - you need a CT scan or MRI. It is a common problem in brachycephalic breeds. There is nothing that can prevent it. I would make sure that Seymour takes it easy for the next couple of weeks. Limit jumping and running to give his body time to heal. If it happens again, he should be evaluated by a vet ASAP.

Oh dear! I'm afraid this is an extremely serious problem - Dachshunds are very prone to herniated discs in their spine which can cause rear leg paralysis, so I would be very concerned that this could be the problem. He could also have been injured somehow, or could have a neurologic disease of some kind causing him to not be able to use his legs. Bleeding from the rectum coukd be due to internal injuries or a serious illness of some kind. This sounds like a serious, life-threatening problem, so I would recommend taking your dog to an emergency vet immediately. He/she can do x-rays, blood work, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what can be done to treat it.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Marsel. Small breed dogs are prone to condition known as intervertebral disc disease which can result in weakness or paralysis. I would discuss this possibility with his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bob. You could be correct with your assumption. Small breeds often have patellar problems in one or both knees due to anatomical problems with their knees. The other concern I would have is a cruciate ligament injury. Another possibility would be other soft tissue injuries or injuries to the bones of the leg. This can be assessed by your vet when you take Bob for an exam. Your vet may want to sedate Bob to fully assess the knee and take x-rays. I think you can probably wait but if his pain level increases to the point of him not eating, then I would advise that you take him today or this weekend. Once a diagnosis is made, a sound treatment plan can be implemented.

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!

Hi, he might be experiencing an herniated disc. You would not necessarily see it on xrays. I would recommend to monitor urination and defecation and consider what’s the best way forward considering age, prognosis and welfare. Your vet should be able to advise you considering these three factors. Sending you positive thoughts.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Abel! Due to his breed, back issues are very likely which is usually due to intervertebral disk disease. The holding up of one leg in that situation is due to sciatic pain. Other causes are a muscle strain or sprain, Lyme disease, torn ACL, loose knee cap or due to his age a bone tumor. I would have him seen Monday as soon as possible and on emergency if he is very painful or stops using the other leg. I wish Abel the best!