My dog's back legs are spasming. How can I help him feel better?

There is more you can do for Dexter. He may improve with acupuncture for the neurological deficits and it can relieve his pain and help him relax and enjoy life. As far as the walking goes getting him specific exercises to retrain his legs will improve his walking. If there is a veterinary rehabilitation center near you they should be able to help you with these exercises and get you in touch with an acupuncture veterinarian. If they offer hydrotherapy, walking in the underwater treadmill will improve his strength and gait. Many dogs do get better so please continue with the medication and seek out some alternative treatments if you can. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Dexter.

There are many complementary treatments which can be used alongside prescription pain relief - mobility diets such as hills j/d mobility (or metabolic mobility if need to prevent weight gain or lose weight) are extremely effective and are fully supplemented for healthy joint cartilage and also help to repair and protect the joint. Physiotherapy, acupuncture, laser/light therapy and chiropractic care can also help alongside regular exercise and weight control

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.

It sounds like she may have some pain in her hips if she tends to shake her legs when the hips are extended. Consider a glucosamine joint supplement, and keep her at a healthy weight-- short to medium walks are great if she tolerates them well. An underwater treadmill is also a great way to get in some good exercise and keep the leg muscles strong. You can also train her to do "sit to stand" exercises, which are essentially squats. When done regularly, these exercises can be very helpful in building and maintaining muscles of the hips that help keep them comfortable and mobile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i2DofIWDxI Thank you for asking PetCoach!

I recommend seeing a rehab veterinarian. They will help you manage his care and can offer massage, exercise, laser and often acupuncture to keep him comfortable. They can fit him for a cart if he’s strong enough so he can go outside for walks with you. I’m a rehab veterinarian and I would never discuss euthanizing a happy dog unless he’s suffering with pain or sores. Learning how to keep him clean and happy is what we do so find a rehab veterinarian near you and take him there for treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Jackie.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. Sorry to hear that Khan is having this issue. No, there isn't really anything else you can give him. CBD has not been studied enough in dogs to know the effective dose or if it will interact with other medications he is taking. I would not recommend that. What may be helpful is acupuncture. You should look into that. ( http://www.healingpawsri.com/ ) You can check this website to see if you can get any assistance with vet bills. ( https://www.dogingtonpost.com/need-help-with-vet-bills-or-pet-food-there-are-resources-available/ ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

There are a few more things that you can add into his daily regiment that may help. Continue giving him the current medications. You can try adding in a supplement called Duralactin that often compliments the glucosamine. You could also try giving him an additional joint supplement called Adequan. This is an injectable product that many dogs respond very favorably to. There are also diets that can be beneficial, I recommend Royal Canin Mobility support. Lastly, supplementing Bogey with an additional omega fatty acid supplement for dogs can also help in addition to the current supplements. I do recommend for Bogey to have a visit with his veterinarian. The doctor will check on the progression of any arthritis or other painful areas. It may be time to start Bogey on an actual pain medication such as Rimadyl or Gabapentin. You would likely use these meds and still continue his supplements. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.