Why is my Corgi dragging his leg and collapsing but still running?

I'm sorry Buddy isn't doing well at the moment! He is a senior large breed dogs, and musculoskeletal problems such as hip dysplasia and arthritis are common in these dogs. Those would both cause him trouble walking. He could also have a problem with his back. Even though it doesn't appear he is in pain, dogs are very stoic and this will be painful for him. I would have him seen today by a vet for a physical exam, lameness exam, and possibly x-rays. This test will help the vet diagnose what is causing his symptoms so he can be treated. He may benefit from 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.

Hello! There are a few issues that can cause slipping and sliding of the rear legs in Corgis. Musculoskeletal and neurological are the main causes. Your vet may have determined that Lily/ Augie Rose has some reflex or neurological deficits which may be why they believe it's more likely a neurological issue. Xrays can help determine if there is a musculoskeletal issue, and sometimes you can see mineralization in the spinal disk spaces. Chat with your vet about what else you can do to help her mobility. Sometimes dog "shoes" that allow better grip can help as well.

The symptom you report could have a few origins; the nervous system, bone, muscle, blood vessels, or the soft tissues. If he is limping (toe touching or hopping) this could be a knee related issue (cruciate injury) which is a common problem. If he is dragging the limb and not placing his foot over correctly (dragging the top of his foot and not flipping it to put the pads down) this may be a neurologic issue. There are a few disease processes that can cause neurologic impairment so a neurologic exam by your vet would help to localize if this is the issue. If there is no trauma a vascular event (clot) is also possible as well. Is the foot warm? It is good that Lakota does not seem painful although sometimes not using the leg is their symptom of pain, any swelling anywhere on the leg? I think what is best is an exam with a veterinarian to localize which organ system is causing the issue, orthopedic (bone, soft tissues) vs neurologic, and help ease your mind about what is causing this. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am so sorry to hear about Fiona. If she is dragging her back legs and/or cannot support weight on her hind limbs this is most likely from a spinal cord problem. When this happens to a dog it is very painful and their abdomen can become very tense, creating a bloated appearance. The other possibility is that Fiona's abdomen is truly distended with fluid or a dilated stomach (bloat - but very unlikely in a Corgi) and she is so weak that her hind limbs do not seem to be working. There could easily be too different scenarios happening here and it is very hard to say based on your description. Both are very painful and are a true emergency. Both of these circumstances can happen acutely without a particular injury or traumatic event. If there is an emergency doctor in your area, and you can get Fiona there tonight, that would be best. If not, try to keep her comfortable, avoid her walking or moving around at all, and have her seen first thing in the morning. Best of luck.

This sign as you described it seems to be compatible with a neurological problem, most likely affecting the spinal cord at the thoracolumbar level. Intervertebral disc extrusion, spinal cord infarct and spinal cord tumor are all possible differentials and immediate check up and neurological examination should be performed as soon as possible to be able to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Further investigations like x rays may be immediately needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Dogs limp for the same reason we do, because it hurts to use it. If this continues more than a few days then I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian. The most common injury to the hind leg in larger dogs is an ACL injury, but of course there are many other possibilities. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Limping can be caused by several different problems - if x-rays didn't show a fracture, then it is likely that Bentley has some type of soft-tissue injury causing him to limp. One of the most common injuries like this that we see in dogs is a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) - this is the same ligament that human athletes sometimes injure, called the ACL in humans. This ligament is responsible for stabilizing the knee joint when the dog walks, so if it is torn it causes significant lameness that does not improve with rest and pain medication. Other possible causes of limping for over a month would be a torn muscle, or a torn tendon or ligament in another part of the leg. Unfortunately, these injuries will not show up on x-rays. If your veterinarian doesn't have any other suggestions for further testing (such as a sedated orthopedic exam to check joint stability), then I would recommend asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist. Bentley may need an MRI or other advanced imaging to diagnose the problem.