My dog tires easily, has wobbly legs, and back pain. What's wrong?

It sounds like Bella may be in pain. If she doesn't want to go upstairs, I suspect she may have pain in her back, hips, or hind legs. Rest her tonight, and have her seen by a vet in the morning. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. If she is in pain, thee vet can prescribe her safe pain medication.

Poor Bella! Back problems are extremely common in Dachshunds because of their body shape. Arthritis of the hips and rear legs is also a common problem in older dogs. These problems are often very treatable with anti-inflammatory meds and pain medication, so I would recommend taking Bella to the vet for an exam when you are able to. He/she can take x-rays if needed to help determine what is causing her pain and soreness, and will prescribe medication to treat the problem depending on what is found. In the meantime, you could try starting her on a daily glucosamine/chondroitin supplement such as Cosequin or Dasuquin, as well as an omega-3 fatty acid supplement such as Welactin. Both of these things have been shown to be helpful for arthritis and other orthopedic issues in dogs, and can be purchased over the counter or ordered online without a prescription.

It sounds like your dog has a problem with her back as that is a common sign of back pain. Dogs are usually reluctant to jump because it causes pain. Your vet can check her for back pain and then prescribe medications to help. She may need an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, and/or pain medications to help. Also, it would be a good idea to restrict her activity for a few weeks, no running, jumping, etc. Hope she feels better soon!

Sorry to hear about Dakota's current predicament. Assuming that her two endocrine conditions are well managed, the problem with mobility is likely a separate problem entirely. A myelogram is certainly a decent option for discovering certain abnormalities in the spine, but the best way to rule these out involve a CT Scan or MRI. These are tests that are available only through a specialty hospital in most cases. If she has feeling in all of her limbs, I have doubts that the disease process is of spinal origin however, particularly if this has already been going on for a week. Other causes of lack of mobility are certain infectious diseases (tick borne diseases in particular), traumatic injuries to the spine (fractures to the actual vertebra), severe arthritis, and several different cancerous processes involving the bones and spinal cord. There are also degenerative neurologic conditions that can affected any of the limbs or the brain, ultimately resulting in mobility issues. I tend to lean towards an infectious process or arthritis since there is pain occurring from time to time. I would say that investigating this issue in more detail with your vet would be worth while, with some blood work and a check for tick borne diseases. Hope this helps!

Awww, Bella is so cute! I'm with you, I think an exam and some blood testing with your vet is worth it. You know her best so if you are worried it is better to be safe than sorry. Unfortunately, her symptoms are very non-specific so I can't venture much of a guess as to what may be going on. She is a bit young to have orthopedic issues but it is possible. Best to have her checked out. Hope she is back to feeling better soon. Best wishes.

This position can be a sign of a stomach ache or abdominal pain. This can be from many things including constipation, an intestinal blockage, stomach ulcer etc. please monitor if she’s eating, drinking, peeing and pooping normally. If not then please bring her in for an exam. They will check her over to see if they can find the reason for these symptoms, and may recommend abdominal X-rays and lab tests. Once they have a diagnosis then they can start the appropriate treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bella.

Poor girl. The fact that she is wobbly and running into things, means that this is likely neurological. I would definitely have her seen by your vet right away for a thorough examination and brief neuro exam to see if we can find the underlying cause for this. One common cause for these types of sudden neurological symptoms in older dogs is vestibular disease, which can be caused by an inner ear infection, a brain tumor, or idiopathic (no underlying cause found). Idiopathic vestibular disease is the most common one we see and typically can improve on its own within a few weeks time with supportive care through your vet. I hope that things work out well for your pet Molly moving forward. Best wishes and take care!