My Great Dane can't use her leg and won't eat. What's wrong?

Hello. It is impossible to try & diagnose Bonnie's problems without a full exam. You see, some very large breed puppies can have issues with their bones & joints, something similar to growing pains in children. She may also have early issues with hip or even elbow dysplasia. She should be evaluated at your earliest convenience so that the proper diagnosis can be made. Once this has been done, medications, diet, environmental changes will all be looked at to try & help Bonnie grow into the healthiest puppy possible. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Axel! Because this swelling keeps getting bigger, I would be concerned that it is a cyst, a benign tumor, or a malignant tumor. I'm not sure what medications he was given, but clearly they aren't working if the swelling has gotten bigger. It's also concerning that he has stopped using the leg, not walking properly, and not eating. I would have Axel seen by the vet again today. I recommend having a fine needle aspirate done on it. To do this, the vet sticks a small needle into the lump to get a sample of it's cells, and examines the cells on a slide under a microscope. It's usually painless to the animal, and relatively quick to perform. Once the cause of the swelling is found, the vet can discuss treatment options.

This sounds like he’s in pain. He could have back pain from a bulging intervertebral disc, or be constipated, or have hip pain. This sounds serious so I recommend a veterinary exam soon. With bloat they look bloated and they go from fine to very distressed in a few hours and then it’s life threatening. If this has been going on longer without a swollen abdomen then bloat is less likely. Regardless, he’s in pain and needs veterinary care. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Hallie! She is possibly not eating due to pain associated with the injury which often times can affect a dog's appetite. Of course other unrelated causes for her not to eat cannot be completely excluded. With these types of injuries, there is usually more trauma than what can be seen from the outside. I recommend that you have Hallie evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may take radiographs to check her bones in the affected leg. They would be able to check the extent of her injuries and proceed with therapy as indicated. She may require antibiotics, further local wound therapy and pain control medications. Good luck and best wishes!

It may be that Georgia Bell is just having an off morning or some minor GI upset, especially as puppies are prone to exploring the environment with their mouths. You can try offering her meal again in a few hours, or offering a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice to see if she'll eat that. If she continues to refuse to eat, or does start showing symptoms such as a tender abdomen, hunched body, vomiting/diarrhea, or extreme lethargy, then that could indicate something more serious going on and should be checked by your vet.

Great Dane puppies, like many of the giant breed dogs, can often grow vary strangely. As long as they are receiving an adequate diet (standard large breed puppy food) and have adequate space in a crate, they shouldn't have any issues growing unless there is an underlying pathology. This is a tough one to assess without not only seeing photographs, but also seeing your puppy in motion. There are certainly orthopedic and congenital conditions that can cause the kind of stance you are describing, but these could not be positively diagnosed without radiographic imaging. If you are concerned about the way she is growing, I would have a vet take a look at her in person to assess her gait, posture, and bony structures. If you have any other questions in more detail, please feel free to consult with me personally. Hope this helps!

It could be Myles has strained or torn a ligament or muscle or he may have a problem with his back. Do not give him any more aspirin, it causes GI ulcers and bleeding in dogs. It's very concerning he is unable to stand or walk, and that tells me he is in a lot of pain. The best thing to do is take him into a vet now. The vet can diagnose what is causing his pain and can treat him. Best of luck.