My Dachshund won't use his back leg. Should I go to the vet now?

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!

Rowdy may have suffered a muscle sprain, cruciate ligament tear, or a patella luxation. In order to find out the cause of the lameness you will need to take him to a vet for an exam, which may include xrays and an exam of the knee under sedation to verify presence or absence of the drawer sign which would signify a cruciate ligament injury. He will also need some prescription pain medicine.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Dexter! Since it has been going on for 3 weeks already I think it is time to have him seen by your Vet. Common causes of hing leg lameness are: hip dysplasia, cruciate (ACL tears), Lyme or other tick borne disease, immune polyarthropathy, HOD, panoseitis, or simply a strain or a sprain. If you haven't strictly rested him (leash walks, no running or jumping) for a week you can try that first. But if he is still having problems he should be seen. I hope this helps and I wish Dexter the very best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly neck or back pain. It could still be pain associated with a leg even if nothing seems wrong with them. I recommend that you have Sprinkles evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics include radiographs. Treatment would be based on findings. At the very least they can prescribe pain control medications to make Sprinkles feel better. In the meantime, reduce her activity as much as possible as that in itself can make a big difference. Good luck and have a good night!

I agree that Bow seems to be in pain. Although the injury could be anywhere in his body, the big concern with his breed is an injury to the neck or spine. With their long bodies, Dachshunds are prone to back injuries. I recommend to have him seen by his veterinarian who will palate the neck, spine and legs to determine what area is injured. They will also try to determine if it is a soft tissue injury or related to the bones. Until you see the doctor, Bow must have strict exercise restriction. Do not allow him to do any more jumping, no running, no stairs, no walks and outside on a leash only. You must be cautious with a potential back issue as it can have serious consequences. I hope you find this helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions. I hope he starts feeling better quickly!

I'm sorry Zoe isn't feeling well. I would recommend you take her to a veterinarian. This can be something simple as she sprained something but it can also be a cruciate ligament rupture (it is like an ACL in a football player), a Luxating patella (where her knee cap pops out of place or even a break in one of her bones. Without a physical it is hard to determine which one it would be. There are different treatment options depending on what she has going on. Not all of them are surgical. Until you can get her to a veterinarian I would recommend resting her and only taking her outside to go to the bathroom on a leash. I hope Zoe feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi! Thanks for entrusting us with Dolly’s care today! Lameness can be a sign of a few things that range from a muscle sprain to even a fracture. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian so that this can be further assessed which will likely include radiographs. Treatment will be dependent on findings though at the very least pain control medications can be prescribed. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!