What causes my dog's pain, shaking, hunched back, and leg paralysis?

There are a couple of reasons that a rear leg will become paralyzed. The most common are a lack of blood supply or a lack of nerve supply. The lack of blood supply most commonly occurs because of a blood clot and is very painful, so I doubt that is what is going on with Nook. The other possibility is that the nerves that go to the leg are damaged. The most common reason this will occur without any signs of trauma or injury would be a bulging disc (which again is most commonly somewhat painful) or a condition such as a Fibrocartilaginous Embolus (which is like a stroke to the spinal cord). FCE's are non-painful, but there isn't any treatment other than time and physical therapy. Unfortunately, the only way to determine the cause is often an MRI. I'm not sure if you have a veterinary neurologist near you, but they might be able to help you with a diagnosis and treatment. If not, I would consider trying to find a veterinarian who does acupuncture or rehabilitation to help you manage and improve Nook while you are waiting to see how much he recovers. I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

Oh dear! This is a very serious problem - I'm afraid she really has to see a vet right away. She may have a herniated disc in her back causing the paralysis, or some other neurologic problem affecting her spinal cord. She may be in pain, or she may have no feeling at all in her rear legs - it's impossible to say without an exam. She needs immediate treatment to have a reasonable chance of regaining function in her rear legs, I'm afraid there's nothing you can do at home that will help her. If costs are a concern, you can see if there is a low-cost SPCA clinic in your area that could help. You could also apply online for Care Credit, which is a payment plan accepted by most vet clinics: www.carecredit.com

It sounds like Shaggy may have intervertebral disc disease--iVDD. This could be described as a pinch nerve, in that the disc material located between the back bones pushes up and "pinches" or compresses the spinal cord. So to specifically answer your question--yes, I think this is a reasonable working diagnosis (meaning treat and note response). Dogs often, especially when they start to feel better, are wanting to play and move around and overall act quite well. If he is still on the medications, contact your vet to clarify what and when you should give the meds-- generally we don't want to give Rimadyl ( a non steroidal anti-inflammatory ) and prednisone ( a steroid) at the same time, as this can pose a significant risk for a stomach ulcer. Also ask your vet based on Shaggy's progress, how much activity he would recommend be allowed. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. I am sorry to hear that Shiko isn't feeling well. A cause of a hunched back and weakness (especially if seen more in the back legs) is something called IVDD (intervertebral disc disease). This can be very painful and would result in normal bloodwork and normal eating/drinking. To diagnose this properly you need a CT, however it can sometimes be seen with radiographs. I would discuss this as a possible cause with your vet. If this is the case pain medications and strict cage rest is recommended for 4-6weeks, or possible surgery if it gets worse. Talk to your vet about this. Good luck with Shiko.

I hate to hear this is happening to Harley. Back pain can be severe and debilitating. The fact that he suddenly can't use the back legs is extremely worrisome and could indicate an emergency situation! Back pain and paralysis can signify a compressed disc or a disc that is pushing on the spinal cord. This is very worrisome because these pets can experience a sudden paralysis that requires surgery. These pets can end up suddenly paralyzed and this can even happen if they have surgery. I recommend to have Harley examined by the veterinarian today. These pets are often given anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs or steroids), muscle relaxants, pain control and STRICT rest so no walks, running, jumping, stairs. Crate rest is best. This could last for up to 8 weeks. Sometimes acupuncture or other therapy is also required. Play it safe and have him examined today. I hope this helps.

There can be a number of diseases that cause weakness and/or pain. The first thing that should be done is to figure out whether he is truly in so much pain that he can't stand, or if he has a neurologic problem (i.e., paralysis) that's making it difficult for him to move his legs, or if he has a disease (like something caused by a tick bite) that is making him anemic (low numbers of red blood cells) and making him weak. Your dog needs to be examined by a vet who is capable of differentiating all of these problems, and figuring out what the appropriate therapy is, because the treatment depends on determining exactly what the problem is.