Why is my pet struggling to walk and stand after a clear X-ray?

Without xrays and records of the physical exam it is impossible to guess what might be causing these symptoms. Paralysis of 3 months in a young pup is unlikely to resolve bit referral to a specialist neurologist and orthopedic surgeon may provide a full diagnosis and highlight any possible treatment options. If he has limited mobility then quality of life should be assessed and it may not be fair to expect him to continue most especially if any incontinence develops

It's hard to tell based on your explanation, but my first guess is that he has [cerebellar hypoplasia](https://www.petcoach.co/cat/condition/cerebellar-hypoplasia). Keep in mind, a full neurologic exam and some testing would be needed to get an actual diagnosis, so this is just a guess. I would recommend scheduling an appointment with a veterinary neurologist if you'd like additional information. You can locate a specialist in Internal Medicine or Neurology at [this website](https://www.acvim.org/).

It sounds like what you are describing is weakness. Did your pup have a neurologic exam? What we look for is evidence of pain (although this can sometimes be inconsistent in pets), loss of sensation to the feet (does he fail to flip his foot back over when the top of his foot is placed down?), and presence or absence of reflexes. The results of these tests can help to determine if it's neurologic in origin and what portion of the spinal cord may be affected. Although, it can sometimes be hard to differentiate orthopedic from neurologic disease. Plain xrays of the spine are helpful to rule out any bony abnormalities, and sometimes we can see evidence of narrow disc spaces, but ultimately we cannot see the spinal cord, nerves leaving the spinal cord, or the soft tissues. If a neurologic problem is suspected an MRI is often needed. But, there are also some other conditions that can cause weakness that are metabolic in origin (has your guy had any senior lab work recently?) or related to loss of signaling to the muscles (for example a disease called myasthenia gravis) or related to a degenerative process such as degenerative myelopathy. If there is a component of pain detected on exam then anti-inflammatory pain medication may help. If you feel like things are getting worse it would be a good time to have a re-evaluation with your family vet. Another option as well, if a neurologic process is suspected, would be to have a consult with a veterinary neurologist. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello. It can actually be rather difficult to diagnose hip dysplasia in a puppy this young with x-rays. Often we need to be able to diagnose laxity in the joint under anesthesia or see pain when the hips are manipulated, Lameness when walking or bunny hopping when running are classic signs, too. I am not sure I would be doing the Osnate - d ( Vitamin D ) or the Xobix ( anti-inflammatory medication ) as the Vit. D can cause imbalances & if there is no pain or lameness, the anti-inflammatory is not going to do any good. I think you need another opinion, perhaps with a veterinary neurologist, to make sure there are no spinal cord lesions affecting his gait. If this is hip dysplasia, unnecessary supplementation with the Vit. D may make things worse as most dogs seem to get much better on their own by the time they are 12-18 months of age. If you can have Ghost reevaluated, that would be the best thing to do. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach..

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. I am sorry to hear about her recent troubles. How frustrating! There is a muscle known as the iliospoas that wraps around from the lower back to the pelvis. If this muscle is strained, it is extremely painful. This can be detected on a physical exam, but would not show up on an x-ray. Other problems can be related the spine itself such as disc disease. The most common cause of rear limb lameness is a torn cruciate ligament in the knee. Has she had stifle x-rays? More rare conditions are autoimmune joint disease or a tick borne infection. Both of these are typically accompanied by a fever. You may consider a referral to see an orthopedic specialist if you are having trouble reaching a diagnosis. I hope this information helps!

I am concerned about a possible trauma or even ruptured disc in his back. Is there any way he could of had trauma or an injury to his back. Also infection like meningitis can cause neurological changes. I know you took him to a vet but he most like needs x-rays and possibly a ct/MRI to really look for broken bones and an injured spinal cord. I hope robin approves quickly

At his age I would worry there is a injury affected his back or hips that is causing him to be weak and unsteady. If he is overactive and jumps frequently, he may have damaged part of his spine to cause swelling and compression on the nerves. The best thing to do in confine him so he does not continue to injury himself until you can get him to the vet for an evaluation and radiographs