My dog suddenly can't use his hind legs and won't eat. What's wrong?

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

Hi, you should have him checked over as he could have a herniated disc in his spine or another spinal disease that will just get worse over the course of time and could eventually lead to permanent loss of use of back legs and troubles going to the toilet. Hope you can have Joey checked over ASAP.

I'm concerned that Charlie is very unwell, and I highly recommend taking him in to a vet immediately, or getting a housecall vet to your home. Do not let your children be rough with him, as it may worsen his condition, and also is not safe for the children, as Charlie may feel forced to defend himself and accidentally injure them. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can be prone to heart disease and also a condition called syringomyelia that can lead to neurological symptoms. He may also be dealing with infectious disease or trauma leading to his symptoms, but it is not possible to tell without having him examined by a vet, so I recommend having him seen by one right away. See the link below for more information: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952547

it sounds like she either hurt one of her front legs (and by lowering her head it puts less weight and pressure on the affected leg) or she has a slipped disk injury (cervical slipped disks can affect the head and the limbs at once). If you can't take her to an emergency center or out of hours services let her rest and minimize her movement as much as you can until you can get her to your vet.

I would be worried about Spike. Things that come to mind are a disc that has ruptured into the spinal canal, a fibers clot, a blood clot, a tumor or somehow acquiring an injury. I would recommend to take him into the veterinarian's asap to get him checked out. The doctor may want to do an x-ray or may recommend referral to a neurologist based on what they find. Best of luck with Spike!

It sounds like a spinal cord injury, or it could be a growing tumor that has become large enough to cause pressure. Ant sudden, drastic change in a pet's condition needs to be assessed right away. Please bring him to the emergency vet today.

Spinal cord infarct and slipped disc (intervertebral disc extrusion) may be most likely differentials considering the description of the signs you provided. This clinical status require and immediate check up and neurological and physical examination. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.