Why is my dog tucking his tail, panting, and wobbling his back legs?

I'm wondering if you're describing ataxia, or uncoordinated movement, in the back legs. The legs can cross over each other and if you flip a foot upside down it takes awhile for the dog to right it. This can be a sign of a spinal cord problem, and I would recommend having your vet examine Cloud. If he is weak in his back legs or if he seems painful I'd recommend seeing a vet right away.

I'm sorry to hear that Mayhem hasn't been feeling well. The signs that you describe - reluctance to use stairs, pain on manipulation of the tail, not pooping (likely due to pain while posturing/squatting), lethargy, and a decreased appetite - are all most suspicious for a sign of back pain. This could be a result of a soft tissue injury while playing, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), fibrocartilaginous emboli (FCE), among others. Regardless of the cause, it sounds as though Mayhem is quite painful and would greatly benefit from an urgent trip to the vet for an exam and pain medications. Do not give any pain medications at home (including aspirin), and only give medications prescribed by his vet as most human pain medications are not safe for use in dogs. I hope that he feels better soon!

That sounds like Toby may be in pain or feeling uncomfortable in the hind end or back, especially if he is shaking, seems in distress, and is abruptly sitting or having trouble walking normally. It's a good idea to bring him into your vet for an exam and to have the back checked as back issues are very common in "long" breeds such as Dachshunds. Your vet can help check for any pain, inflammation, swelling, or arthritis that could be potential causes.

A limp, painful tail can happen with a tail sprain or ‘swimmer’s tail’, but can also be a sign of a fracture or neurologic disease. Even though you are far from home it sounds like Wilbur may be in pain, so it would be a good idea to have him examined by an emergency vet near you.

If he seems weak in his rear legs it is possible that he has a spinal injury or some kind of trauma. I don't think that itching would be related however - it's also possible that he has fleas or another skin condition and that the itching is what is making him walk abnormally. I'd recommend having a vet examine him to determine what is going on.

Difficulty walking is a situation that always warrants a visit to your veterinarian. We could have a musculoskeletal injury or a neurological issue, such as a herniated/slipped disk in the spine compressing the spinal cord. Your vet can do an examination to see if there are neurological deficits and may also recommend an x-ray to help determine the cause of the trouble walking, and if it is related to the swelling of the tail. Limber tail doesn't normally cause a swelling of the tail, but can cause the tail to be carried strangles, where it will stick out for an inch or two and then hang down limply. If the tail is truly swollen I would be more worried about an injury and x-ray may be needed.

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to pain or discomfort. Given his age, arthritis is certainly a possible concern. Have Scooter evaluated by your veterinarian to further assess this possibility. If he does have arthritis, there are supplements and medications that can help with this tremendously. Good luck and have a nice day!