My dog has weak back legs, is skinny, and eats a lot. What's wrong?

It sounds like she should be examined by a vet to determine the cause of her problems. It is very concerning that she is thin and weak and your vet can run some lab-work to screen for kidney disease, liver disease, endocrine diseases, etc. Your vet can also take x-rays, if needed, to look for any abnormalities that would cause decreased appetite and weight loss. She could also have a problem with her teeth and your vet can do a dental evaluation. She may need an antibiotic to treat a conjunctivitis. Please call a vet and schedule a check up.

If Foxxie is really weak, looks skinner on her back part of the body, and can't seem to walk, I would say this is pretty serious. I would not think this would be caused by something minor and I don't suspect constipation. There could be a problem with her spine, if she isn't spayed she could have a closed pyometra, or another disease causing her symptoms. Without seeing her in person, I can't make a diagnosis but she needs to see a vet immediately. Please take her into one now.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. Her legs may be hurting as well from something like a soft tissue injury or back pain for example which may be causing her to not eat well. I recommend that you have Zoey evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Loss of appetite and diarrhea can be observed with many conditions such as gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, kidney disease, pancreatitis, among many other possibilities. He could be weak on his hind end from not eating before and/or from dehydration so that could be connected. I recommend that you have Kip evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and others depending on the findings on exam. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

When puppies have limb deformities or difficulties walking normally, I'm always concerned that there could be growth issues. These can be due to nutritional deficiencies, trauma, or hereditary bone or joint problems passed on by the parents. Since you've stated that he's very skinny, I'm especially concerned about his nutrition. King needs to see a vet, not just for this problem but because he needs to start getting routine vaccinations and anti-parasite medications. I would recommend he see one very soon, since it's critical to correct the problems now. PetCoach now offers veterinary housecall visits in the San Diego area. Read more at https://www.petcoach.co/house-call-veterinarians/ or email us at housecalls@petcoach.co.

Poor girl. It sounds like Sprite has several issues going on here. Limping can be caused by trauma, a bone or joint abnormality or even arthritis. Pets that lose weight and have loose stool can have an underlying health problem such as intestinal parasites, an endocrine disorder or even diabetes. I would highly recommend getting some testing done to determine the underlying cause since so many different disease could be at play here. It will shed some much needed light on the situation so that we know how best to treat Sprite moving forward. Best of luck with Sprite moving forward. I hope that she regains her normal weight soon! Take care.

It sounds like Cupcake could be having back pain or another problem with her spine. Intervertebral disc disease is fairly common in small breed dogs and can lead to weakness in the rear legs, although it is usually not episodic. It’s also possible that she is having an atypical seizure or some other kind of pain that is causing her weakness. I’d recommend having your vet examine her - it might help to video how she is walking and take it with you.