My 7-year-old Jack Russell's back end is wobbly and getting worse. What can I do?

The most common reason for lameness of a back leg in a small breed dog is a luxating patella - a knee cap that does not stay in place. Without examining him myself this is my best guess. I believe this would be the most likely issue and should be easy for your vet to diagnose. If it is getting worse then he probably needs surgery to correct it. The photos do not show anything outwardly abnormal. ( https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/luxating-patella-in-dogs )

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear that Jack does not feel well. These could all be signs of discomfort or pain. However, those signs are rather non-specific and while I agree with you that something is likely wrong with him, further work-up would be needed to know what is causing him to be unwell. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. Likely diagnostics include bloodwork and radiographs if he appears to be in discomfort. Good luck and I hope he does well!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lameness can be an indication of an orthopedic condition. This can be due to conditions such as a soft tissue injury, ligament conditions, a fracture and even a tumor. For this reason, I recommend that you have Jo evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. A veterinarian should be able to perform an examination and localize where the pain is so that further diagnostics like radiographs can be performed. Treatment will be highly dependent on what is causing the lameness. At the very least your veterinarian can start Jo on pain control medications to provide comfort. In the meantime, keep Jo's activity level to a minimum avoiding any jumping, running or rough playing. I hope you find this information useful in helping Jo. Wishing Jo a speedy recovery!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Jack! Jack is obviously painful! Beagles commonly get slipped disks in their backs and suffer from back and neck pain. The symptoms you are describing occur with back or neck pain. It is best to have Jack seen by a Vet. I treat back pain with strict rest, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants and pain medications. I do not recommend starting human medications as they might interfere with your vet's choice of medications. I hope this helps and I wish Jack the best!

I am so sorry to hear about Josie. I suspect she could be suffering from intervertebral disk disease, or a herniated disk in her spine. This condition is commonly seen in beagles and can cause the symptoms you describe. It can be spontaneous with no known cause. In mild cases we often treat with muscle relaxer, pain medication, and anti-inflammatory medication, which aren't too pricey. I would recommend getting Josie into the vet as soon as possible and until then keep her confined to a small area with no jumping/climbing/running allowed. You can try putting an ice pack (a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel works well) over the sore area on her back for 10-15 minutes every couple hours to help ease her pain but if it causes her distress then stop. You can read more about this condition at https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4953012

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Hudson. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian. He may have experienced a seizure. He could also have back pain. It is common for small breed dogs to have disc disease in the neck or back which is excruciatingly painful. His veterinarian will examine and determine if either of these scenarios are possible for him or if he has another problem. In the meantime, keep him quiet and carry him if necessary. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

It is unlikely that anything can be done especially in a dog which has finished growing but a review by an orthopedic specialist may be worth considering to assess for discomfort and management options. This is nit uncommon in jack Russell and many other small breeds such as shih tzu types