My French Bulldog struggles to walk, leg shakes, vet says normal. Help!

The hips look ok (hip dysplasia is possible on the right hip joint, but the positioning isn't perfect, which is required for that diagnosis). She does have significant issues with the vertebrae in her thoracic spine. I cannot tell exactly what is going on from these x-rays (it is much easier to evaluate them in-person), but they are likely causing significant discomfort. Lulu may need pain medications for life. A second opinion from a veterinary orthopedic surgeon would be a good idea to see if there is a surgical option to provide pain relief.

Shaking can be a sign of pain or it could be a neurological condition causing muscle spasms. At either rate this sounds serious for Frank and he needs and exam and perhaps even some blood tests to determine what is happening internally. I would definitely recommend taking him in to your vet asap to hopefully find out what exactly is going on so that he is treated properly for it. Unfortunately there is no way to know how best to treat him without more information on his condition.

Poor Pierre! The signs you are describing are unlikely to be related to his previously broken leg. It is definitely concerning that he cannot stand, this can be due to ingestion of a toxin (such as human food he should not have or human medications), or a serious intestinal condition such as foreign body obstruction. I recommend having Pierre seen by a vet right away, as he may need stabilization and supportive care. I hope all is well!

Thank you for more information on Boogie! Hemivertebrae can be common in brachycephalic (short nosed) dogs such as the French Bulldog. It is when the bones of the spinal column are abnormally shaped. This leads to the bones not aligning correctly with their neighboring bones, and this in turn causes damage and compression of the spinal nerves. This isn't something that correct itself as he grows unfortunately. It most commonly affects young dogs because the problems arise as their skeleton grows. Without surgery, the skeletal deformity is permanent. It is best that Boogie has the MRI as soon as possible so this condition can be definitely diagnosed and he can be treated. This condition can severely limit both the quality and length of life, so it's important to have it diagnosed early so it can be treated as needed. I hope this helps!

Poor guy. Your pet Chuck has severe hip dysplasia and possibly even early signs of arthritis. It is so severe that the femoral head doesn't even appear to be in the socket, creating a subluxation appearance as well. I would highly recommend having your vet send Chuck to an orthopedic specialist to get a treatment plan to help stabilize these joints for Chuck so that he does not succumb to a permanent debilitated state due to this defect. I am so sorry that you had to go through so much with your pet and I am glad that his condition is at least stable for now. Here is more information on hip dysplasia in dogs and some of the procedures that can be done to help manage this condition--> https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952203 Best of luck with Chuck moving forward and I hope that you are able to manage his hip dysplasia condition well. Take care.

It is certainly possible that Florence has an injury to her knee or hip. It is very common for dogs to limp at a walk (or hold the leg up when standing), but put it down while running. It does not mean that the leg is not painful. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Florence to see if they can determine the source of the problem. Certainly they may recommend x-rays as well. If there is a soft tissue injury, they will be able to prescribe appropriate pain medication and treatment. And if there is something more serious, you certainly want to deal with it before it becomes worse. In the meantime, I would recommend keeping her as quiet as possible and not allowing her to run since that might injure the leg more. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hip dysplasia can only be positively diagnosed with x-rays. There are certain indicators that can be noted on a physical exam, but they can only be considered supportive of the actual radiographic diagnosis. I would have his leg looked at and examined for fractures, evidence of soft tissue injuries, or as you have mentioned, evidence of hip imperfections. Based on the nature of the injury, the solution to the problem maybe something as simple as rest or medical therapy, or as complex as surgical procedures. Hope this helps.