Did flea treatment cause my old German Shepherd's leg problems?

It is unlikely that the 2 are related. He may have injured his leg or foot by jumping or playing. Typically if flea medications causes any systemic problems, the whole body is affected and he will shake all over, it will not be isolated to a single leg He may have a damage nail or pad or have a soft tissue injury. I would keep him rested, you can soak his foot in a warm water bath to help. If it continues then I would see a vet for medication and treatment

As you said this is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be infection or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat with a high quality flea treatment (advocate or advantage), then ask the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try to discover the cause of the allergy. Three main type of allergies are usually affecting pets: food allergies, flea and parasite related ones and environmental type (allergens coming from trees, pollens, dust etc etc). Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair any possible skin lesions (like steroids and antibiotics). 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.

It sounds like Damian may have cauda equina syndrome. It could be arthritis in the hips but I think cauda equina is more likely. This is an extremely common problem in German Shepherds. Here is a link to an article about this problem: https://bluepearlvet.com/medical-articles/cauda-equina-syndrome/ I suggest you bring this up to your vet or get a second opinion from another vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

It is possible that one could have something to do with the other, but he could also be suffering from hip problems. Those are unfortunately common in large breed dogs such as GSDs, and I would have Taser seen by a vet tomorrow. The vet can do a lameness exam and x-rays to see what is causing him to favor his left hip. Once a cause is found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

Toby is a senior citizen now. It looks like he’s lost a lot of muscle in the rear legs. I expect he may have hip or back arthritic contributing to his symptoms. I recommend a second opinion with a Rehabilitation veterinarian if there is one near you. In addition I would purchase a Help em Up harness so you can assist him to stand and walk. The longer he’s down and not using his legs the less ability he will have to walk again. I would get him standing for a few minutes several times a day and help him to go outside to potty. Hopefully then he will regain some strength and be able to walk again. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Toby.

She could have arthritis in her rear legs, degenerative myelopathy, neck or back problem, etc. She should to be examined by a veterinarian to determine the exact cause. Your vet can do a full orthopedic exam and take x-rays, if needed, to help diagnose and then determine the best way to treat. She may need an anti-inflammatory and or pain medications to help. Hope she feels better soon.

Hello. I am sorry that Zara is hurting. Sometimes German Shepherds can have something called "Hip Dysplasia" and can have severe arthritis and abnormal hips and this can cause pain and trouble walking. I recommend you have her checked by your vet, who will likely perform x-rays to check her hips. Your vet can also help you get set up with joint supplements as well as pain management for Zara. Good luck with her!