Why is my old dog's back end weak? She's falling and incontinent.

I am so sorry to hear this. I would make sure she is on a joint supplement - I like dasuquin or flexadin. I would also look into the orthodog hip hound brace. I have had some of my geriatric patients who this has help tremendously with getting up. Unfortunately, it doesn't work on everyone. I would also talk to your vet about whether or not she needs a daily anti-inflammatory to help keep her comfortable. Finally, if you can find a vet in your area who specializes in acupuncture and Chinese herbs, this can be a tremendous help to increase the STRENGTH and decrease pain in an arthritic dog. I hope this helps!

Ruby is likely very much in mourning over the loss of her companion dog. She may be in a lot of pain with arthritis (not using her back legs), and she may also have a neurological condition called cauda equina, which affects the nerves regulating tail movement , urination and defecation and sometimes movement of the hind legs. I suggest you have her examined by your vet and have a discussion with him about the prognosis of this getting better and her quality of life. 15 years is a huge age for a Rotti and she just might be close to the end of her natural life span.

Hello and thank you for posting your concerns regarding Genie. Genie is quite the old man! 10.5yrs old is a great age for a dog his size. With the description you have provided me with, it sounds like Genie is dealing with a lot of age related problems. There are multiple things you can do to try and help Genie out with any arthritic pain he may be experiencing. As for the weakness in the hind end, this may be due to muscle loss which is most likely due to him not using his legs as much as he used to. Managing his level of pain and getting him back on his feet may help re-establish some of this muscle loss but in my experience, there will most likely always be a degree of muscle atrophy due to the chronicity of the arthritis. I would consult with your veterinarian to discuss options as most of them you will need to get from your vet to manage the arthritis. Some options to start considering that you can start now at least would be the following: 1. Welactin omega 3 fish oil for canines 2. Dasuquin glucosamine for canines 3. Toe grips (if you have solid tile or wood floors) 4. Help 'em up Harness to help get Genie up easier (easier on your back!) Your veterinarian may want to start long term anti-inflammatory drugs as well as the above therapy. Some options your vet may consider would be Carprofen, Tramadol, Gabapentin, Amantadine, etc. to manage the level of pain. You can also consider administering Adequan. This is a natural product that helps stimulate joint fluid production and reduce inflammation within joints. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please contact me with any other questions / concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation.

I'm so sorry Roxy is struggling with her mobility. This is common in geriatric dogs. I would recommend trialing pain medication and consulting with a rehab veterinarian. NSAIDs are often useful for dogs without kidney or liver disease. You may also ask about pain medications like Gabapentin, amantadine, or pregabalin.

Yes, euthanasia is definitely a very valid option here, it is quite likely that inflammation in and around her spinal nerves is contributing to both the paralysis and incontinence and severely impacting her quality of life

Hi Bill, I'm so sorry that you are having this problem with Champ. Unfortunately, we do see neurological problems in older dogs that can result in fecal incontinence where they are unaware when they have to defecate and/or unable to control it. There are not a lot of good treatment options for this condition. However, since you know that Champ has bad legs, I would start with discussing pain medication with your veterinarian. Sometimes if we are able to improve the pain in their rear legs, they seem to have an easier time squatting to defecate and will have less accidents. I am attaching more information on pain medications below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=587 Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Poor Cinnamon! The signs you are describing can be associated with a vertebral issue, which is causing compression of the spinal cord and resulting in incoordination. Depending on the location and severity, surgery can be performed to relieve the compression if present. Cinnamon may also benefit from pain medication or an anti-inflammatory drug. While this is a very difficult decision to make, you should consider Cinnamon's quality of life. If you think that her quality of life is poor, that she is struggling to do everyday activities, or does not react to a favorite toy or treat, it may be time to say good bye. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!