My new rescue dog won't sit. Is it medical or just personality?

What a cutie she is! Some dogs do lay in funny positions. If she seems to walk normally and has no lameness I wouldn't be concerned by her laying down this way, but if she hasn't been to the vet with you already I would make an appointment for them to look her over and palpate the hips to be safe, and at that time they can get her up to date on vaccines if she isn't already as well as test her for intestinal parasites and deworm her (she looks like she could be underweight based on this photo but it is difficult to say without being able to put our hands on her).

Your best option is to keep up with routine physical exams. It's impossible to know at this point if this is behavioral or if there is a medical condition. Hip problems may not become evident until she is older but getting her and your vet use to the feel of her hip palpation would be a good idea. She may need radiographs when she is older. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

That's a good question. Dogs with hip or knee problems often sit sideways but puppies who have not learned a formal sit through obedience classes can also do it. I find that dogs can have a sloppy sit when they are relaxed whether or not there is a problem. Dogs who have an orthopedic problem are reluctant to sit at all when asked, sit crooked, often with one leg out to the side, or they flop down, not using the rear legs. If Max runs normally, can walk up stairs alternating his legs, and doesn't have any muscle trembling after exercise the sideways sitting is probably nothing to be concerned about. You can take a treat and hold it up while asking him to sit to see if he can sit squarely without resistance. If he won't sit, sits with one leg out to the side, or bunny hops when running then he should have an exam and X-rays to see if he has a hip or knee problem which is causing the sideways sitting. If it's due to discomfort the veterinarian can prescribe medication for pain. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to get answers to your veterinary questions.

I agree with your veterinarian, in that being constantly crated and restrained absolutely could affect her in terms of leading to back and joint issues, arthritis and could change her gait and posture, making it impossible to sit up straight. That is true whether she is a mixed breed or not. I agree that she very well could be a mixed breed, and I suspect she is. It sounds like you are doing a lot for her to try to keep her comfortable and healthy! The more you can keep her weight down, the better that will be for her mobility in the face of her arthritis and pain problems. I think it may really benefit Phoebe to consider some rehabilitation (physical therapy) exercises, and maybe some acupuncture or therapeutic laser. All of these things along with her being on Vetprofen will be beneficial. Ask your veterinarian if they can recommend anyone who offers those services in your area. If your vet doesn't know of someone specific, here is a search tool to find a rehab vet: http://www.rehabvets.org/directory.lasso I hope that information helps you. Thank you for asking PetCoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily bad depending on the context it is happening. This could mean that Sally has some kind of discomfort for example though again it may be completely normal. What I would recommend is continuing to watch her closely. If she appears to be in any kind of discomfort or pain, I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, she is likely going to be fine. Best of luck!

I would have Topaz seen by a vet if he's having problems getting up when laying down. I would be concerned that he may have a problem with his hips, spine, or joints in his legs causing these problems. Hip dysplasia is a genetic disorder that is more common in large breed dogs, but it can occur in smaller breeds. I think it would be a good idea to have x-rays done on his hips, spine, and back legs to see if there is an identifiable problem behind his difficulty getting up. If one is found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you.

It is possible that Banba will not walk because of some medical problem such as hip dysplasia or even a cardiac condition. If she walks normally at home or in the yard, the source is behavioral. I would suggest a visit to the vet to rule out any physical reason for what she's doing. If she is healthy, I can help--just click on the prompt to initiate a consult.