Why is my senior Chihuahua's tail down and she walks sideways?

Poor Chakita! She may have blocked anal glands and that's causing the strange walking and trouble defecating. I would recommend a vet visit for sure, but you can look under her tail and see if any area there in the region of the anal glands looks raw, red, swollen or painful. These glands can get blocked and then abscess and this is a very painful condition, and usually by the time it gets to this point the dog really needs to be on pain medication and antibiotics, and you won't be able to do much for her at home. You can always try to soak her rear end in a warm water-epsom salt bath several times daily to help alleviate anal gland swelling if this is the issue, but it'd be best for her to see a veterinarian to make sure there isn't something more serious going on like a rectal tumor or blockage.

This indicates that she has some degree of damage to the spinal nerves or peripheral nerves that control that leg. This can happen when they are hit hard by something, or (more likely) when they have a lower-spine disease. Old dogs tend to be more susceptible to various spinal cord problems that develop with age. These can be treatable though, so it's best to take Trixie for a vet evaluation sometime soon. The vet will be able to narrow-down the cause of this problem and provide pain relief (these conditions are usually very painful). For now, it's best to restrict her activity, as this can worsen her condition. Do not allow her to run, jump, or go on long walks until advised otherwise by your veterinarian. I hope that helps and Trixie gets better soon.

Poor Lily! It sounds like she could be suffering from back/neck pain or muscle spasms. I would have your vet take a look at her as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to determine the cause of her pain or weird behavior and get her started on the proper meds if needed to help her feel better. I hope this helps!

Very gently feel every bone in the spine starting at the neck towards the tail. Include the tail. Your dog may have injured its spine or tail. If there is a pain in the spinal cord (he may react at the area where he is in pain) then you should take him to the vet for an exam and treatment right away. If you cannot find a spot where it hurts, you may want to observe your dog and see whether it gets better and take him to the vet if does not improve or gets worse. Your vet will examine the spinal cord, do an x-ray to make sure there is no fracture or slipped disc, and give your dog a general exam in case the source of the pain is somewhere else (abdomen, muscles).

This could indicate a fracture of her tail or dislocation as the tail has joints just like the rest of the body. It could also indicate an anal gland issue or even a problem with the lumbosacral joint. Do not give your dog in a human medication as it could be toxic to dogs. I recommend having your dog seen by her veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian as she may need x-rays to diagnose the problem as well as dog safe medication for pain. keep her quiet and restrict her activity until she can be seen by veterinarian and do not try to manipulate the site at all.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While an anal sac issue is possible, other things like potentially a soft tissue injury to the tail, a fracture of one of the tail bones and even a condition called "lumber tail" appear more likely. I recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They should be able to localize his pain and proceed with diagnostics if needed as well as prescribing a medication for pain if it seems indicated. Good luck and have a good day!

Your dog could have hip or back problems that make it painful to posture to defecate and would also make it hurt when her tail is manipulated. It could also be infected or inflamed anal glands. This condition is very painful and makes it difficult to defecate or even move. Without treatment, the gland may rupture, causing a open wound on your pet's rear that will require wound care and antibiotics as well as some pain relief. I recommend getting your pet seen by your vet. They will examine your pet, possibly do some x-rays and labwork and be able to give you a better idea of what is going on and how best to treat it.