Why do my senior dog's front legs lock and cause her to fall?

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. These symptoms are possibly related to arthritis in the spine or hips. Please, take Roxi to your local vets for an appointment. Full clinical examination should allow making the diagnosis and adequate treatment can be started. It possibly will be a course of anti-inflammatory medications.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to a neurologic condition such as a herniated disc. I recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this and treat him accordingly. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am concerned that this is likely due to a neurological abnormality such as a herniated disc which can be a surgical emergency. However, other things are possible. This does warrant a veterinary evaluation as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. They can then recommend therapy accordingly. Best of luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m so sorry to hear Pippy is having issues. I would recommend she be evaluated by her regular veterinarian as soon as possible, as an inability to move her legs can be a sign of a serious underlying issue. There are a variety of causes for what you are seeing, such as an infection (Lyme disease), neurological or orthopedic issue, among others. As some of these may be time sensitive, I would recommend she be evaluated as soon as possible to see what may be going on, and any treatment she may need. Good luck!

This sounds like a neck injury or caused by a bulging intervertebral disc. It also could be from cancer causing these neurological symptoms. I recommend a neurological exam, medication and the use of a harness so you are able to assist him to stand. Once they have a diagnosis you can take him to a rehab veterinarian who can help him get back on his feet. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Oska.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There are several things this could be including: degenerative myelopethy (usually a gradual onset), a blood or cartilage clot in the spine, or a spinal disk problem. We cannot rule our cancer either, unfortunately. I’d recommend getting in to your vet (tomorrow ideally) as a good physical exam and further questioning can narrow this list down dramatically in some cases. Best wishes to you and Phoebe!

I'm sorry Zoe isn't feeling well. I would recommend you take her to a veterinarian. This can be something simple as she sprained something but it can also be a cruciate ligament rupture (it is like an ACL in a football player), a Luxating patella (where her knee cap pops out of place or even a break in one of her bones. Without a physical it is hard to determine which one it would be. There are different treatment options depending on what she has going on. Not all of them are surgical. Until you can get her to a veterinarian I would recommend resting her and only taking her outside to go to the bathroom on a leash. I hope Zoe feels better soon and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!