Why are my senior dog's legs collapsing and she's walking funny?

I'm sorry Buddy isn't doing well at the moment! He is a senior large breed dogs, and musculoskeletal problems such as hip dysplasia and arthritis are common in these dogs. Those would both cause him trouble walking. He could also have a problem with his back. Even though it doesn't appear he is in pain, dogs are very stoic and this will be painful for him. I would have him seen today by a vet for a physical exam, lameness exam, and possibly x-rays. This test will help the vet diagnose what is causing his symptoms so he can be treated. He may benefit from pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am afraid that it is not possible to tell you how to cure her condition without being able to know what is exactly going on as therapy is targeted at the specific condition. Possibilities include an issue with her hips, disc herniation, arthritis or other orthopedic conditions. The main thing is that it could also be due to weakness secondary to dehydration just to give you an example. I highly recommend that you consider taking her to a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Your veterinarian would be able to examine her and determine what would be best to treat her with. Good luck!

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.

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!

This looks like a neurological problem from a pinched nerve in her neck. I recommend a veterinary exam and she may need muscle relaxers and anti inflammatory medication. This is serious and without treatment this could get worse and she may not walk again. In the meantime I would straighten the legs into a normal position and help her stand on them properly. That will help maintain her normal leg strength and posture. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dog.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Chlorella! There are few possibilities: severe arthritis, Lyme disease, a slipped disk in her beck, degenerative myelopathy or even a spinal tumor. Hip dysplasia is something the dog is borne with and it can get worse over time. It usually isn't sudden. I think you should get her in for an exam this week! I wish you the best!

It sounds like what you are describing is weakness. Did your pup have a neurologic exam? What we look for is evidence of pain (although this can sometimes be inconsistent in pets), loss of sensation to the feet (does he fail to flip his foot back over when the top of his foot is placed down?), and presence or absence of reflexes. The results of these tests can help to determine if it's neurologic in origin and what portion of the spinal cord may be affected. Although, it can sometimes be hard to differentiate orthopedic from neurologic disease. Plain xrays of the spine are helpful to rule out any bony abnormalities, and sometimes we can see evidence of narrow disc spaces, but ultimately we cannot see the spinal cord, nerves leaving the spinal cord, or the soft tissues. If a neurologic problem is suspected an MRI is often needed. But, there are also some other conditions that can cause weakness that are metabolic in origin (has your guy had any senior lab work recently?) or related to loss of signaling to the muscles (for example a disease called myasthenia gravis) or related to a degenerative process such as degenerative myelopathy. If there is a component of pain detected on exam then anti-inflammatory pain medication may help. If you feel like things are getting worse it would be a good time to have a re-evaluation with your family vet. Another option as well, if a neurologic process is suspected, would be to have a consult with a veterinary neurologist. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!