My senior dog's back legs are stiff after sleeping. Is it arthritis?

One of the most common reasons we will see a dog limp after they get up from resting is arthrits in a joint. Since Maggie is 9 years old, that is certainly a possibility. A complete cruciate tear will result in an unstable joint and will have lameness that occurs at a walk or run, but a partial cruciate tear is not unstable and can result in a lameness that is worse after resting. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Maggie to see what they find on exam, then see what their recommendation is for treatment. A joint supplement may be enough for Maggie or she may need a prescription medication. It really depends on her examination. I am including more information about treatment for arthritis below. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=587 Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using PetCoach.

If one leg is harder to extend it could indicate early arthritis or it may simply be that she is holding it back tighter. I wouldn't worry if she is moving about fine, but you could always have the vet check it out. It might be worth starting her on a joint supplement with glucosamine and chondroitin.

Your dog could have arthritis which makes him unstable. He could also suffer from hip dysplasia (which can lead to arthritis) or have some compression of the spinal cord which can affect the hind leg movement. A vet exam is recommended to check for these issues. Some may improve with anti-inflammatory medication available from your vet. In the meantime, using small throw rugs on the floor (that have grip on the back so they don't move) may help your pup get around on the floor.

Your dog may just be feeling worse after having to get out and about at the vet. Trips like these can be very stressful and hard on older dogs. Your vet probably also did an orthopedic exam, flexing and extending his joints, which could make him more sore. It is possible, although less likely, that your dog is dragging his legs because of spinal damage. If you pinch his toes and he can feel it then this is probably not the issue. Let you dog rest comfortably for now and continue giving the medication as prescribed. If he is not improving within about 24 hours you may want to consider going in for a recheck or asking your vet for additional pain medication. Best of luck. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concerns. This could very well be related to arthritis of the back legs. The more arthritis develops, the more painful it becomes for dogs to walk. If there is hip dysplasia and this worsens over time, some dogs can appear to walk as if they are drunk with wobbly legs. I would recommend having Athena looked at by a veterinarian so that the appropriate treatment can be recommended. I typically recommend a multi-modal approach and use anti-inflammatory drugs such as Carprofen, pain medications such as Tramadol, Methadone or Gabapentin. Supplements that I would recommend would include Dasuquin with MSM, Adequan injections and Welactin omega 3 fish oil. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Hello! It sounds as if Carter's back legs are getting worse, which can happen with time, when a dog has arthritic hips. Hopefully he is back on his feet and more comfortable now! You can use a joint supplement such as Cosequin (ask your vet about this!), and help him by having good surfaces to stand on (ie avoiding slippery floors). If he is quite uncomfortable, you could ask your vet about some pain killers, or anti-inflammatories. Hope this helps!

Poor Sugar! She could have arthritis, a problem with an inter-vertebral disc in her neck or back causing her some pain, an infection, etc. If she is reluctant to jump on things and/or go up steps then it is probably a disc problem and she is experiencing some discomfort. The best thing would be to have your vet take a look at her to determine the cause and treat, She may need an anti-inflammatory and pain medications to help. Hope she feels better soon!