Why is my senior lab stumbling, collapsing, and twitching his leg?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! At her age there are many things Hershey's underlying condition could be that are causing what you are seeing. These range from arthritis to back issues to tumors and even infections such as a uterine infection. I would recommend you have her examination by a veterinarian as soon as fesible to help determine which it may be. I would expect some testing such as x-rays and blood labs to be necessary, so that will be something for you and your Veterinarian to discuss. Hope this helps!

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 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.

This could be due to a bulging or ruptured intervertebral disc, causing pressure on the spinal cord resulting in ataxia and progressing to paralysis I recommend immediate treatment Your veterinarian will do a neurological assessment and perhaps an X-ray or blood tests to determine the diagnosis and will start treatment right away so hopefully Bubbas will regain the use of his legs. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Bubbas.

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!

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!

I'm sorry Jay is having trouble walking! In a senior lab, common causes of difficulty walking include arthritis, hip dysplasia, and joint problems. My recommendation is to have Jay seen by a vet in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing his difficulty walking, and can discuss treatment with you. He may benefit from some 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.