Why is my senior dog walking sideways, hiding, and lethargic?

There can be numerous reasons that this may be happening to Zooey and most likely you will need to have her checked out by your vet to determine the cause. She might be suffering from an ear infection that is deep enough to affect her equilibrium, she may have some weakness in one or more kegs caused by arthritis or an injury, she may have arthritis in her spine. These are just a few of the possible causes. I would recommend a general exam for her to see if a cause can be detected.

That sounds concerning for a neurological issue with Mollie although in an older pet, arthritis can also affect how a pet walks. Neurological disease can be an issue by it's self but can also be caused by liver disease, toxins or electrolyte imbalances. I would recommend to take Mollie into a vet as soon as you can for an exam and likely bloodwork. Sometimes it can can be vestibular disease which resolves on it's own. Best to get her checked out. Best of luck!

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.

Sorry to hear that Kobie isn't feeling right. In the picture, it also looks like he might have a left sided head tilt. Coupled with the other clinical signs you are listing, the basis of the condition may very well be neurologic rather than a primary orthopedic condition. I would have him seen by a veterinarian soon so that he can have a thorough neurologic exam. Depending on the results, the vet may be able to isolate and localize the condition to a certain part of the body and be better suited to direct therapy and diagnostics. In all likelihood, diagnostics are going to be required including blood work and imaging in order to make some headway in a diagnosis of the problem.

That is not a normal behavior, and I would worry that there is an issue with the nerves, muscles or bones in her hind end or back, or even a neurologic issue further up. It would be best to bring her to your vet ASAP so they can examine her and perform testing such as X-rays to try and figure out the issue.

It could be because he's experiencing pain in his legs and hips, and it feels more comfortable walking that way. There could also be a neurological cause behind the behavior. Confusion caused by a neurological problem (such as seizures) could lead him to walk backwards. If he has a history of joint problems, I would recommend speaking to your vet about getting him on some pain meds to help him become more comfortable. A NSAID like Rimadyl might be a good medication for him to take, but you need to discuss that with your veterinarian and obtain a prescription. At this appointment, your vet can determine if there is a neurological problem causing him to walk backwards.

There are various conditions that can manifest with those signs. The most common on would be vestibular syndrome, which is quite common in geriatric dogs. Another cause could be an inner ear infection or meningitis, a brain tumor or similar. Vestibular syndrome has a sudden onset, the dog (or cat) shows a head tilt, sometimes circles, and is nauseous or even afraid, as it cannot figure out why it feels strange. We do not know what causes this, however in most cases this will go away by itself within a few weeks. Sometimes the head tilt remains. I suggest you take Rex to your veterinarian for an exam and possibly some medication to take any anxiety caused by the condition, if needed. Your vet will also be able to rule out all the other conditions.