My senior Corgi's back legs are weak and sliding. Is it neurological?

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.

I'm sorry to hear Buddy is having issues with his leg. There are several possible causes for what you are seeing, such as trauma (a broken bone), a torn ACL in his knee, a muscle strain/pull, or a neurological issue, such as a bulging disc in his spinal column that is affecting the nerves supplying his back leg. I would recommend Buddy be seen by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his limping, have any necessary testing done (X-rays, etc.), and come up with a treatment plan for him if needed. Good luck!

This sign as you described it seems to be compatible with a neurological problem, most likely affecting the spinal cord at the thoracolumbar level. Intervertebral disc extrusion, spinal cord infarct and spinal cord tumor are all possible differentials and immediate check up and neurological examination should be performed as soon as possible to be able to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Further investigations like x rays may be immediately needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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!

Hi there. A few things could be going on here with snowball. Hip dysphasia is a possibility, as well as instability due to disk disease or a back injury. She could also have luxating patellas (knee caps) that are getting stuck and she's trying to pop them back in by flinging them out. To know for sure, she would need to see your veterinarian for an orthopedic exam and probably x rays. I hope this gives you some ideas!

I am so sorry to hear about Fiona. If she is dragging her back legs and/or cannot support weight on her hind limbs this is most likely from a spinal cord problem. When this happens to a dog it is very painful and their abdomen can become very tense, creating a bloated appearance. The other possibility is that Fiona's abdomen is truly distended with fluid or a dilated stomach (bloat - but very unlikely in a Corgi) and she is so weak that her hind limbs do not seem to be working. There could easily be too different scenarios happening here and it is very hard to say based on your description. Both are very painful and are a true emergency. Both of these circumstances can happen acutely without a particular injury or traumatic event. If there is an emergency doctor in your area, and you can get Fiona there tonight, that would be best. If not, try to keep her comfortable, avoid her walking or moving around at all, and have her seen first thing in the morning. 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.