What can cause my dogs back legs to give out?

Causes of Hind Leg Weakness in Dogs

Hip Dysplasia. Hip dysplasia most frequently occurs in larger breeds such as German Shepherd Dogs, Labrador Retrievers, Saint Bernards and Great Danes.
Spinal Cord Injuries.
Degenerative Vertebral Conditions.
Canine Degenerative Myelopathy.
Amputation.
Post-Operative Limitations.

Why are the hind legs of my Dog weak?

A less severe spinal injury may cause partial paralysis, leaving the hind legs noticeably weak and wobbly. The instability grows worse as muscles atrophy due to non-use. Sometimes nerve signals to a dog’s hind legs become partly scrambled due to compression from a neighboring structure.

What to do if your dog can’t stand on its hind legs?

In very old dogs they can be contraindicated if there are natural anti-inflammatories with fewer side effects. In the cases where the weakness is caused by a decrease in muscle mass, it’s very important to provide rehabilitation so that gradually the animal can regain its normal rhythm.

What does it mean when your dog’s back legs give out?

If the dog is unaware of the skin between his toes being pinched, this is a sign of serious nerve damage. Happily, Murphy pulled back and had sensation on both hind legs (also a good thumbs-up for muscle tone). Patellar reflex: You may have had this done to you. It’s where the doctor taps the ligament immediately below the kneecap.

When to take your dog to the vet for back leg weakness?

When you take your dog to the vet because you’ve noticed back leg weakness you’ll need to give a complete history. This will help them to diagnose the cause of the dog hind leg weakness. Most of the different causes are related to the dog’s spinal column, spinal cord or the nerves that supply the back legs.

Why does my dog have weakness in her hind legs?

In some cases, hind end weakness could be accompanied by other secondary symptoms, such as trouble urinating or lack of control while defecating. If your pooch has weakness in her hind legs, one of most frustrating things about it (for you and for her) is that she probably won’t be able to get around like she used to.

Can a dog still walk with hind end weakness?

The aggressiveness of the disease may fluctuate over time, but it will not fully let up. Eventually, the affected dog will get to the point where he can no longer walk. Because of the severity of DM, the condition tends to get diagnosed by a vet only after all of the other diseases and conditions that could cause hind end weakness are ruled out.

What to do if your dog has weakness in his back legs?

If you have noticed signs of weakness in your dog’s back legs, take him into the clinic to be checked, as many of the causes can be progressive. Relay all signs that you have noticed in your dog, including changes in appetite and behavior and the history of the weakness.