My lab, Shelby, just turned five, I recently found out she has a good amount of arthritis in her back legs and upper back. My 13 year old lab's (well, 13 in September) hind legs have been giving out the last two days. The symptoms of FCE come on suddenly, and the dogs aren’t in pain. This is heartbreaking for owners and poses a dilemma, because the dog is often otherwise well in himself, and not necessarily in pain. link to What to Get your Greyhound for the Holidays, link to How to read your Dog's Body Language. Weak Hind Legs from Arthritis . Larger breeds like Labrador retrievers are susceptible to tumors. Typical Lab! He is a big lab / ret. My dog's collapsed, what could be wrong? I'm heart broken. The dog’s caretakers didn’t hesitate and straight away gave consent to refer him. But once he jumps down and takes a few steps, some times he gets all the way into the hall or down the stairs before it happens, but his back legs give out on him and he falls down. It is a problem that is most common in older large dogs and if your dog is suffering with weak back legs it is likely that his legs may suddenly give way and cause him to collapse and he may have trouble standing up or climbing stairs. It eventually leads for loss of bladder control and paralysis and at this stage euthanasia is the kindest option. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 13 of 13 Posts ... wooden floors which are now covered by a patchwork of mismatched rugs and this helps a bit but several times a day his back legs can slide out from under him and he goes over. This is usually linked to trauma (which didn’t apply to Murphy) or problems with blood clotting. Recently he has been stumbling around and losing his balance, especially on the stairs. Next on the list was to check more nerve reflexes to confirm this as a neurological problem and pinpoint the location. I scour the Internet daily, visit vets and fellow dog owners to make you the finest dog resource on the Internet. With recovery and therapy, you may get your dog back physically and socially. The stiffness may seem worse in his hind legs, and he may walk clumsily as if partially paralyzed. The condition is caused by a … He had been fine the previous day but woken that morning with a weak back end. With his person supporting him in a standing position, I examined the poor dog. It could be a simple strain so try resting your dog for a day or so but if you … But either way he can't control his back legs. Rear leg weakness can also result from an injury to the back or the spinal cord. The tumor can be in any place of the dog’s body. That’s a question I had to answer recently for the anxious parents of a middle-aged Labrador Retreiver. You will find your Lab even jumping on things or people without tiring. When faced with a problem, the vet draws up mental list of the likely problems (in vet-speak, this is a list of “differential diagnoses”). Some of the causes are:eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'dogswhisperer_com-box-3','ezslot_7',105,'0','0'])); Labrador retrievers are very playful. He’d had surgery to remove the discs and was recovering well. I'm heart broken. A tumor was certainly a possibility, but the signs should have come on more slowly. Happily, FCE carries a good prognosis. He’s a happy soul whose tail is always wagging. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Learn what to know about hip dysplasia including symptoms, treatment options, and preventative measures. Acute collapse in dogs is a sudden loss of strength, that causes them to fall and be unable to rise. You will also have to keep the seizures that come with this disease at bay using medication. The weakness is not always a result of old age and in many cases receiving early, adequate treatment can improve the problem. Even so, it’s important to check for fractures and dislocations, but there were none, and neither did Murphy have painful joints. My 13 year old lab's (well, 13 in September) hind legs have been giving out the last two days. Most dogs will slow down or stop when they are tired and will have no problems, but some revel so much in activity that they will exercise until they become weak and collapse from exhaustion. Can ANYTHING be done to slow the process or heal his legs entirely or at least help him walk better? The dog may drag one or both rear paws when it walks. Hmmm, Murphy didn’t fit neatly into any of these options. This dragging can cause the nails of one foot to be worn down. The dog may drag his hind toes as he walks, one of the typical symptoms. There are many reasons which can cause this tragic situation. Today while he was peeing, his back legs started to give out again. It’s similar to a person fainting or passing out and may begin with weakness, staggering, disorientation or vomiting or diarrhoea. OA can affect any joint, but the large joints in the front and rear legs are frequently … What makes the condition truly frightening is that the condition cou… Mild, unsteady gait in the hind and/or front legs - If your dog moves stiffly, look for the characteristic symptoms of Wobblers Syndrome. Common treatment procedures include acupuncture, hydrotherapy, painkillers, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Often, it does not demand the use of pain killers in treatment. From this, you can enjoy your dog walks without much interruption of a pain-filled dog. A dog’s inability to stand their rear legs or rear limb lameness (claudication) can have many causes. Keep it refrigerated … and always sniff it for that telltale fishy smell before giving it to your dog! In this article, I am giving some useful information about the causes, symptoms, and possible treatments the severe issue of the dog dragging back legs. Avulsions are another trauma cause by tending to occur in parts of the leg below the knee. He started out as just walking stiff on his hind legs about 8 months ago. One minute the cat is fine, and the next, it’s struggling to walk. My labrador is about 13 years old. She swims regularly and is pretty active but is a bit over weight. A dog suffering from arthritis has weaker legs because it makes them too weak to use. Also, be sure to read our blog on what to feed your Labrador. It involves a partial or complete tear in the knee ligament. What’s wrong? Walkin’ Wheels Rear Wheelchair: perfect to help dog’s with rear leg weakness or paralysis stay mobile, active and part of the family.It’s even great for dog’s who can still walk on their own but need help with their balance or want to take weight off their legs and hips. 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