Why does my puppy have weak back legs?
If your puppy is struggling to walk, is unsteady on their feet, and has weak back legs that shake, there’s likely a physical concern you should address with your puppy’s veterinarian. Puppies should only have weak back legs at around 3 weeks old, and you shouldn’t bring a new puppy into your home until they are at least 8 weeks old.
There are many medical reasons why a dog may have weak back legs, but not all of them are found in puppies. If you have an adult dog that is struggling with weak back legs, the list of possible conditions will be different.
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One condition that may affect puppies, causing them to shake and have difficulty with balance and coordination, is called shaking puppy syndrome. This is also known as hypomyelination and is a condition affecting the nervous system.
The severity of the disease varies and can be a mild condition that your puppy outgrows by 3-4 months of age, or a severe condition that drastically shortens your dog’s life.
There is a hereditary component to this disease, with Springer Spaniels, Golden Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs among breeds commonly affected.
Symptoms may appear to get worse with excitement and when eating, and improve when the puppy is at rest.
There is no test to diagnose shaking puppy syndrome, or treatment for the disease. Instead, your puppy’s veterinarian may come to this diagnosis after ruling out other potential conditions.
Hypoglycemia, AKA low blood sugar, is especially a risk to smaller breeds of dogs under 3 months old. Puppies may have weak muscles, tremors, and walk with a staggering gait.
As with shaking puppy syndrome, the symptoms are not always present 24/7. Instead, they occur when a puppy’s blood sugar drops too low, typically caused due to overexertion or going too long between eating.
Corn syrup applied to your puppy’s gums should help give them the boost they need to raise their blood sugar, and they often grow out of being regularly hypoglycemic with age.
Puppies suffering from swimmer puppy syndrome are unable to stand or walk at the normal age of 3 weeks – instead, they paddle along the ground, hence the name of the condition.
It’s not known the exact cause of swimmer puppy syndrome, but both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role.
Treated early, swimmer puppy syndrome can be overcome in many dogs. This condition is easily noticed by the time a puppy is just a few weeks old, so ideally, whoever has raised your puppy prior to you acquiring them has already started treatment.
Helping a puppy struggling with swimmer puppy syndrome involves ensuring they are not on flat or slippery surfaces. This gives them the best chance of finding traction. Various physiotherapy treatments, including special harnesses or slings and swimming, can also be utilized.
This video shows what Swimmer Puppy Syndrome looks like and how this owner resolves the problem.
Other Reasons for Weak Back Legs in Puppies
Less commonly, your puppy may be unsteady on their back legs due to a neurological condition, distemper, ingesting something toxic, or even being scared and unsure.
However, it’s important to note that puppies should not have weak or shaky back legs by the time they are old enough to come home with you. Thus, if you notice concerning symptoms, you should take your puppy to their veterinarian to work on obtaining a diagnosis and possible treatment.
Neurologic Causes of Hind-Leg Weakness in Dogs
IVDD crosses over from an orthopedic probem to a neurologic one when a diseased disc (or discs) puts pressure on the spinal cord, resulting in neurologic weakness. Many of these cases can be managed medically, but if paralysis occurs or there is no improvement with medical therapy, surgery is indicated.
Spinal tumors and other neurologic conditions cause similar signs. Advanced imaging, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and sometimes cerebrospinal fluid analysis, is required for diagnosis.
Diskospondylitis is an infection of the intervertebral disc and the ends of the adjacent vertebrae. It is very painful, frequently causes hind-limb weakness, and can be difficult to diagnose. Treatment is antibiotics for an extended period of time (six to 12 months). Because this condition can be hard to diagnose in its early stages, your dog may require repeat x-rays and/or advanced testing like CT or MRI to get to a definitive diagnosis. Properly diagnosed and treated, these dogs can make a full recovery.
Lumbosacral stenosis, also known as cauda equina syndrome, is a degenerative condition similar to IVDD but specific to the lumbosacral joint. This is the joint connecting the last vertebrae to the pelvic area. It’s different from the other intervertebral joints in that it is where all the peripheral nerves that go to the hind end branch off from the spinal cord. Disease in this area is very painful and frequently causes neurologic deficits, resulting in hind-limb weakness.
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a slow but progressive degeneration of the spinal cord resulting in hind-limb weakness. It occurs in many breeds but the German Shepherd Dog is the poster child for this disease. It usually affects middle-aged and older dogs. There is currently no effective treatment for DM, just supportive care.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that results in muscular weakness that comes on with exercise. It can start with the hind limbs, but rapidly evolves into full-body weakness and collapse.
Here’s a scenario that’s classic for MG: Your dog gets up from resting and is perfectly normal. You head out for your walk and within minutes, he is sinking, slipping, and staggering until he can no longer stand or walk. After a period of rest, which allows for replenishment of affected neuromuscular transmitters, he can once again function for a short time. Diagnosis requires a blood test. Treatment is long term (six months or longer). Some dogs will achieve remission and go on to live normal lives. Others will require treatment and support for life.
Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) is an inherited disorder in Labrador Retrievers and a handful of other breeds. It usually becomes apparent between 6 months and 2 years of age. It happens after several minutes of strenuous exercise. The dog suddenly becomes progressively weaker and uncoordinated in the hind limbs until he ultimately collapses. There is no treatment for this. Prevention involves avoiding strenuous exercise. For these reasons, it is important that you purchase your puppy from a breeder who has tested the parents for this gene. If you’ve adopted a dog with these symptoms, have him tested for the EIC gene.
Idiopathic vestibular syndrome is a common cause of incoordination and hind-limb weakness in geriatric dogs. It comes on suddenly, and it may seem to you as if your dog has had a stroke. The cause of this disorder is unknown. It is frequently accompanied by balance issues and a head tilt. Most dogs will recover in time with supportive care.
Several tick-borne diseases can cause generalized neuromuscular weakness that may first be apparent in the hind limbs. Tell your veterinarian if you have seen ticks on your dog.
Does Your Puppy Have Weak Back Legs? Everything to know…
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You’ve been playing with your dog in the park or watching it trot up the stairs when you see her hind legs suddenly weaken and give way. Could this hind leg weakness be the normal toll of old age? Or does your pet have a serious medical condition?
Sudden onset of collapse can be secondary to a variety of disorders including spinal cord injury, orthopedic disease, or systemic illness. This sudden hind-leg weakness may be a sign of a disease that requires prompt attention from your regular veterinarian. Or even a trip to the emergency room.
When dogs come to CARE with sudden hind-leg weakness, they receive a thorough evaluation to help determine the appropriate diagnostics and treatment. If the vet suspects neurologic disease, a complete neurologic examination will be performed. This is a specialized exam that evaluates their gait, reflexes, and their awareness. The results allow us to localize the affected region of the nervous system – what we call neurolocalization. Their neurolocalization, breed, age, and onset of clinical signs help prioritize the most likely cause of their neurologic decompensation.