Why Can’t My Dog Stand Up?
Some common reasons your dog can’t stand up include the following:
You’re probably aware of all of these, but there are some lesser-known illnesses that your dog could be suffering from. They include:
Botulism is a serious, rare condition caused by the botulinum toxin, which is released by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Common sources of the toxin include decaying hay, grass, and grain, decomposing carcasses, and spoiled vegetables. The most common way for a dog to suffer botulism is by eating a dead carcass with the toxin.
Symptoms become apparent 12 to 36 hours after contact with the toxin.
Dogs suffering from botulism are treated differently depending on the severity, but hospitalization may be necessary. If your dog has mild botulism, he may be hospitalized and given a urinary catheter to keep his bladder empty (botulism can cause urinary continence). In addition, your dog may receive nutrition through an IV.
If your dog has severe botulism, he will need to be closely monitored at a veterinary hospital with an intensive care unit (ICU). If he also has trouble swallowing, he will need a stomach tube for feeding. A ventilator will help your dog breathe when his respiratory muscles become paralyzed.
No matter the severity, your dog will receive an antitoxin to help neutralize the toxin your dog ingested. Recovery takes an average of 1 to 3 weeks. If gone untreated, botulism can lead to fatal respiratory failure.
Keep your dog away from dead carcasses, and don’t let him ingest anything besides the food and treats you give him.
The average cost for treating botulism is $2,000, but it can range from $500 to $4,000.
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) occurs when the spinal cord nerves begin to degenerate, which causes communication issues between the brain and limbs. It is typically found in dogs between 8 and 14 years old.
DM’s first symptom is coordination loss in the hind legs, which may appear as the dog wobbling while walking or dragging his feet. Sometimes the loss of coordination will appear in one leg and then the other. After 6 to 12 months, the dog will not be able to stand or walk. Eventually, the dog will lose the function of the front limbs as well. DM is not physically painful for dogs.
DM is not curable, but physical therapy can help with the quality of life.
Diagnosing DM can cost $2,000 to $4,000, and maintaining a good quality of life for your dog can cost more than $1,000 per year for supplements and physical therapy.
Geriatric vestibular syndrome (GVS), also known as old dog vestibular disease, has no known cause. It affects balance and results in dizziness. GVS is more common in older dogs. Fortunately, there is a full recovery in almost all cases; minor head tilts are the only effect left over.
It can also be present from birth as a congenital condition.
Diagnostic evaluations can cost $500 to $1,000. Additional physical therapy may be necessary, which costs more.
5 Neurological Reasons Your Dog Can’t Stand Up
As veterinary neurologists, one of the most common cases we treat is a dog that can’t stand up. These are the most likely causes.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is one of the most common conditions seen in veterinary neurology and the most common spinal cord condition in dogs. Also known as slipped, bulging, herniated, or ruptured disc, IVDD occurs when the shock-absorbing discs between spinal vertebrae deteriorate.
Chondrodystrophic (short legged) breeds, such as Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, and Shih Tzus, are the most highly predisposed, but it can occur in any dog.
IVDD is treated either medically or surgically depending on its severity, and dogs can absolutely recover. However, IVDD can cause permanent damage without timely treatment, so please don’t wait to visit a veterinarian if your dog can’t stand up.
Other signs your dog might have IVDD:
FCE happens when a piece of fibrocartilage (connective tissue) from an intervertebral disc makes its way into the bloodstream and blocks blood flow to the spinal cord.
Mostly seen in giant and large breed dogs, the symptoms come on suddenly during activity. The dog will typically cry out at the time, but the condition does not remain painful.
The good news is that your dog can heal from FCE with physical therapy alone, and the prognosis is excellent. The bad news is that other spinal cord conditions can look like FCE, but require very different approaches. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is imperative if your dog can’t stand up.
More signs of FCE in dogs:
AA Luxation in dogs is a spinal disorder where there is excessive movement between the first two bones in the neck. Since it affects the spinal cord and bones of the neck, symptoms usually affect all four limbs.
It is most often seen as a congenital (present at birth) malformation in toy breeds like Yorkies, Malteses, Chihuahuas, and Toy Poodles under a year old, but it is possible for any dog to be affected by a similar injury acquired secondary to trauma.
In severe cases, AA luxation can be fatal due to paralysis of the diaphragm, so please see a veterinarian as soon as possible if your dog can’t stand up. Surgery at Southeast Veterinary Neurology has a greater than 90% success rate!
Additional symptoms of AA luxation in dogs:
Vestibular disease refers to a problem with a dog’s balance system.
Most commonly, older dogs are affected by the idiopathic form, known as old dog vestibular syndrome, which comes on suddenly and severely, but oddly enough, improves on its own within a few days.
However, a disturbance of balance can happen to any dog, and causes vary from more common issues like ear infections, inner ear tumors, and hypothyroidism to much more serious conditions like brainstem tumors, strokes, and brain inflammation. Therefore, a professional diagnosis is critical if your dog can’t stand up.
Further symptoms of a dog suffering from vestibular disease:
Certain tick species can release a neurotoxin into your dog’s bloodstream when they bite that may result in sudden, rapidly progressive paralysis.
If left unattended to, the paralysis will continue to spread and could become fatal. However, unlike other tick diseases, once the offending tick is removed, so is the supply of neurotoxin; hence, so is the disease, and most dogs will begin to regain mobility. Still, to be safe, you should visit a veterinarian any time your dog can’t stand up.
Other signs of tick paralysis in dogs:
How Can I Help a Dog with Weak Back Legs?
Some physical conditions weaken a dog’s hind limbs. In the most severe instances, this could leave the dog unable to stand or walk properly. A hip brace is a common, non-invasive approach to managing these problems.
Braces are a very common treatment option for dogs with mild to moderate hip dysplasia. The brace fits around the rear legs and above the tail. It places gentle pressure on the hips to help the joint stay in place. A brace can provide better mobility immediately without resorting to invasive options like surgery.
Is your dog having trouble getting up or having weakness in the hind legs?
Is your dog lethargic? Are you getting worried about him? Lethargy is a common symptom in dogs, but how do you know when it’s something that requires an emergency vet visit?
In the article below, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about lethargy in dogs. You can use this information to figure out when it’s time to see a vet right away and when you might be able to wait.
Lethargy can sometimes be described as extreme tiredness, although it isn’t quite the same. A lethargic dog is not interested in his/her normal day-to-day life and is either unable or unwilling to get up out of bed very often. He/she may be weak and unable to move well, or he may be stiff and in a lot of pain when he/she moves.
A lethargic dog usually won’t show much interest in food, treats, or a favorite toy. He/she may watch the household move around him/her but won’t engage. He/she may be alert or only partially alert, depending on the severity of the lethargy.