Things to Consider When Your Dog Can’t Walk on Its Back Leg Suddenly
Lameness can happen gradually or all of a sudden. Gradual, progressive lameness is generally caused by an underlying condition, such as osteoarthritis, bone cancer, or neurological disease. Sudden lameness, on the other hand, is usually caused by some sort of acute injury.
Some common reasons your dog can’t walk on its back leg suddenly are:
In this article, however, we will take a closer look at some possible neurological explanations.
4 Neurological Reasons Your Dog Can’t Walk on Its Back Leg Suddenly
The nervous system is the controlling system of the body. Nerves travel from the brain and spinal cord, relaying messages to other parts of the body. The spinal cord is a long band of nerve tissue fed by a system of blood vessels and protected by the vertebral column.
The vertebral column is made up of small bones, called vertebrae, that are connected by fibrocartilage, known as intervertebral discs. Intervertebral discs work as shock absorbers and allow the spine to bend. They are made up of an outer fibrous ring, called the annulus fibrosus, and an inner gel-like filling, known as the nucleus pulposus.
The following nervous system disorders could cause a dog’s sudden inability to walk on its back leg:
Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (PNST) in Dogs
Peripheral nerves connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body. A peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) develops from the cells that surround and protect these nerves.
Although symptoms depend on which nerve is affected, progressive lameness of one leg is typical of PNST. However, sudden lameness is possible. This type of cancer usually occurs in middle-aged to older dogs.
Some clues that a peripheral nerve sheath tumor may be why your dog can’t walk on its back leg suddenly are:
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If your dog is suddenly having trouble walking or standing, do not ignore it. As a responsible dog owner, you need to take care of any lameness problem in your dog. It could be something minor, such as blisters on one of your dog’s paws or a pulled muscle. On the other hand, it could be something serious enough to warrant examination and treatment by your vet.