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:
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.
Why Unable to Stand Occurs in Dogs
Inability or reluctance to stand or perform everyday actions can be serious as it can be caused by a severe disease. Any dog can suddenly become unbalanced or paralysed, although some can be affected more easily than others due to their age or breed. It can be caused by a number of reasons that are all serious and should be dealt with immediately.
Paralysis
Canine paralysis is similar to human paralysis, as it can appear quickly and keep them from doing what comes natural day to day. It can be caused by certain types of ticks that cause a paralysis starting in the back and moving forward. Another cause may be a problem with their spinal cord or vertebral discs, whether from injury or age. Some infections can also cause paralysis if not treated properly, especially infections that appear near the face or ears. If not treated quickly and correctly, infections can cause damage to the muscles, nerves and vital parts of the body, and can in turn cause paralysis. Rabies and distemper can also have the same effect as they can spread viruses into your dog’s brain. These viruses can be fatal.
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Intervertebral disc disease happens when the discs in your dog’s back protrude and press against the spinal cord. This will cause internal swelling which can lead to decreased nerve function and pain, which can keep your dog from performing everyday functions with ease, for example walking and standing. It can even cause paralysis in any part of the body, depending on the location of the damaged disc. Corgis, Dachshunds and Basset Hounds are more susceptible to slipped discs, but no breed is immune. Dogs that are of predisposed breeds that are obese and out of shape can also acquire this injury more easily.
Some possible signs of IVDD include reluctance to move the neck or carrying the head low. A dog with this condition will not want to move their head or neck as it is painful, and will instead resort to shifting their eyes in order to look at you. Other symptoms are stiffness, back pain, crying out suddenly when moving or being touched, tenderness or tenseness in the abdominal area, incomplete or unusual urination, hunched posture or an arched back, dragging their legs, toeing or knuckling over when walking or standing, an unwillingness to jump and a reluctance to stand or sit, as well as dragging legs. It can sometimes cause anxiety, since the dog knows that moving will inflict pain. A drop in appetite and activity level, loss of bladder control, shaking or trembling, collapsing or a loss in general coordination can also occur. This condition requires immediate veterinary care.
Geriatric Vestibular Syndrome
This disease affects the body’s balance and will result in dizziness, a loss of balance and vertigo. It can be more common in older dogs, and it is suspected that a problem with the vestibular system is the cause. In nearly every case there is a partial to full recovery, although some dogs are left with a mild head tilt. This condition can also be caused by infections in the ears, perforated eardrums caused by excessive cleaning of the ears or trauma from a head injury. Stroke, tumors, polyps, hypothyroidism, meningoencephalitis as well as certain drugs and antibiotics can also be causes. This disease can also be a congenital effect that is present from birth. When developed in older dogs the cause is unknown, but brain tumor is a possibility. Central vestibular disease, which is a less common and more serious type, can be caused by inflammatory disease, infection, brain bleeding or trauma, cancer and a loss of blood flow. Signs include excessive drooling, nausea and vomiting, head tilting, loss of coordination, circling and stumbling, falling, rolling and involuntary or nystagmus which is a rhythmic jerking of the eyes going up and down or side to side. If a single ear is infected, the head tilting, circling and nystagmus will only occur to that side. This disease is usually seen between birth and three months old. Some predisposed breeds are the German Shepherd, Doberman Pinscher, Beagle, English Cocker Spaniel, Smooth Fox Terrier and Tibetan Terrier. When taken to the veterinarian, your dog will go through a physical examination in order to determine whether the disease is peripheral or central. Sometimes x-rays will be done, and blood tests, sensitivity and culture as well as cytology may be taken to help eliminate other potential causes for the symptoms.
Degenerative Myelopathy
This occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord begin to degenerate, which interferes with the communication between the brain and limbs. It usually occurs in older animals. It may begin with a loss of coordination in the hind legs, which can cause the dog to wobble when walking and drag their feet. It will sometimes occur in one leg and move to the other. As it gets worse, the limbs will get weaker and the dog will have trouble standing. It tends to continue to get worse until the dog is no longer able to walk or stand. If signs continue, the dog will eventually lose the use of its front limbs as well. Degenerative myelopathy tends to be a non-painful disease, but can be difficult to watch for an owner.
Botulism
This is caused by an infection with a bacteria called clostridium botulinum that releases a toxin. This group of bacteria can stay dormant for a very long time and thrives in low-oxygen conditions. The sources of the toxin are decaying hays, grass and grains, decomposing carcasses or spoiled vegetables. It is a fairly rare but serious disease, and signs should begin to occur 12 to 36 hours after contact with the botulism toxin. Some symptoms include excessive drooling, dilated pupils, a general weakness, paralysis that begins at the hind limbs and moves towards the front, increased effort to breathe, difficulty swallowing and facial nerve paralysis. If unchecked, the disease can lead to fatal respiratory failure. The most common way for a dog to obtain the botulism disease is by eating a dead carcass that has the disease. It is difficult to determine that a dog has obtained the virus, as it mimics the signs of many other illnesses.
How I made a PARALYTIC DOG WALK AGAIN | Muscular Weakness in Dogs | Tetraplegia or Paraplegia|
Dogs are animals which love to expend energy. Of course, some dogs are more energetic than others, but a healthy dog will need to exercise and move about to some degree. This is why witnessing our dog having trouble standing up after lying down can be a worrying sight. If this instability continues when they are walking, this worry is compounded. We might experience some stiffness after sitting down for some time, especially as we age. Dogs are no different in this regard, but age is not the only reason why a dog may have trouble standing or walking.
At AnimalWised, we understand why your dog cant stand up or walk properly. We look at the various causes of this mobility issue and find out if there is anything you can do about it. You may also be interested in: