Common Causes of Back Leg Weakness in Older Dogs
Arthritis
Arthritis is stiffness in the joints that can affect the hind legs and cause weakness. Older dogs are especially at risk. As a dog ages, the cartilage between the joints may deteriorate, which can cause inflammation and pain. The condition may become what is known as Degenerative Joint Disease, which is the canine version of osteoarthritis. If your dog’s back legs are collapsing, look for these additional signs that may indicate osteoarthritis:
Learn more about at-home arthritis remedies.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a chronic condition caused by the hip joint ball and socket rubbing together due to a malformation. Over time, the rubbing together causes significant cartilage loss and can develop into osteoarthritis. Older dogs with hip dysplasia may experience back leg collapse, but also look for the following:
Learn more about Dog Hip Dysplasia.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
Degenerative Myelopathy is a genetic and incurable neurodegenerative disease marked by deterioration and loss of function of the nervous system, especially the neurons in the brain. Onset typically occurs when dogs reach about eight years of age. The most notable symptom differentiating DM from the other potential causes for old dogs’ back legs collapsing is that the dog will experience NO PAIN. Additionally, be on the lookout for:
Weight
Dogs, like people, may experience weight gain as they get older. If weight gain is the cause of back leg collapse in your older dog, you’re in luck – it’s the easiest to remedy. Be sure your older dog gets plenty of exercise and maintains a healthy diet. Older dogs do not require as much food as younger dogs. Also, consider foods with lower fat content.
Caring for an older dog with weak back legs
All dogs are wonderful companions who enrich our lives, but we’re not ashamed to admit that our oldest fur babies hold a special place in our hearts. They’ve been with us through thick and thin and know our deepest secrets. As they get older, health issues can arise, including your dear old dogs back legs collapsing. Contents
If your dogs legs collapse, it can be frightening for you both. If you’ve stumbled upon this article, you’ve likely been frantically searching “old dog back legs collapsing” and similar terms. We’ll talk about some of the most common reasons older dogs lose strength in their back legs and share a few ways you can help your dog cope. Here’s what you should know.
When Medical Care Isn’t Enough: Support and Mobility Products
If veterinary medicine can’t resolve your pet’s hind leg issues, look into assistive devices. K9 Carts offers mobility products to help dogs get around easily even if they have painful hind limb problems, limited hind limb function, or no hind limb function at all. Here are two popular options to consider:
Why Do Dogs’ Back Legs Give Out? (why this happens in old dogs)
When a dog suffers from weakness, regardless of cause, it’s usually most noticeable in the hind limbs first. This makes sense, as the dog’s hind limbs do a lot. They are responsible for pushing up from a sitting or laying position and for propelling the body forward during movement. Difficulty with these simple activities of daily life will alert you to a problem associated with weakness.
What does it look like when your dog’s back legs are weak? Slow to rise, sinking on hind limbs, dragging the tops of the toes, hind end swaying, limbs crossing sometimes, exercise intolerance, slipping, sliding, and hind-end collapse are all signs of hind-limb weakness. Your dog may also suddenly not be able to walk on back legs.
If your dog is showing any of these signs, a couple of important observations you can make that will help your veterinarian determine the cause are:
Your dog’s age and size will make some conditions more likely than others. This is also used in the diagnostic process.
Causes of hind-limb weakness can be categorized into four main groups: orthopedic, neurologic, metabolic, or cardiac.
The main orthopedic cause of hind-limb weakness in dogs is chronic joint inflammation/pain (osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease). While the arthritis itself is obviously painful, it is frequently accompanied by muscle aches and pains, called compensatory pain. The result is that it’s hard for the dog to get up and get moving. This may cause him to become more sedentary, resulting in loss of muscular strength and fitness, which compounds the whole situation.
Arthritis most commonly affects older dogs due to wear and tear on the joints over the years; overweight dogs bear an additional burden due to the excess stress those extra pounds put on the joints. Dogs with hip dysplasia (abnormally formed hip joints) may develop hip arthritis at a young age. Hind-limb weakness due to these arthritic conditions usually has a slow, insidious onset. It won’t seem like it happened overnight.
Acute forms of arthritis that can result in sudden weakness in the dog’s hind end include immune-mediated arthritis and Lyme arthritis. Other orthopedic causes of hind-limb weakness include fractures, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), and bilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, which are common in overweight dogs. Blood tests and x-rays will help your veterinarian diagnose these conditions and prescribe appropriate therapy.