The dog's hind legs give way. Paresis of limbs or when a dog’s legs give out

Hind leg problems are one of the most common problems. Sometimes these are only minor injuries, but there are times when the pet begins to have serious problems with its hind legs. If the dog pulls hind legs, this may indicate the presence serious problems with health. What are the reasons for this phenomenon, and what to do if the dog pulls its hind legs?

Causes

If your dog begins to pull his back legs, this may indicate limb failure. Therefore, it is important to determine what causes such a problem?

Injuries (sprains, tendon ruptures, fractures, injuries peripheral nerves). This is the most common cause of hind leg failure.
Arthritis and arthrosis of the joints of the limbs.
Tumors.

If the dog does not have the above problems, then most likely the problem is due to certain diseases.

Disc herniation, discopathy. Breeds such as, and are especially predisposed to this disease. This pathology is a displacement intervertebral discs and represents serious danger for life.
Myositis is inflammation of the muscles. This disease most often affects middle-aged dogs after prolonged physical exertion. This disease is not life-threatening for the pet. However, it is still necessary to contact a veterinarian, since only a specialist will be able to distinguish myositis from spinal cord damage.
Problems with vascular system. In older dogs, problems with the limbs may be associated with disorders of the brain, that is, have a central origin.
Valgus deformity hind limbs. This disease most often occurs in puppies. large breeds. The deformity is manifested by curvature of the bones of the lower leg and thigh, which subsequently prevents the dog from moving correctly. As a rule, the reason hallux valgus deformity hind limbs is due to improper feeding. A large number of protein and carbohydrates in the diet leads to too rapid growth puppy and a significant increase in body weight. This leads to the fact that developing skeletal system the limbs cannot withstand too much stress, and, as a result, various deformations of the limbs occur.
Osteochondrosis. Dog breeds that are most predisposed to this disease are:. Osteochondrosis may occur due to genetic predisposition and improper feeding. If your puppy has too much calcium and phosphorus in his diet, he may develop this disease, so you need to carefully monitor your pet's diet.

What to do?

If the dog begins to pull its hind legs, you need to take this problem very carefully. In most cases, the problem of hind leg failure cannot be solved without the intervention of a veterinarian, and excessive delay in contacting the clinic can lead to negative consequences. What to do if your pet starts pulling its hind legs?

Analyze what exactly could have caused the failure of the hind legs in order to give the most accurate answer during a consultation with a veterinarian. You need to consider whether your pet has had any injuries or has recently past diseases. Any information that may be even slightly related to the occurrence of such a problem should be reported to the doctor.
Contact a veterinary clinic. Whatever the reason for the failure of the hind legs, it is simply necessary to consult a veterinarian. Perhaps problems with paws are just a symptom of some more serious disease. Therefore, you should not put off visiting a doctor.
Analyze dog nutrition. One of the most common reasons the occurrence of problems with the hind limbs is an incorrect diet (with an excess of protein, calcium, phosphorus, etc.). In the early stages of many diseases, nutritional correction can help get rid of the problem. Of course, before making any changes to your pet's diet, you should consult your veterinarian.

If your dog is pulling his hind legs, you should contact your veterinarian to determine the cause of the limb failure. If you provide your pet with quick and high-quality treatment, you can avoid the development of many serious diseases!

One of the frequent complaints of owners of dogs with neurological problems is that both hind legs fail. In this case the dog:

Starts to move abnormally.
The hind legs seem to stop obeying and become weak.
Paresis or complete paralysis of the pelvic limbs develops.

More often this problem occurs in dogs of small and medium breeds that have a genetic predisposition to lesions of the intervertebral discs. These dogs include mainly dachshunds, in addition to all brachycephalic breeds - Pekingese, French bulldog, Brabançon and others. Typically, these dogs' hind legs begin to work abnormally between the ages of 3 and 8 years.

The first symptom of neurological disorders in the thoracolumbar spine, which lead to the dog losing its hind legs, is pain. Later, weakness appears, the inability to move the limbs, and last of all, pain sensitivity disappears.

These symptoms usually come on suddenly while walking or playing with other dogs, or without visible external reasons in a state of relative rest. Sudden movements can trigger the appearance of such symptoms, but are not their main cause. Many dachshund owners believe that the significant length of the spinal column plays a role in the development of the disease, but this is not true. Sometimes the manifestations of the disease occur all at once, but it also happens that in the morning the dog feels only pain, and by the evening paralysis of the limbs develops with loss of pain sensitivity.

There can be many reasons why dogs' back legs fail. And, of course, those owners who suddenly encountered this problem are lost and don’t know what to do. Just yesterday their pet was briskly jumping on the sofas and playing catch with neighbors dogs, and today he lies indifferently, unable to rise.

Cases of damage directly to the extremities include injuries (fractures, sprains and ruptures of tendons, damage to peripheral nerves), as well as arthritis and arthrosis of the joints of the extremities, tumors.

If the above diagnoses are excluded, then we are most likely talking about spinal pathology, that is, a violation of the innervation of the limbs due to any pathological influences on the spinal cord. Paresis and paralysis of the hind limbs develop in the case of damage to the spinal cord at the level of the thoracic and (or) lumbar spine.

Injuries

Refusal hind legs in a dog it can occur as a result of trauma - with fractures, sprains and ruptures of ligaments and tendons, with damage to peripheral nerves, as well as due to diseases such as arthrosis, arthritis of the joints of the limbs, tumors, discopathy and herniated disc. In addition to these diseases, spinal pathology is possible, in which the innervation of the limbs is disrupted due to the impact of adverse factors on the spinal cord. Paresis and paralysis are frequent companions of spinal cord lesions in the lumbar and thoracic regions.

A common reason why the back legs of dogs fail is of a traumatic nature: car injuries, falls, blows, severe bites during fights. In some cases, such consequences can be caused by an unsuccessful sharp turn, jumping and slipping on an ice crust.

At the site of direct injury to the spine, the integrity of the spinal column (its structure) is disrupted, swelling occurs, which leads to compression of the spinal cord and radicular nerves. Accordingly, the supply of blood with oxygen stops, and when prolonged compression nerve cells die, which makes it impossible for nerve impulses to pass through peripheral nerves. Strong traumatic injury leads to disruption of the integrity of the spinal tissue, and rupture of the spinal cord occurs.

Degenerative diseases of the spine

Refusal normal functioning hind limbs in dogs can provoke degenerative diseases of the spine, which are characterized by disruption of important metabolic processes in its tissues. So this leads to pathological changes structures of the spinal column.

Spondylosis

A dog’s hind legs may fail due to spondylosis – “local aging” of some vertebral segments. This disease progresses very slowly, and at most early stage practically not detected. First of all, the outer fibers of the fibrous ring are affected (the consistency of the nucleus pulposus is preserved), and then calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament begins. Osteophytes develop, which visually resemble beak-like growths.

Tumors in the spine

Tumor-like processes gradually developing in the immediate vicinity (or itself) of the spinal cord lead to pathological changes and fractures of the spinal column. With a sharp exacerbation of the process, swelling and compression of the roots and spinal cord occur, and the following symptoms can be observed in the dog: weakening or failure of the hind limbs, arched back, gait disturbance, when the dog’s body position changes, the dog yelps, comorbid disorders(violation of urination and defecation), in some cases, refusal to feed.

Spondyloarthrosis

The consequence of static loads in osteochondrosis of the spine can be spondyloarthrosis (deforming arthrosis of the joints of the spine). Uneven loads on the spinal column can also lead to protrusion of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc through the pathologically altered fibrous ring. This phenomenon is called a vertebral hernia. Protruding towards the spinal cord, the hernia causes compression of the radicular nerves and (or) the spinal cord.

Discopathy

Neurological lesions of the pelvic limbs are most often based on diseases of the intervertebral discs (discopathies). In this case, the altered disc substance penetrates the spinal canal and pinches the spinal cord or roots spinal nerves, which manifests itself as a neurological deficit. Often a large dog's hind legs fail, and this problem has its own characteristics. Similar lesions are observed in older animals of large and giant breeds: German Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Great Danes and others. As a rule, this group of dogs develops clinical symptoms progresses slowly over several months or even years. In this case, we can assume lesions of the intervertebral discs in the lumbar spine or at the level of the lumbosacral junction, as well as lumbosacral stenosis.

Discopathy is very common in dogs - French bulldogs. This is due to anatomical structure an animal when, as a result of artificial selection, the spine has become elongated, and now undergoes stronger loads than the spine of “normal” dogs. The distance between the vertebrae has become significantly greater than normal. This is due to genetics and is inherited. Disc prolapse can occur not only during active movements and jumping, but even at rest, when the dog is sleeping or lying quietly.

Dysplasia

Very often, owners of dogs of heavy breeds (St. Bernard, shepherd dogs, Labrador retrievers, Great Danes, etc.) encounter diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The most common disease in puppies is dysplasia. hip joints. This disease is hereditary and appears most often between the ages of 4 and 10 months during intensive growth. First there is a problem when getting up, especially after sleep. The dog limps, then straightens up and walks normally. Further without treatment, the symptoms may intensify, until the dog completely refuses to walk. If you notice such signs, you need to take your dog to the vet and get an x-ray.

Osteocondritis of the spine

Spinal osteochondrosis is considered the most severe form of damage; this disease is based on degenerative processes in the intervertebral discs (discopathy), often involving the surrounding vertebral bodies, as well as changes in the ligamentous apparatus and intervertebral joints.

The reasons for the development of osteochondrosis can be:

Genetically determined developmental defects causing vertebral instability.
Rheumatoid lesions.
Spinal injuries.
Impaired microcirculation leading to disruption of disk nutrition.
Autoimmune processes.

Spinal pathology is also possible, which arises from the influence of adverse factors on the spinal cord. Frequent companions of spinal cord lesions in the thoracic and lumbar region are paresis and paralysis. Most often, dogs' paws suffer from falls (especially in small breeds), car injuries, impacts and strong bites during fights.

Even an unsuccessful jump, a sharp turn, or a dog slipping on an icy crust can lead to paw failure. At this moment, at the site of spinal injury, the integrity of the structure of the spinal column is disrupted, swelling occurs, which compresses the radicular nerves and the spinal cord.

Of course, the answer will be to contact a veterinarian, preferably specializing in neurology. If you notice a painful reaction in your dog when changing body position, a tense gait, a reluctance to walk, especially on stairs, do not wait until its hind legs give out - immediately show the animal to a doctor, then the treatment will be more effective. If the problem with your hind legs has already happened, you shouldn’t wait any longer.

If the animal has suffered a spinal injury, try to get it to the doctor as quickly as possible and in an immobilized state (secure the animal on a board using bandages or straps). Do not use painkillers until you see a doctor. Pain limits the animal's activity, which helps avoid further displacement of the vertebrae during a fracture.

It is possible to notice the onset of the disease and urgently contact a specialist, but most inexperienced owners do not attach importance to such important symptoms How:

Anxiety.
The dog hides and squeals when someone touches its back.
The dog is passive when other dogs are frolicking.

However, in most cases, the alarm begins to sound when the dog’s hind legs partially begin to fail, or paralysis develops. And here it is necessary to differentiate such a disease as radiculitis. An incorrectly prescribed treatment (for example, massage instead of maximum immobilization of the animal) will waste valuable time and aggravate the situation.

The sooner help is provided to the dog, the better the prognosis for its recovery. In any case, you shouldn’t despair, because there are known cases when completely immobilized dogs were put on their paws and returned to active life. Depending on the diagnosis, it is prescribed drug treatment in the form of injections. A more radical case in the case of spinal diseases is surgery, after which treatment also continues.

In parallel, the dog is prescribed a massage, swimming is recommended during the recovery period, and exercises with the dog upon return to it motor activity. All dog owners should remember that it will not be possible to help a paralyzed dog at home. It is necessary to see a doctor and undergo all prescribed examinations to diagnose accurate diagnosis and start timely treatment.

First, the doctor will conduct an examination and evaluate general state, will provide emergency assistance and make a primary diagnosis. If we are talking about spinal pathology, the doctor:

Check the preservation of sensitivity (tactile and pain) of the limbs.
Checks the integrity of the reflexes.
Check availability pain syndrome in the spine area.
Will appoint X-ray examination.
Myelography may be performed, that is, X-ray will be done after introducing a special X-ray contrast agent into the spinal canal. This is done to identify the slightest violation, not noticeable on a regular image, as well as to determine the exact localization of the process. If necessary, he will prescribe blood and urine tests to identify concomitant pathologies (pyelonephritis, kidney, liver, heart failure, etc.).

The conducted studies will help the doctor assess the extent of the lesion, give a prognosis of the disease and make a decision on treatment. Perhaps the doctor will give you a choice between surgical and therapeutic methods of treatment, perhaps he will insist on one of them.

You may notice the first signs of a problem while walking. If they appear after sudden movements (for example, during games), then do not consider the activity to be the cause of the disease. Quicker, .

Symptoms of hind leg failure in dogs are extremely unpleasant:

The dog cannot move normally
Hind legs weaken and become unruly
As a result, paralysis of the pelvic limbs or paresis may develop.

Manifestations of the disease do not always occur all at once. Sometimes in the morning the dog feels pain, and in the evening the deplorable signs and consequences of paralysis of the limbs are already obvious.

Causes and diseases leading to hind leg failure in dogs

The disease can cause discouragement among owners, since everything happens quite abruptly and unexpectedly.

There can be many reasons for it:

Limb injuries: fractures, nerve damage, tendon ruptures and sprains.
Arthritis of the extremities
Spinal pathology

If the spinal cord is affected in the thoracic or lumbar region spine, paralysis or paresis may develop. However, injuries are also risk factors. Sometimes a sharp turn, a fall, a blow, a bite during a fight with another individual provokes a whole chain of problems. Keep in mind that the dog may slip on the ice, jump unsuccessfully, or turn around. If possible, monitor your pet to reduce risk factors.

Nervous system

One of the most common causes of hind leg failure in dogs that owners encounter is problems nervous system.

Neurological disorders manifest themselves as follows: in the thoracolumbar region of the dog’s spinal column, strong pain . Then paws are taken away, and it is clear that the animal cannot move its limbs. Eventually pain sensitivity disappears. You may notice the first signs of a problem while walking. If they appear after sudden movements (for example, during games), then do not consider the activity to be the cause of the disease. Quicker, movement provokes symptoms of an existing problem.

This problem is typical for small and medium-sized dogs rather than large breeds, as well as individuals with a genetic predisposition to damage to the intervertebral discs. The main risk group is dachshunds; the problem is observed in French bulldogs, Brabançons, Pekingese and other representatives of brachycephalic breeds. Most often, unpleasant changes are observed between the ages of three and eight years.

Some dachshund owners think that the problem lies in the long spine. However, science does not confirm this guess. And it is interesting that the manifestations of the disease do not always appear all at once. Sometimes in the morning the dog feels pain, and in the evening the deplorable signs and consequences of paralysis of the limbs are already obvious.

Injuries

Pathology develops in stages: First, the structure of the spinal column is disrupted at the site of injury, then swelling occurs. This causes the spinal cord and radicular nerves to become compressed. The latter problem leads to the disruption of the flow of blood with oxygen.

When this continues for some time, nerve cells die and nerve impulses along the peripheral nerves are blocked.

Severe injury violates the integrity of the spinal cord tissue, in other words, it tears it. It is clear that this is critical for any animal, and the help of a specialist is needed.

Degenerative diseases of the spine

Sometimes the spine can simply fall under the influence of degenerative processes. This also leads to the fact that the dog’s hind limbs stop working normally. In this case, metabolic processes in the tissues of the body are disrupted, and the parts of the spinal column undergo pathological changes.

Spondylosis

Your dog's hind legs may also fail due to so-called “local aging,” or spondylosis, of certain areas of the spine. This disease goes away quite slowly. It may be almost invisible at an early stage. The outer fibers of the annulus fibrosus are damaged first. Then a process called calcification in medicine occurs with the anterior longitudinal ligament. Beak-shaped growths appear on the spine, they are called osteophytes.

Tumors in the spine

In the area of the spine and in the spinal cord sometimes tumor-like processes occur. As a result, pathologies gradually develop, and in some cases, fractures of the spinal column. If the process sharply worsens, the developing edema compresses the roots and spinal cord. This results in the following symptoms:
limbs are weakened or compressed,
the back arches,
gait is disturbed,
the dog squeals while trying to make the usual movements,
refuses food.

Spondyloarthrosis

Joints of the spine - weakness dogs diagnosed with osteochondrosis. If they are subjected to static loads, the joints can become deformed. The phenomenon is called spondyloarthrosis. Uneven loads on the spinal column are also dangerous. They lead to a vertebral hernia: due to pathology, the fibrous ring changes, and as a result, the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc protrudes. The hernia compresses the radicular nerves and sometimes the spinal cord itself.

Discopathy

Diseases of the intervertebral discs, also called discopathy, cause neurological damage to the pelvic limbs. The disc substance changes and enters the spinal canal. As a result, it is clamped:
or the spinal cord itself,
or spinal nerve roots.
Neurological deficit is a consequence of these processes.

When a large dog's paws fail, the problem has its own characteristics. In Dobermans, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Rottweilers and similar breeds, the disease progresses gradually over several months or years. It can be assumed that damage to the intervertebral discs has occurred - in the lumbar region or near the lumbosacral junction.

French bulldogs are especially susceptible to discopathy. This is due to their unnatural anatomy, which resulted from artificial selection. The spine of this breed has become elongated, which leads to more heavy loads on him. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the distance between the vertebrae is greater than normal. As a result, even at rest it may fall out. intervertebral disc, and even more so during active movement.

Dysplasia

Heavy breeds have their own problem - diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Saint Bernards, Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Great Danes characterized by intensive growth at the age of 4-10 months. This is partly why puppies of these breeds suffer from hip dysplasia.

Pay attention to the first symptoms! If a dog limps after sleep or a passive state in a lying position, and then “paces” during the day, these are the first signs, after which it is advisable to call the veterinarian home or take the dog for an x-ray. If the dog is not treated, the symptoms may intensify, and a prolonged problem can lead to the animal completely refusing to walk.

Osteocondritis of the spine

The most severe form of damage is spinal osteochondrosis. In this case, discopathy becomes more dangerous form- degenerative processes move from the intervertebral discs to the surrounding vertebral bodies. The ligamentous apparatus and intervertebral joints.

Here are some common causes of osteochondrosis:
Genetic defects development. Because of this, the vertebrae function unstable.
Spinal injuries.
Autoimmune processes.
Rheumatoid lesions.
Microcirculation is disrupted, and as a result, the nutrition of the disc is disrupted.

Spinal pathology

Blows and bites, falls and unsuccessful jumps, as well as other unfavorable factors lead to spinal pathology. This phenomenon leads to paresis and paralysis. Spinal column ceases to be integral, its structure is disrupted and swelling occurs. The spinal cord and radicular nerves are compressed.

What to do if your dog's back legs fail?

Unless you have special skills, knowledge and experience, you will most likely need a veterinarian. A doctor whose specialty is neurology will be especially helpful.

Now let's look at common questions.

Is it worth contacting if you just have the first symptoms: pain reactions on body movement, tension in gait or refusal to move?

Yes, it's worth it. The sooner you contact, the greater the chances of helping. Even if the alarm is false, you can take the opportunity to do a preventive examination.

If it has already started late stage- the hind legs have given up, should I call the veterinarian, or is the dog already doomed?

There are always chances. If the animal is dear to you, then try to find out what can be done in the current situation. Even completely immobilized dogs were sometimes brought to their feet. Another thing is that the chances in this case are less.

Practical advice for a critical situation:

If the dog is injured and, apparently, the spine has been damaged, then in order to take it to the veterinary clinic, secure it to the board with belts or bandages.
If there is your four-legged friend whines and howls, and the doctor will arrive soon, do not rush to use painkillers - it can contribute to further displacement of the vertebrae.

Dogs are one of the best pets, but just like people, they have certain health problems, one of which is limb failure. If a dog loses its hind legs, treatment can be lengthy and directly depends on the causes of the pathology, age and breed of the animal.

Description

The hind legs of dogs most often fail due to neurological disorders, and the limbs can stop functioning either suddenly or gradually.

Precedes the development of pathology:

abnormal movement;
unruly paws;
severe weakening of the limbs.

If such symptoms are present, the animal gradually develops paresis, and often complete paralysis. Wherein muscular system stop receiving commands from the brain, and the dog ceases to control the movement of its paws. Such problems arise against the background of acquired pathologies of the central nervous system, damage to the brain or spinal cord.

Distinguish the following types paralysis of limbs in dogs:

Monoplegia is paralysis of one leg.
Paraplegia is a paired paralysis of the forelimbs, but more often the hind limbs.
Tetraplegia is paralysis of all paws.
Hemiplegia - lateral paralysis (two right or left paws suffer).

Depending on the causes of paw failure, the following types of pathology are distinguished:

Functional. Appears in the background negative impact external factors And severe stress, can be temporary and go away on its own without outside intervention.
Organic. Occurs when there is a disruption in the functioning of neurons resulting from physical impact on the animal’s brain (head or spinal cord). The cause of this illness may be injuries, tumor processes, tick bites, infection with enteritis or distemper.
Central. A disease that develops gradually and causes irreversible changes in smooth muscles as a result of which they lose their natural functionality. In such conditions, muscle tone and reflexes may be preserved.
Peripheral. A pathology most often called paw failure. It occurs against the background of the death of neurons responsible for muscle tone. With this disease, loss of sensation and paralysis of the limbs occurs within a couple of days.

Some dog breeds are genetically predisposed to spinal disc disease and are more likely to suffer limb failure. The most common problem is in the following breeds:

dachshund;
Pekingese;
French bulldogs;
pugs;
Brabançons.

In the presence of a genetic predisposition and hereditary factor, limb dysfunction in animals begins to be observed at the age of 3-8 years.

Worth knowing! A common diagnosis in veterinary medicine is nervous distemper—failure of limbs in a dog abandoned by its owner. Or left for a while with another person.

Causes

Signs of the development of pathologies that cause limb failure in dogs are not always immediately noticeable and often owners even aggravate the animal’s condition with excessive stress.

In some cases, limb problems occur when improper care for animals when:

microtraumas;
poor nutrition;
lack of vitamins in the diet;
obesity;
in old age;
after prolonged and intense exercise.

Pain syndrome.
Weakness.
Squealing when moving, standing up and other changes in body position;
Backside wagging.
Sudden falls and unsuccessful attempts to stand on their paws.
Defecation disorder.
Loss of appetite.
Atypical change in gait.
Lameness.
Decreased activity.
Aggression.
Severe anxiety.
Refusal to play with other animals.
Trembling in limbs.
Impaired mobility of the limbs.
Loss of sensation.

The effectiveness of treatment depends on the timeliness of visiting a doctor and the correct diagnosis.
Diagnostics
If a dog's limbs fail, the owners cannot help the pet on their own, so an immediate visit to the clinic is required.
Worth knowing! In case of vertebral injuries, transportation of the animal is carried out only in a state secured to a hard surface (using a bandage or belts).

Before contacting a veterinarian, you should not give your dog painkillers, as the symptoms of the disease may become blurred and make diagnosis difficult.
An experienced doctor uses the following diagnostic methods when a dog has limb failure:
Examination of the animal and assessment of its current condition.
Checking reflexes.
Assessment of tactile and pain sensitivity of the limbs and spine.
X-ray.
Myelography (x-ray examination with the introduction contrast agent into the animal's spinal canal) allows us to identify even minor disorders.
Urine and blood analysis. Laboratory research are carried out to identify disorders of the kidneys, liver and heart associated with neurological pathology.
MRI or CT (magnetic resonance or computed tomography) – studies that help identify tumors in an animal.

Important! Incorrect actions by the owner when a dog’s paws fail can lead to a deterioration in its condition and even death.

After conducting the necessary studies, the extent of the lesion is assessed and a prognosis is given about the possibility of treatment, which can be either conservative or surgical.
Treatment
Depending on the diagnosis established during the diagnosis and the causes of limb failure, the animal is prescribed drug injection therapy. For treatment inflammatory processes at acute diseases steroids are used in dogs hormonal drugs:
"Solumedrol";
"Metypred";
"Dexamethasone";
"Prednisone."

After completing the course of treatment with hormones, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are additionally indicated:
"Rimadyl";
"Quadrisol".

Important! Treat animals with anti-inflammatory drugs medicines intended for humans is strictly contraindicated, since such therapy can lead to the discovery stomach bleeding and the death of the animal.

The following drugs may also be prescribed for treatment:
B vitamins to improve nutrition of nerve tissue.
"Actovegin" to restore oxygen-glucose metabolism in damaged tissues.
"Proserin" to restore neuromuscular conduction (not prescribed for acute form diseases).
Antizolinesterase drugs.

In case of impossibility and ineffectiveness drug therapy shown surgical intervention followed by treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Operations are carried out to eliminate the causes of compression of the spinal cord, edema and tumors and are indicated only after a detailed examination.
IN rehabilitation period(after surgery) measures are necessary to restore the animal’s motor activity:
swimming;
walks in the open air;
playing with other dogs.

Worth knowing! With extensive damage to nerve tissue and high degree compression of the spine, manifested by a lack of sensation in the limbs and impaired defecation, the treatment prognosis is most often unfavorable.

Prevention
It is possible to reduce the risk of developing pathologies that cause limb failure or delay their appearance by following the following preventive measures:
Use chondroprotective drugs in for preventive purposes for large breed puppies during the period of active growth.
Prevent jumping and playing with big dogs puppies large dogs and representatives of breeds with a long vertebra.
Until the age of six months, carry puppies down stairs exclusively in your arms (regardless of breed).
If there is a predisposition to dysplasia (based on breed characteristics or a hereditary factor), periodically conduct X-ray diagnostics.
Provide the animal with moderate physical activity (both lack and excess of activity are harmful.
Protect the dog from being in drafts so that he does not catch a cold in his spine.
Minimize the risk of injury.
Provide to a pet balanced diet. IN puppyhood give special food for young dogs.
Give to the dog essential vitamins and minerals (with food or separately).

The French Bulldog is one of the breeds susceptible to pathologies associated with paw failure. In the article "" you can get full information about suitable food for such dogs.

Failure of a dog's paws is a tragedy for both the animal and its owner. At timely diagnosis You can get rid of the pathology completely, or significantly slow down its development.

German Shepherds at any age delight their owners with their cheerfulness, the ability to frolic for hours in active games, as well as their gracefulness and smooth movements. Quite often, a German Shepherd's hind legs fail. The problem of limb weakness is observed not only in older pets, but also in very young animals. If the dog falls on its hind legs, it is necessary to as soon as possible deliver the animal to the veterinary clinic. There are many reasons for limb weakness in puppies and adults. A sick dog needs comprehensive examination to establish a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment.

How to tell if your German Shepherd is losing its paws

Problems with the hind legs of German Shepherds arise due to the animals’ genetic predisposition to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Sometimes the cause of limb dysfunction is oncological diseases or diseases of the central nervous system. You can understand that your beloved dog’s limbs are failing by the characteristic clinical picture:

a graceful animal walks poorly, there is lameness or movement on straight limbs without bending the joints, squatting on its paws;
if a pet’s paws are very sore, then the animal whines, squeals when moving, prefers to lie with an elongated neck and a hunched back;
convulsions and shortness of breath are often observed, the dog’s limbs are shaking;
swelling occurs on the limbs in the joint area;
sometimes the pet does not stand on its hind legs and drags its limbs.

If your German Shepherd has difficulty getting up from a lying position, limps, gets tired quickly, or you can hear cracking joints, you should urgently undergo an examination at a veterinary clinic.

It is necessary to treat an animal with symptoms of a musculoskeletal system disorder only under conditions veterinary clinic. Self-diagnosis of pathology and prescription medicines is fraught with aggravation of the situation.

Why does a German Shepherd puppy lose his hind legs?

A physiological feature of the growing body of a German Shepherd puppy is weakness of the joints and muscle mass necessary to maintain the grown skeleton. Puppies 3-5 months old may experience:

X-shaped position of the limbs;
squatting on one or 2 limbs;
lameness;
sometimes the dog falls or pulls its hind legs.

X-shaped placement of the hind limbs in a puppy BUT indicates weakness of the joints and muscles

If your German Shepherd puppy has weak hind legs, you should contact your veterinarian for advice. For physiological weakness of the limbs, the specialist recommends medications, nutrition and training regimens to form muscle muscles and strengthen the animal’s musculoskeletal system. If the cause of limb failure is pathology of the joints or central nervous system, then the success of treatment and the outcome of the disease depends on the timeliness of the owner’s treatment pet to a specialist and the correctness of prescribing therapeutic measures for the corresponding disease.

How to Strengthen Your German Shepherd Puppy's Hind Legs

To strengthen weak muscles and ligaments of growing young animals, it is recommended to observe a number of conditions when raising a German Shepherd puppy:

Up to 1.5 years old, it is recommended to give a small pet vitamins, calcium-containing supplements (Calcidi, Brevers) or calcined cottage cheese and dairy products. For the choice of drugs and dosage, it is best to consult with veterinarian. Excess calcium leads to urolithiasis and cardiovascular pathologies.
To strengthen the joints, the specialist prescribes medications with glucosamine and chondroitin for the dog. Sometimes, for the same purpose, it is recommended to add gelatin to animal food.
A growing animal needs balanced diet. At the choice of the owner and consultation with a specialist, it is necessary to feed the pet with specialized dry food for puppies (GINA, Happy Dog, Advance) or natural food with the obligatory introduction of raw meat, vegetables and dairy products into the diet.
Growing young animals need moderate physical activity to form the muscles of the limbs. Useful exercises at a young age, running, swimming, jumping through snowdrifts and up for a toy or stick are considered. Ring training, hurdles, ladders, and cycling are excessive physical activity for the puppy’s immature musculoskeletal system, which leads to limb pathologies in adulthood.
Overfeeding the animal is not allowed to avoid the development of obesity and increasing the load on weak muscles of the limbs.
Puppies should not interact with adult dogs to avoid damage to the joints, muscles and spine, leading to diseases of the locomotor system and nervous system.

A balanced diet, adding calcium supplements and moderate loads are necessary measures for the formation of developed muscles, bones and ligamentous apparatus growing organism.

What to do if your German Shepherd has limb failure

The causes of dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system in puppies and adult German Shepherds may be various pathologies requiring specific treatment.

Pathologies of the joints of the limbs: injuries, arthritis, arthrosis and dysplasia

Arthritis and arthrosis most often occur in middle-aged and elderly people. Dysplasia of the elbow and hip joints can occur in shepherd dogs of any age category.

Dysplasia – chronic illness, accompanied by destruction of the dog’s joints, ruptures of cartilage and bone tissue. With the hereditary nature of the pathology, animals have a congenital anomaly in the structure of the articular surfaces of the bones. Symptoms of the disease begin to appear in puppies no earlier than 6 months.

In BUTs, a smooth line should be visible from the tips of the ears to the hind legs; a hunchbacked back indicates the presence of dysplasia

Acquired dysplasia can occur in animals of any age. Occurs when there is a feeding disorder, a lack or excess of vitamin and mineral supplements, obesity or excessive physical activity at a young age. In pathology, the following is observed:

lameness;
dislocations;
paw instability;
fast fatiguability;
difficulty getting up from a lying position;
enlargement and cracking of joints.

At mild stage disease, the specialist prescribes to the patient:

diet;
limiting physical activity;
physiotherapy;
chondroprotectors and painkillers.

A severe stage of the disease involves surgery using resection arthroplasty and triple osteotomy.

Dysplasia can be completely cured through the use of expensive prostheses installed surgically.

Spine pathologies

Bruises, discopathy, spondylosis, spondyloarthrosis, osteochondrosis occur with damage to the fibrous rings of the vertebrae, swelling and compression of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. As a result, the cells of the nervous system die off, manifested in weakness of the paws:

shuffling;
lameness;
whistling or complete refusal limbs.

Spinal injuries sometimes lead to complete paralysis of the hind limbs

Treatment of spinal diseases depends on the stage of the pathology and the advanced stage of the disease; the four-legged patient is prescribed rest, anti-inflammatory, painkillers and hormonal drugs, and sometimes surgical intervention is indicated.

Oncological diseases

Impaired performance of the musculoskeletal system is observed when malignant and benign in nature on the limbs, spine, spinal cord and brain. Tumors compress the surrounding tissues and structures of the central nervous system or grow into them. In middle-aged and elderly German Shepherds, swelling may appear on the paws, and the dog may limp or drag its limbs. When the tumor is localized in the spinal cord or brain, severe pain, paresis or complete paralysis of the limbs is observed.

Oncology on the paw BUT

The success and expediency of treatment directly depends on the timeliness of contacting a specialist, the correctness of the diagnosis and the nature of the tumor. Malignant tumors, neoplasms in the brain and spinal cord cannot be treated; in such cases, it is wiser to euthanize the animal or keep the pet alive with painkillers and hormonal drugs.

Injuries

Impaired performance of the limbs occurs when various injuries paws, spine and skull, which the animal can get during games, fights, walking or a collision between the dog and a vehicle. A German Shepherd can suffer a dislocation, bruise, sprain, open or closed fracture of a limb, spine or skull.

Fixing bandages are used to treat bruises, sprains and fractures

When injuries occur:

swelling of the damaged area;
hematomas form;
the animal whines, tightens its limb;
Sometimes he can't step on his paw.

If the cause of limb weakness is injury, the animal is taken to a specialist in a recumbent position. The dog's body must be fixed to avoid deformation of the damaged spine. For this purpose, you can use boards or wooden shields and elastic bandages.

Treatment for injuries depends on the nature of the injury. Dislocated joints are reduced. For bruises, sprains and closed fractures Fixing bandages, painkillers and physiotherapy are used. Open injuries require surgical intervention; if the integrity of the spinal cord or brain is damaged, it is impossible to cure the pet.

Conclusion

Also, the reasons for weakness of the limbs or immobilization of the pet may be:

severe hypothermia;
tick infestations;
bacterial and viral infections(rabies, canine distemper, toxoplasmosis);
encephalitis;
myelopathy;
myositis.

To diagnose the disease, the dog is prescribed a comprehensive examination in a veterinary clinic, consisting of:

taking anamnesis;
inspection;
laboratory examination methods;
Ultrasound and radiography;
MRI and CT with contrast agent.

Based on the examination results, the specialist determines the cause of limb weakness and prescribes appropriate treatment.

Owners of German Shepherds are recommended to take care of the health of the graceful dog’s paws from a very tender age with the help of proper nutrition and moderate exercise. If there is a change in gait, lameness, pain when moving, or limb failure, it is necessary to entrust the diagnosis and treatment of the disease to specialists. The earlier the pathology is identified and prescribed therapeutic measures, the greater the chance of extending the active life of a stately animal.