The dog begins to resist any movement that requires full extension or flexion of the rear legs. Femoral Head Ostomy (FHO) – This surgery consists of removing the femoral head of the leg bone to eliminate the pain of hip dysplasia. It’s relatively new, so there is some question as to how a dog will do into old age – there aren’t many older dogs that have had it done. Unusual Laying Position: Legs are straight out and off to the side when the dog is laying on its stomach or legs are straight out behind the dog. The only way to diagnose hip dysplasia is with x-rays. Some people are able to treat their dog with nutritional supplements and avoid surgery. I wish I could give you a more specific answer, but sometimes these cases can be difficult to diagnose because the pain is sporadic. Pet parents witness all sorts of dog sleeping positions, especially if they share a bed or couch with their pups. The vet prescribed Meloxidyl, and Sally has had one dose, but still cried in bed last night. She was about one year when we got her as a modestly underweight rescue. I asked her to come along and she was walking with her hind legs apart, not staggering, but more swaggering. Tests to help narrow down the true cause can include a urine test, blood test, serum testing, biopsies, EMG, X-ray, myelography, ultrasound, endoscopy, CT scan, and an MRI. She was nervous and wanted to stay there. Due to the wide range of conditions that can cause an abnormal gait in your dog, the rate of recovery is on a case by case basis. There are a number of symptoms of hip dysplasia. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM. She is a bigger dog, and they are sometimes prone to bone and joint problems. © 2020 Wag Labs, Inc. All rights reserved. Underdeveloped Hind Quarters and Overdeveloped Chest: This is caused by the failure to use the hind legs normally and jump. Check if your dog is hopping rather than walking. Like every surgery, dog leg amputation comes with risks. Limping: The dog may favor one hind leg or the other, and may alternate legs that it is favoring. Let me give you brief information regarding that first before going further. I’m alarmed when she yelps in such pain for a minute or so. She has now come up with the hitch in her gait again. Also, when he lays down, he puts the front half of his body down first, arching his back and then gently and slowly lowering the back side. Just got home and my 16 year old female cat's hind legs are spreading out when she walks. 2. External splints can be used after surgery to help recovery. may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Since there are no known treatments available for this disease, efforts are focused on the dog’s quality of life, and can include supportive care, rehabilitation, monitoring for urinary infections, pressure sore prevention, and the use of harnesses and carts to increase mobility. Dog Doesn’t Jump: Not only do they not jump on you, they seem to pull themselves up by their front end onto furniture as opposed to jumping up. Our recently adopted/rescued @8 year-old toy poodle started walking strangely this past week. Rather than move each leg independently and stepping with alternating legs, your dog may move his two back legs as one unit and “hop” forward. With the dogs’ legs up, they are pulled apart and kept from each other. Total Hip Replacement (THR) – This surgery consists of replacing the hip joint similar to a human hip replacement. Many conditions can be treated for a full recovery, while others may need continuing treatments or supplementary care. All trademarks are owned by Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., or used with permission. Sometimes, the hip dysplasia does not cause pain for the dog, so they do not show signs of it until they develop arthritis in their hip joints. They will be able to examine him, see what might be causing this, and see if any treatment is needed. Degenerative myelopathy, a disease affecting the spinal cord, results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. When the dog is walking, the back end sways back and forth because the hips are loose. Bunny Hopping: The dog tends to use both hind legs together, rather than one at a time. Hind-end Weakness is a Dog Disease You Should Know About. These can be as simple as a recent trauma or an infection in the spinal cord, to issues stemming from the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system and even cancers. I am sorry for the delay, this platform is not set up for urgent emails. Ear Infection. Her lineage has not had hip dysplasia as her breeder in northern BC has always contacted the buyers of his direct decendant pups. The vet checked her out for pain, displasia of the hips, etc. This can lead to ‘bunny hopping’, which means your dog is holding its back legs together and hopping rather than running in long strides like normal. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM. I have not seen this in a dog before. I should also note that when we go for walks and she is just on the sidewalk, she walks perfectly fine. The dog also may actually be shifting weight forward. Long considered only appropriate for smaller dogs or as a salvage operation for a failed THR, it has become increasingly popular for larger dogs. (All dogs lay with their legs behind them on occasion, many dogs with hip dysplasia lay like this all the time.). More recently, cementless hip replacements are being performed. We allowed her to play with another young dog her own size and age.... a Shelty at a dog park where they wrestled and ran. Previously, all artificial hip components were cemented in place. The puzzling thing was Murphy didn’t seem in pain, since normally this is a bloodcurdling, painful condition. Thank you. He walks gingerly with a "swing" to his gait. A tube might be inserted to allow the area to drain, or drainage can be done at your vet’s office as needed. I've noticed that many of our canine friends seem to walk, um, well, sort of sideways. At the same time, each person should firmly grab hold of the back legs of their respective dog and walk backward (think of using a wheelbarrow). I took him to the wet and he said that he doubts that my puppy has gained too much weight and because of this he is having pressure on his legs.. His weight is 7.6 kg and he is almost 3 months old... he is eating well..he walks with legs apart … Following is a list of common symptoms, of which your dog may have a couple and not have hip dysplasia. There are no signs of bone fracture, sclerosis, hip dysplasia, or knee abnormalty. If he is having a hard time walking, or he is staggering and wobbling on his feet, this back leg weakness may be a result of muscle atrophy, pain, or nerve damage. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM, We have an eighteen month old Brittany who will occasionally have a hitch in her gait by lifting the rear right leg off the ground for a step or two then go about her trotting or running. Do this by circling behind one pooch, grabbing his back legs, and then raising them up into the air. Our dog/Havanese has developed a sensitive abdomen and is walking funny with his hind legs further apart. Even my husband who was not previously a dog owner noticed her gait was weird. When the dog is walking, the back end sways back and forth because the hips are loose. How long is something like this supposed to cause issues if it is a pulled muscle? *Wag! When that gait begins to look abnormal, with the dog limping, staggering, favoring a side, and showing signs of weakness and difficulties in walking, it is often a sign of a more serious issue that cannot be seen. What Can Be Done for My Dog? He explains that this occurs when bulging discs put … We have now decided not to hunt her. it could be or what we can do for her? This can be achieved by walking the dog on a short leash and indicating to them the need to bear their weight on the rear. Recovery is good if treatment is given while your dog can still feel pain. Surgery can sometimes help, and can improve joint and limb functions, section or resection muscles, or repair and reattach tendons. If you have had x-rays taken of your dog’s hips at your regular vet, you may have been referred to an orthopedic surgeon. For additional information on hip dysplasia, please visit http://www.mypoordog.com. Otherwise, he is showing no pain symptoms. He seems to be tender because he does not like much to be petted or touched. Ours does not.... any ideas of what else ? The vet checked her back and stomach, finding no sore points . Thank you for your question. She doesn’t want to move once she is flat. By hopping, they can use both legs and their back to pull them up there stairs rather than painfully relying on one leg/hip. We could discuss the merits of both theories, but it doesn’t change the facts. I don't mind.....just clean it up immediately. Hip dysplasia in Shih Tzus will cause afflicted dogs to walk or run with an altered gait, similar to a bunny-hop.