Have you started to notice that German Shepherd weak paws? Don’t panic right away, even if this is your first experience of keeping dogs. Weakness in the hind legs is usually normal in puppies. At five months there is no muscle mass, which explains the lack of power in the paws. The bones have already grown, but the ligaments are not yet strong enough to support the puppy’s heavy weight. But this is not the only reason. In this article we'll talk about what may be associated with weakness of the paws in both an adult German Shepherd and a puppy.

When purchasing a puppy, you should mentally prepare in advance for the fact that he may have health problems in the future. One of the first difficulties you may encounter is a paw problem.

In addition to the usual age-related manifestation of this trouble, there are other reasons. They can be divided into groups:

• elbow joint;
• hip dysplasia;
• tumors;
• spinal injury;
• injuries.

Let's look at each cause of paw weakness in detail.

Elbow dysplasia

Bone development disorder elbow joint which is inherited. Because of this, puppies begin to limp on the front limb at six months. To escape pain, a dog may deliberately avoid stepping on a paw, but during a trot it still limps.

Symptoms of lameness can appear as early as four months, aggravated by minor physical exertion.

Hip dysplasia

The hereditary disease is a disorder of the development of the hip joint. As a rule, at birth the puppy looks absolutely healthy, the first symptoms begin to appear at six months.

The disease begins to provoke overweight, non-compliance with diet, lack of vitamins D2, D3, as well as increased physical activity on the limbs.

The disease begins to develop with slight discomfort. Gradually the shepherd begins to limp hind legs, and then stops standing on them altogether.

Tumors

A dark growth can be found on the bones of the front limb of a German Shepherd after six years. Because of this, the dog begins to limp and refuse to walk.

If the lump goes away quickly, then it was most likely inflammation. You need to worry if the tumor grows slowly and continuously. If such a tumor is located in one place, then it is benign. If there is a rapid growth of the lump, then it is a malignant tumor that affects other parts of the body, tearing the tissues of the body.

What to do: If the lump does not go away within three days, you should immediately consult a doctor. Perhaps you will be in time and the tumor will be removed with minimal consequences.

Spinal injury

If your dog's back legs fail, there is a possibility of spinal cord damage. The German Shepherd begins to limp in his hind legs as his paws begin to hurt first. Gradually, the hind legs begin to give way, after which numbness sets in.

The puppy could have been injured in childhood, during too active games, which led to compression of the spinal cord. Due to the resulting edema, due to poor oxygen supply, the cells die and thereby impair the performance of the limbs.

If there is genetic inheritance, then they can develop the following types diseases:

• degenerative – metabolic disorder in the tissues of the spine;
• osteochondrosis - due to genetic disorder development, injuries, microcirculation blood is flowing damage intervertebral discs;
• tumors in the vertebrae, which can lead to a spinal fracture;
• spondylosis – aging of the vertebrae. Tissues are gradually affected spinal column, because of which the dog first begins to squat on its hind legs, and later they refuse altogether.

What to do: Never self-medicate. At the first sign of lameness, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

Injuries

A pet can get various injuries anywhere and anytime: during training or during games, fights with other dogs.

When sprained or bruised, the dog begins to limp on the affected leg, and the bruised area may swell. The pet whines pitifully, indicating that it is in pain. In this case, you can handle it yourself. If there is a bruise, apply it for half an hour cold compress and change it every two hours. Elastic bandage will help with sprains. In any case, do not allow the dog to actively move or play until the paw returns to normal.

You should behave completely differently in case of dislocations or fractures, since self-treatment strictly prohibited. In both cases, the dog cannot stand on the limb at all.

When a bone dislocates, it flies out of the joint and only an experienced doctor can properly set it back into place.

If the fracture is open, then the bone sticks out; in the case of a closed fracture, the broken paw looks shorter than the healthy one.

As soon as you discover a fracture, immobilize the limb, apply ice, and take your dog to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Necessary prevention

So that your puppy grows up healthy dog with good musculoskeletal system, you should adhere to several rules:

• observe the correct ;
• add only what is necessary to food in reasonable quantities;
• raise the puppy correctly, without overloading it with unnecessary physical activity.

Almost all puppies are born with perfect limbs, but problems can occur in the future. As a responsible German Shepherd owner, it is your responsibility to properly care for your dog. You must not only feed your puppy properly, but also make sure that he does not overeat. When the baby begins to stand on his paws, excess weight can immediately damage the joints.

Remember to keep an eye on where puppies play. The surface must be smooth and non-slippery, without obstacles or drafts. The puppy should not be given much physical activity. Also, do not bandage the dog’s limbs, disrupting blood circulation.

Just let the puppy grow into normal conditions, and everything will be fine with you.

Have you encountered a problem? weak paws at your shepherd? What was the reason?

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 your dog is pulling his back legs, this may indicate he has 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?

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

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

1. Disc herniation, discopathy. Breeds such as, and are especially predisposed to this disease. This pathology is a displacement of intervertebral discs and poses a serious danger to life.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Valgus deformity of the 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 deformities of the limbs occur.
5. 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?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Analyze dog nutrition. One of the most common reasons the occurrence of problems with the hind limbs is wrong 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 quality treatment, you can avoid the development of many serious diseases!

Owners often come to the veterinary clinic complaining that their dog’s hind legs are being lost. Each of them describes the symptoms in their own way: the pet is limping, has a hunched back, drags its paws, and has paralysis.

Introduction

There is no single reason that can cause such symptoms. Dog veterinary evidence suggests that the first step in treatment should be qualified diagnosis. To know how to treat, you need to know what to treat. And you can’t do this without a trip to the veterinarian.

Individual pathologies when a dog loses its hind legs include age and breed predisposition. Thus, pugs, poodles, English and dachshunds and Pekingese have a predisposition to the destruction or displacement of intervertebral

Discopathy

This pathology is quite serious and can be life-threatening pet. As the disc shifts, it compresses. Externally, this will manifest itself in periodic attacks. severe pain: the pet freezes in one position (usually with a hunched back and with an outstretched neck), shortness of breath appears, severe trembling, the hind legs weaken and give way.

Scientists have not yet fully identified the reasons why the strength of the intervertebral disc decreases in dachshunds. A genetic predisposition has been established in some dog breeding lines. Due to the mutual pressure of the vertebrae on each other, the nucleus pulposus moves into the thickness of the fibrous ring and subsequently leaves its limits, entering the paravertebral space. The fibrous ring on the side of the passing spinal canal has the least strength, and therefore parts of the destroyed disc are usually displaced in this direction. This causes compression of the spinal cord overlying it, as well as its nerves.

If the compression of the spinal cord is not so clearly expressed, then clinically it will only manifest itself in this way - the dog’s hind legs have failed. The pet drags them along, trying to transfer the weight of the body to the forelimbs. He tries to jump onto a chair (sofa, armchair), but he can’t. Can't bend over to the floor or bowl. If there is a suspicion of discopathy, it is necessary to go for a qualified diagnosis and prepare for treatment, including surgery. Compression of the spinal cord can cause irreversible changes in the body when therapeutic measures will simply be ineffective.

Dysplasia

Pets of giant and large breeds (Labrador, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Great Dane, St. Bernard, German shepherds 4-12 months old) also have their own predispositions to the disease when the dog’s hind legs fail. This lesion The occurrence of this pathology can be influenced by many things: heredity, overweight of the puppy, unbalanced diet, etc.

Causes of dysplasia

There have been many scientific debates regarding the causation of this disease. And so far, two theories have been formed about the heredity of this pathology and the mechanism of inheritance.

Many geneticists advocate the theory of additive inheritance. That is, the disease develops due to the action of genes that are involved in the final formation of the hip joint.

The second theory is based on the assumption that these same genes influence each other, and their interaction is combined in various ways. This means that the defect has a much more complex hereditary character than is shown by the first theory.

There is a third theory in the world of geneticists. It combines the first two. According to it, the action of genes responsible for the creation of joints can be summed up, and individual genetic pairs influence each other differently.

The general conclusion of experts: disease is a classic example of a quantitative trait, which is influenced by many genes (polygeny), and in this case there are many factors environment have their impact on the final formation and manifestation of symptoms. Clinical manifestation dysplasia, when a dog loses its hind legs, does not occur in all animals. But this does not mean that a pet at risk is not susceptible to this pathology, if not severe symptoms. When choosing a partner for mating, you should study the pedigree for the presence of ancestors with dysplasia. It should be noted that the disease can be transmitted to descendants through fourteen generations.

Swedish canine veterinary medicine has clearly proven that dysplasia is associated with heredity and is inherent certain breeds. And if the breed is characterized by a powerful physique and large mass, then the likelihood of disease is very high. The dog carries a huge load. It gives the body a pushing force from the hind limbs when moving. And during this push, the joint extends and moves the head of the femur along the entire acetabulum. Particularly high friction occurs in the joint when the animal, standing on its hind legs, jumps or walks.

If the hip joints are affected, then weakness of the hind legs will appear immediately after a period of rest (during the morning rise) and will decrease with physical activity. Also, this lesion is rarely symmetrical; the dog will begin to “fall” on only one paw.

Myositis

Middle-aged dogs may develop muscle inflammation called myositis the next day after exercising too much. Due to overvoltage, tearing, rupture, and fiber disintegration may occur. muscle fibers and hemorrhage into the thickness of the muscles. Due to the damage, traumatic swelling develops, and with significant rupture of muscle fibers, a scar forms and the muscle shortens. This leads to myogenic contracture of the corresponding joint. If in the affected hits the muscle pathogenic microflora - purulent myositis will develop.

One of the symptoms of this disease will be a “stilted gait” or weakness of the hind limbs; the dog will limp on its hind leg. Treatment of dogs with such a disease will not cause great difficulties, but only

Osteochondrosis

Another disease that can cause your pet to have problems with its hind legs. The main reason is a violation of cartilage mineralization. Typical for large breed puppies. Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial disease. Nutrition and genetics play key roles. Cartilage separation in this pathology is most often observed in the joints subject to the greatest load (hip). The result will be lameness, the dog will be limping on its hind leg.

Fractures

This pathology is often found among large breed puppies. And many owners consider injury to be the cause. The dog presses his back paw and cannot lean on it. Reacts painfully to touch. In most cases, a fracture occurs with minimal outside influence. This type of injury is called a pathological fracture and indicates low mineralization of the skeleton. Causes: low intake of calcium or vitamin D, high intake of phosphorus.

In this case, fixing the fracture is not enough for recovery. The main thing is to appoint proper diet. The best option- use ready-made feed, balanced in the content of phosphorus, calcium, vitamins D and A. An excess of these substances will delay bone healing.

Old age

Older dog falling on his hind legs? This may be due to a malfunction of the brain. According to the observations of veterinarians, this most often occurs due to various vascular problems, less often - the reason is the presence of brain tumors. Competent treatment in this case, it can significantly improve the pet’s well-being and extend its life for years.

What should be distinguished from

Kidney problems cannot be the reason why a dog loses its hind legs and has a hunched body unless the pet is extremely malnourished with autointoxication. But in this case, the weakness will spread to the entire muscular system.

What not to do

The most common mistake owners make when identifying hind limb weakness is self-treating dogs with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, indomethacin, aspirin, etc.). Clinical improvements observed by owners following the use of these medicines are only temporary, but they hide the underlying disease well, which makes it much more difficult correct diagnosis a disease that causes the loss of a dog's hind legs. Also, medical anti-inflammatory drugs carry a number of serious side effects for pets, including ulcers on the walls of the stomach and bleeding in it.

One of the frequent complaints of dog owners with neurological problems– 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 3 and 8 years of age.

The first symptom neurological disorders in the chest lumbar region spinal column, which lead to the dog beginning to lose 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're talking about, most likely 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 effect on the spinal cord unfavorable factors. 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 with 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 a violation of important metabolic processes in his tissues. Thus, this leads to pathological changes in the structure 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 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 changed substance of the disc penetrates into spinal canal and pinches the spinal cord or roots spinal nerves, which manifests itself as a neurological deficit. Often large dog the 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

Osteochondrosis of the spine is considered the most severe form of damage; this disease is based on degenerative processes V 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 effects 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, blows and severe 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 consult a specialist, but most inexperienced owners don't give any 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 introduction to spinal canal special X-ray contrast agent. This is done to identify the slightest violations that are not noticeable on regular photo, as well as to determine the exact localization of the process. If necessary, prescribe blood and urine tests to identify accompanying pathologies(pyelonephritis, renal, liver, heart failure, etc.).

The studies will help the doctor assess the extent of the damage, give a prognosis for the disease and make a decision on treatment. Perhaps the doctor will give you a choice between surgery and therapeutic method treatment may insist on one of them.

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 central disease 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:

1. Up to 1.5 years for a small pet It is recommended to give 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Overfeeding the animal is not allowed to avoid the development of obesity and increasing the load on weak muscles of the limbs.
6. 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 congenital anomaly buildings articular surfaces 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 feeding is disrupted, 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;
• clawing or complete failure of the 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, sometimes surgery is indicated.

Oncological diseases

Impaired performance of the musculoskeletal system is observed when neoplasms of a malignant and benign nature occur 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, it is more reasonable in such cases to euthanize the animal or keep the pet alive with painkillers and hormonal drugs.

Injuries

Impaired performance of the limbs occurs due to various injuries to the paws, spine and skull, which the animal can receive during games, fights, walks or collisions of the dog with 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 lying down. 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 failure of the limbs, it is necessary to entrust the diagnosis and treatment of the disease to specialists. The earlier the pathology is identified and therapeutic measures are prescribed, the greater the chance of prolonging the active life of a stately animal.