Why Is My Dog Limping?

“My dog can't stand up on his back legs!”

For any pet parent, seeing their dog limping on its back leg or their dog’s back legs giving out can be distressing — especially if that happens suddenly and with little or no warning.

While anything that involves your dog’s health is going to be a worry, don’t panic: there are many different reasons why back leg weakness can affect your pet. These reasons can vary, ranging from a temporary injury such as a sprain to a condition that’s more serious and needs attention from a veterinarian.

Here, we’ll take a closer look at the reasons why a dog may start limping on its back leg or showing weakness on its back limbs. We’ll also detail some of the common symptoms of back leg weakness — and explain what your next steps are to try to resolve the problem.

Symptoms of a dog limping on its back leg

The symptoms of a dog limping on its back leg can be wide-ranging, from instantly obvious to more difficult to detect. If, suddenly, your dog can't stand up on his back legs or is clearly limping and in some pain, you’ll notice this straight away.

However, a dog limping on its back leg can also come on gradually and subtly, making it hard to spot. Many dogs are stoic in character, and will simply get on with life despite being in discomfort. You know your own dog better than anyone else, so be watchful and observe any changes in behavior.

A dog whose back legs are weak may only show a reluctance to exercise as it once used to, or a different gait when standing. Be aware, it’s not always a case of a dog’s back legs giving out completely.

Typical symptoms when a dog has weak back legs include:

• Lameness
• Limping
• Loss of balance
• Instability
• Wobbly or staggering when walking
• Difficulty walking or standing up
• Abnormal or slow gait
• Reluctance to move, jump or be active
• Showing signs of pain
• Partial or even complete paralysis
• Incontinence – or loss of ability to urinate
• Swelling
• Licking of joints
• Weight gain
• Loss of muscle mass
• Lethargy
• Collapse

If your pup is displaying one or more of these symptoms, it may be an indicator of your dog’s back legs not working as well as they should. Watch them closely over the next few days and if they continue to show symptoms, contact your vet. It may not be a serious issue — but there’s a chance it’s indicative of a problem that will require treatment.

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So — your dog is limping on its back leg, or your dog is losing balance in its hind legs. What’s the cause? Unfortunately, there isn’t a single, simple answer to that question. A dog with weakness in its back legs could be living with any of several different conditions, so you should never diagnose issues yourself and attempt to guess that the problem is. Always consult your veterinarian.

Causes of a dog is limping on its back leg can include:

• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Hip Dysplasia
• Lumbosacral stenosis
• Intervertebral disc disease 
• Arthritis
• Osteosarcoma
• Injury or trauma

Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

Degenerative Myelopathy – DM – is a progressive, or chronic, condition that affects the spinal cord. It’s thought to be a genetic condition that affects certain breeds more than others – the German Shepherd is predisposed to DM – and usually starts as the dog ages. It progresses slowly and develops into back leg weakness; a dog with DM may start to stumble as its hind legs gradually fail. There’s no cure, though therapy and supplements can help with pain management and to maintain quality of life as much as possible.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is unfortunately common, especially in particular breeds — including Golden Retrievers, Boxers and Rottweilers. With this condition, malformation of the ball and socket in the hip joint (or both hip joints) prevents smooth movement; instead, the head of the femur grinds and rubs. This loose joint movement can cause a dog to have difficulty getting up, climbing stairs, and make its hind limbs lame.

Physiotherapy and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) can form part of a treatment plan, as can surgery. Weight management helps, too — overweight dogs are more at risk of hip dysplasia.

Lumbosacral stenosis

Lumbosacral stenosis — or Lumbosacral disease — is a spinal condition that affects the lower spine and can present similar symptoms to hip dysplasia and arthritis. The lumbosacral junction/joint suffers degeneration, leading to compression of nerves — this results in a dog’s back legs weakness, with the hind legs becoming lame and uncoordinated. Anti-inflammatories can be prescribed as treatment, as well as reduced exercise (on leash walking) and even surgery, in some cases. It often develops in large dog breeds. 

Intervertebral disc disease

Known as IVDD, Intervertebral Disc Disease is also sometimes called Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). This is another spinal cord condition but unlike Degenerative Myelopathy, it isn’t always gradual; it can happen quickly and especially after exercise. If you’re wondering what causes sudden hind leg weakness in dogs, IVDD — when the spinal vertebrae and spinal discs degenerate — can be one of those conditions. A dog with IVDD can suddenly collapse, or its hind legs can even be paralyzed.

IVDD isn’t restricted to older dogs — it can occur in relatively young pups, from three to seven years of age. Again, particular breeds might be more prone to IVDD than others, including the Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund and Doberman Pinscher.

Arthritis

Arthritis affects many dogs — one in five canines are thought to live with the condition — especially as they grow older (an old dog's back legs collapsing isn’t uncommon). It does still occur in younger dogs, too. Because arthritis typically affects the joints, dogs with the condition will usually experience stiffness and lameness. They may struggle to get up from a lying position or after sleeping, and show a reluctance to exercise.

Arthritis can be a cause of a dog’s back legs not working. Your veterinarian should diagnose arthritis, which can’t be cured but can be managed with NSAIDS, physiotherapy and potentially a revised diet to keep weight down.

Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a form of cancer; a bone tumor that affects the legs and is more commonly seen in large dog breeds. It’s serious and aggressive, and appears as a swelling in a dog’s leg, so could be a reason for a dog limping on its back leg. Treatment can include chemotherapy, if started early enough, and potentially surgery.

Injury or trauma

If, suddenly, your dog is limping on its back leg, it could be because of an injury or trauma rather than a longer term condition. What causes sudden hind leg weakness in dogs? Possible injuries include an achilles tendon rupture, luxating patella and an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Though many dogs won’t ‘make a fuss’, others will be in clear and obvious pain with any of these injuries. A dog certainly won’t walk normally with injuries this serious. The first step is to contact your vet immediately. Treatment almost always means surgery.

If you’ve identified any sign of your dog limping — whether that be your dog losing balance in its hind legs or your dog limping on its back leg — don’t ignore it. A slight sprain or strain will clear up in a day or so, but if there’s no improvement, a visit to the veterinarian is required.

Your vet will thoroughly check your dog over. You’ll be asked if there have been any changes in behavior, including changes to your pet’s appetite, and if your dog has been exposed to any possible toxins. You’ll also be asked how long your dog has shown symptoms, and if he or she has been involved in any potential incidents while exercising. So, be prepared to share as much information as you can.

Your veterinarian will perform a physical exam to see if there are any discerning neurological or physical abnormalities that are causing your dog’s back leg weakness, and making him or her limp. These can also reveal the possible presence of an enlarged liver, a sign of diabetes, or a tumor.

It’s likely that, because of some of the possible causes of a dog’s back legs not working correctly, your vet will also use X-rays, MRIs, CT scans or ultrasounds to examine bones, joints and tissues, looking for any indication of damage in the legs, spinal cord, hips and other areas.

Treatments for a dog with back legs weakness can vary considerably, depending on the underlying cause. Any injuries will be treated in line with the severity of the trauma.

Some conditions will need surgery. Others, such as Degenerative Myelopathy, Lumbosacral stenosis and Intervertebral disc disease, might need anti-inflammatory medication and managed over a period of time.

In some cases, physiotherapy could be recommended, to help restore some flexibility and movement to a dog’s weak back legs.

Will your dog recover from back leg weakness? If your dog’s back legs are giving out, will your pup make a full return to fitness, and walk again without any issues?

That all depends on what’s causing your dog to be limping on its back leg. Many of the conditions we’ve covered — such as arthritis and hip dysplasia — can be managed with pain relief, and an appropriate diet and exercise plan. While your dog won’t make a full recovery from either of those conditions, they can be managed, giving back some quality of life.

Other causes of a dog’s back legs not working might be more difficult to recover from. In the most severe of cases, intervertebral disc disease can lead to paralysis, while osteosarcoma can ultimately be fatal.

Be sure to discuss all treatment options with your vet, and check in regularly during the recovery process.

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