What You Need To Know About Dog Dragging Hind Leg

By Daniel Schmidt


The occurrence of hind leg weakness, nail scraping on the ground, bent toes or difficulty rising can all pose a cause for concern and must be investigated by a professional vet. Dog dragging hind leg is a symptom of rear end weakness including degeneration, compromised nerve health and injury. Learn of the reasons for this uncomfortable and restricting condition in your pet before it becomes problematic.

When your canine companion appears to be moving normally one day and suffers lameness the next, it could reveal degeneration affecting the health of the spinal nerves. A disease, myelopathy, causes degeneration of the spine, affecting the normal function of the nerves and leaving the affected pet with limited movement or hind limb dragging. The spine is compromised leaving the back legs weak and difficult to move.

The presence of myelopathy does not have a positive prognosis and the rear legs will continue to drag and suffer lameness that leads to a state of complete paralysis. This disorder does not require surgery and is managed long term with vitamins and minerals. A certified veterinarian can advise on ways of strengthening the supporting tissues but cannot stop the progression of this disease.

A common condition responsible for rear leg restrictions and weakness is hip dysplasia and is a common abnormality of the hips and joints in large breed dogs. It can affect canines at any age and stage causing imbalance and swinging of the hips while walking but also causing pain and lame legs. Hip and muscle strengthening exercises may relieve the severity of symptoms but in advanced cases, surgery is required.

The sudden injury to the knee joints leaving affected canines to limp and strain while walking, is cruciate ligament damage. The ligament connected to the knee joint suffers damage and snaps during rough play, jumping or movement causing dragging and lameness. Surgical correction is the only means of correction and must be performed by a highly specialized vet.

The most common type of trauma that impacts the well-being of your pet is suffering muscle strain and tears. Injuries of the ligaments, tendons and the muscles can occur very suddenly in both older and younger dogs as jumps and runs can cause pets to suffer from physical restrictions. The use of a cold pack aims to relieve areas of swelling that would impact the recovery process.

Pets suffering from a bacterial infection or poisoning may show signs of hind limb dragging and weakness. When pets are extremely ill, they will begin to drag one or both limbs and eventually will not be able to stand at all. If your canine companion is no longer interested in food, appears lethargic, and is soiling in unusual spots, it could be a sign of a system shut down.

Basic checks you can perform at home include feeling the paw for signs of thorns or stings that would cause irritation. Inflammation, tenderness or worsening of the dragged leg will have to be inspected by a certified veterinarian to avoid deadly infections and provide relief. With the correct plans and progress, all pets can receive the correct therapies to address their balanced function.




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