We love our pets. So much so that the term “pet parent” has grown in popularity during recent years. We spend thousands of dollars to make sure our furry friends are loved and spoiled to their hearts content. And that makes it all the more worrying when our dog starts to display loss of mobility issues.
What Can Cause Mobility Issues?
There are many reasons your dog could be experiencing sudden mobility issues. The good news is that many of these are treatable conditions that can improve with medication, treatment, and the support of your local veterinarian.
- Age-related: As your dog gets older, they will likely develop arthritis, osteoporosis, and other conditions just like we do.
- Hereditary: Many conditions like spinal deformities and hip dysplasia are common among some breeds.
- Trauma: Accidents like a broken limb or injury that was healed years ago can still cause pain in your dog’s grey muzzle days.
- Illness: Ticks are the worst carriers of diseases that can affect your pet’s mobility at any time of life.
Signs of Mobility Issues
As pet parents, we often know when something about our dog is “just off” even before we see the signs. That being said, it can be good to know what to look for so you can keep your vet informed during your dog’s next visit.
- Limping: Walking unevenly or with great difficulty while favoring one or more legs.
- Weakness: Slow, sluggish movements that seem pained.
- Circling: Pacing in circles or the inability to walk in a straight line.
- Ataxia: Wobbly or unsteady gait, almost as though drunk.
- Collapse: Falling and unable to get back up.
- Paralysis: Inability to move one or more of their limbs.
Other symptoms often coincide with loss of mobility. These signs can help your vet determine what is causing your dog’s discomfort. Be sure to book an appointment as soon as possible since these problems constitute an emergency.
- Proprioceptive deficits: Dragging their toes on the ground or knuckling
- Back or joint pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Stiffness in the leg or joint
- Nystagmus (abnormal eye twitches)
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of bladder control
What Kind of Treatment Should I Expect?
The treatment your vet prescribes will largely depend upon the reason behind your dog’s loss of mobility. In most instances, mitigating pain will be a significant factor in your dog’s recovery. Pain relief, in most cases Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs), will also help with inflammation and can be safely used in the short or long term.
Infectious diseases, such as those spread by ticks, are typically treated with four to six weeks of antibiotics (Clavamox, Doxycycline) along with joint flushing if necessary to remove bacteria and inflammatory enzymes. NSAIDs are used to help with the pain and while you want to let your dog rest as much as possible, your vet may suggest light exercise during the later phases.
Some conditions may require surgery in order to improve. This is common with spinal disorders or severe limb or joint issues such as repairing ruptures in the knee (CCL), creating a false joint to help with hip dysplasia, or hemilaminectomy (decompress nerve roots in spinal cord). Your vet can help you determine if surgery will be the best option for your pet.
Physical therapy and hydrotherapy are often used in tandem with the above procedures to help your dog build muscle mass and gently exercise their joints without additional strain on the body. Weight loss is factored into recovery, as excess weight will create excess strain on your dog’s healing injuries.
Noodle the Dachshund
“Noodle” is a doxie, or dachshund, a breed well known for their back and joint problems due to their long and low-to-the-ground physique. In his later years he began to show signs of mobility issues: dragging his paws, limping, going to the bathroom on himself, and being unable to climb the three stairs from the porch to the house. This is a common issue with doxies, since they don’t seem to understand that the distance between the couch and the ground is bigger than they are.
A vet confirmed that he had IVDD, or Intervertebral Disc Disease, which is caused when a dog’s spinal disks bulge or rupture, pressing on the spinal cord and causing significant pain. After a hemilaminectomy (minimally invasive spinal surgery), he was given pain relief as well as the usual list of medications and sent back home with future appointments booked.
“It wasn’t an easy recovery,” says Deborah, Noodle’s mom. “Even when we started therapy, he needed this little hammock to help lift his back legs. Stairs were really difficult for him but after a little practice we started to get the rhythm of it.” Deborah laughs. “He’d look up at us like ‘Okay Momma! I’m ready!’ and we’d hold the back end and follow him up and down.”
It took about three months to see any strong results, but Noodle was determined, as anyone who has a dachshund is sure to confirm.
“I was about to get the hammock when I saw he was already halfway up the stairs! He’d figured out how to do it sideways, so he wasn’t as unbalanced,” Deborah says.
Noodle still needed help with large distances, and he was not as sure of himself going downstairs as opposed to up. But within six months of his surgery, Noodle was able to play with his siblings Bela and Heidi, even if he does need to take an occasional nap break.
There are many things you can do as a pet parent to help keep your dog safe from mobility issues. Regular exercise is needed to help maintain a dog’s healthy weight and keep stress off the joints and bones. Keeping your scheduled vet appointments ensures that any signs of mobility degradation or pain are caught early, along with keeping up on your flea and tick medications. Dietary supplements can be a boost but talk to your vet before putting your dog on any regular vitamins.