Caused Of Dog Dragging Hind Leg

By Daniel Schmidt


The presence of weakness in the hind limbs of pets can be accompanied by shortened nails, painful touch, poor lifting of the hips and legs could reveal conditions of the spine, muscle strain or nerve dysfunction. A dog dragging hind leg and bending toes or feet could signal degeneration, hip dysplasia, and injury to the tissues or nerves. Learning how to spot problems before it becomes excessive and difficult to manage.

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.

Simple irritations such as a thorn or a small sting could be irritating the underside of the foot causing your pooch to drag the hind leg. Careful inspection of affected limbs and monitoring your pets for signs of changes are important steps to managing their long term well-being. The correct practices and procedures will deliver the healthiest disease prevention and management solutions.




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