The pug's hind legs buckled sharply. Do you know why pugs have bad hind legs? What should be distinguished from

One of the most common complaints among owners of dogs with neurological problems is that both hind legs. In this case, the dog:

Starts to move abnormally.
The hind legs, as it were, cease to obey, become weak.
Paresis develops, or complete paralysis of the pelvic limbs.

Most 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, all brachycephalic breeds - Pekingese, French Bulldog, Brabancon and others. As a rule, the hind legs of such dogs begin to work abnormally at the age of 3-8 years.

The first symptom of neurological disorders in the thoracolumbar spine, which lead to the fact that the dog begins to wean 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 abruptly while walking or playing with other dogs, or for no apparent external cause in a state of relative rest. Sudden movements can provoke the appearance of such symptoms, but are not their main cause. Many owners of dachshunds believe that a 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 are many reasons why dogs can lose their hind legs. And, of course, those owners who suddenly encountered this problem are lost and do not know what to do. Just yesterday, their pet briskly jumped on the sofas and played catch-up with the neighbor's dogs, but today it lies listlessly, unable to get up.

The cases of damage to the limbs themselves include injuries (fractures, sprains and ruptures of the tendons, damage to peripheral nerves), as well as arthritis and arthrosis of the joints of the limbs, tumors.

If the above diagnoses are excluded, then it is most likely a spinal pathology, that is, a violation of the innervation of the limbs due to any pathological effects on the spinal cord. Paresis and paralysis of the hind limbs develop in case of damage to the spinal cord at the level of the thoracic and (or) lumbar spine.

Injuries

Failure of the hind legs in a dog can occur due to 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 extremities, tumors, discopathy and herniated disc. In addition to these diseases, spinal pathology is possible, in which the innervation of the limbs is disturbed due to the impact on the spinal cord of adverse factors. Paresis and paralysis are frequent companions of spinal cord lesions in the lumbar and thoracic regions.

The most common reason why the hind legs fail in dogs is traumatic: car injuries, falls, blows, strong bites during fights. In some cases, an unfortunate sharp turn, jump and slip on the ice crust can lead to such consequences.

In the place of direct trauma to the spine, the integrity of the spinal column (its structure) is violated, edema occurs, which leads to compression of the spinal cord and radicular nerves. Accordingly, the flow of blood with oxygen stops, and with prolonged compression, the nerve cells die, which makes it impossible for nerve impulses to pass through the peripheral nerves. Severe traumatic injury leads to a violation of the integrity of the spinal tissue, and a rupture of the spinal cord occurs.

Degenerative diseases of the spine

Refusal of the normal functioning of the hind limbs in dogs can provoke degenerative diseases of the spine, which are characterized by a violation of important metabolic processes in its tissues. Thus, this leads to pathological changes in the structure of the links of the spinal column.

Spondylosis

The hind legs of a dog can fail with spondylosis - "local aging" of some vertebral segments. This disease proceeds very slowly, and at the earliest stage it is 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 coracoid 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, edema 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, impaired gait, when the position of the body changes, the dog squeals, concomitant disorders occur (violation of urination and defecation) , in some cases refusal to feed.

Spondylarthrosis

A consequence of static loads in osteochondrosis of the spine may be spondylarthrosis (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 annulus fibrosus. This phenomenon is called vertebral 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 altered substance of the disk penetrates the spinal canal and clamps the spinal cord or the roots of the spinal nerves, which manifests itself in the form of a neurological deficit. Often, a large dog's 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. Typically, in this group of dogs, the development of clinical symptoms progresses slowly over several months or even years. In this case, it is possible to assume damage to 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 French Bulldogs. This is due to the anatomical structure of the animal, when, in the course of artificial selection, the spine became elongated, and now it undergoes stronger loads than the spine in “normal” dogs. The distance between the vertebrae became much larger than normal. This is due to genetics and is inherited. A disc prolapse can occur not only during active movements and jumps, 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 Retriever, Great Danes, etc.) are faced with diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The most common disease in puppies is hip dysplasia. This disease is hereditary and manifests itself most often between the ages of 4 and 10 months during intensive growth. At first there is a problem getting up, especially after sleep. The dog limps, then disperses and walks normally. Further, without treatment, the symptoms can intensify, up to the complete refusal of the dog to walk. If you notice such signs, you need to take the dog to the veterinarian and take 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 in the 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 that cause instability of the vertebrae.
Rheumatoid lesions.
Spinal injury.
Violation of microcirculation, leading to malnutrition of the disk.
autoimmune processes.

It is also possible spinal pathology, which arises from the impact of adverse factors on the spinal cord. Frequent companions of lesions of the spinal cord in the thoracic and lumbar region are paresis and paralysis. Most often, dog paws suffer from falls (especially in small breeds), car accidents, blows and strong bites during fights.

Even an unsuccessful jump, a sharp turn, or a dog slipping on an ice crust can lead to paw failure. At this moment, the integrity of the structure of the spinal column is violated at the site of injury to the spine, edema occurs, which compresses the radicular nerves and the spinal cord.

Of course, the answer will be to contact a veterinarian, preferably one specializing in neurology. If you notice a pain reaction in your dog when changing the position of the body, a tense gait, an unwillingness to walk, especially on stairs, do not wait until her hind legs fail - immediately show the animal to a doctor, then the treatment will be more effective. If the trouble with the hind legs has already happened, all the more you should not wait any longer.

If the animal has a spinal injury, try to get it to the doctor as soon as possible and in an immobilized state (secure the animal on the board with bandages or straps). Do not use painkillers until you see your doctor. Pain limits the activity of the animal, which avoids further displacement of the vertebrae in the event of a fracture.

It is possible to notice the onset of the disease and urgently consult a specialist, but most inexperienced owners do not attach importance to such important symptoms as:

Anxiety.
The dog hides and squeals when they begin to touch it on the 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 sciatica. Wrongly prescribed treatment (for example, instead of maximum immobilization of the animal - massage), will miss precious time and aggravate the situation.

The sooner help is provided to the dog, the better the prognosis for its recovery. In any case, you should not despair, because there are cases when completely immobilized dogs were put on their paws and returned to active life. Depending on the diagnosis, drug treatment is prescribed in the form of injections. A more radical case in the case of diseases of the spine is an operation, after which the treatment also continues.

In parallel, the dog is prescribed a massage, during the recovery period, swimming is recommended, classes with the dog after the return of physical activity to it. All dog owners should remember that a paralyzed dog cannot be helped at home. It is necessary to consult a doctor, go through all the prescribed examinations for an accurate diagnosis and start timely treatment.

First, the doctor will conduct an examination, assess the general condition, provide emergency assistance and make a primary diagnosis. When it comes to spinal pathology, the doctor:

Check the safety of sensitivity (tactile and pain) of the limbs.
Check the safety of the reflexes.
Check for pain in the spine.
Order an x-ray.
It is possible that a myelography will be performed, that is, an X-ray image will be taken after the introduction of a special radiopaque substance into the spinal canal. This is done to identify the slightest violations that are not noticeable in a regular picture, as well as to determine the exact localization of the process. If necessary, he will prescribe blood and urine tests to identify concomitant pathologies (pyelonephritis, renal, hepatic, heart failure, etc.).

The conducted studies will help the doctor assess the degree of damage, give a prognosis of the disease and make a decision on treatment. Perhaps the doctor will put you in front of a choice between a surgical and therapeutic method of treatment, perhaps he will insist on one of them.

There is no single reason for the occurrence of a situation in which a dog's hind legs fail. If the animal drags its paws, wags the back of the body when walking, limps, then a qualified diagnosis is required, so a visit to the veterinarian is mandatory. There is a common misconception among dog owners that NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as diclofenac or aspirin, will help in this case.

Such improvements in the condition are temporary and distract from the search for the true cause of the disease. Therefore, only a doctor should prescribe treatment, and the owner can provide first aid to the pet.

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Description of the problem

An age predisposition to pathologies of the motor system is noted, and the manifestations also vary depending on the breeds. Certain types of dogs develop the following diseases:

English and French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Pekingese, Pugs, and Poodles are more likely to have ruptured or displaced intervertebral discs. This is a serious danger to the pet, which can lead to death. The displacement of the vertebrae provokes compression of the nerve processes of the spinal cord and causes severe pain attacks. If the nerve endings of the puppies are compressed to a lesser extent, this is manifested by weakness of the hind limbs.
Large breeds - Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Great Danes, German Shepherds, Staffies and others - suffer from diseases of the hip joints. This is caused by heredity, monotonous diet, uncomfortable slippery base during daily movement.

Depending on age, the causes of weakness of the hind limbs differ:

Middle-aged pets suffer from inflammatory processes in the muscles the next day after a long walk or an unusual load. The dog's gait resembles walking on stilts. Only a veterinarian can distinguish temporary inflammation from spinal lesions.
In older dogs, poor hind limb function is more often associated with central nervous system dysfunction or vascular problems. Tumors are relatively rare.

Causes of the disease

Inattentive attitude to the pet, accompanied by a long asymptomatic period, ignorance of the state of his body leads to the fact that the animal has problems with the work of the hind legs.

Diseases of the renal system cannot cause weakness of the limbs and a hunched back, unless he is exhausted to the last degree. In this case, lethargy extends not only to the hind legs, but also to all other muscle groups.

Animal injury

Stretching, fracture, rupture of the tendon or pinching of the nerve when jumping from high fences, parapets, or simply from awkward movements become the main causes of paresis and paralysis. Even small shifts of the discs of the spinal column can provoke pathology.

Sometimes swelling occurs at the site of displacement of the vertebrae, which compresses the nerve endings. Violation of blood flow leads to cell death and stop impulses, which is why the hind legs fail.

Discopathy

This disease is an intervertebral hernia - a protrusion of the intervertebral discs outside the spinal column. Because of this, the nerve of the spinal column is compressed, the movement of the paws is disturbed. Dog breeds with a long spine, such as bassets or dachshunds, are more likely to suffer from such a disease. In other dogs, manifestations of discopathy may not be very pronounced.

As a result of selection in French bulldogs, the spine has become longer, so representatives of the breed are more likely to suffer from this disease. These dogs need to be protected from heavy loads and make sure that they do not make sudden jumps from a height.

Dysplasia

This disease is difficult to treat. In pets, dysplasia occurs due to abnormal development of the hip joints as a result of heredity or dislocation at birth. Because of this, all systems of the articular node cease to function normally. The cause of dysplasia is the rapid growth of the puppy.

When buying a Shepherd, Labrador, Great Dane or St. Bernard (we are talking about large breeds), you need to require not only a pedigree, but also tests for checking for dysplasia of the parents. If the pet begins to get tired, his gait becomes wobbling, then an x-ray will help to identify the disease.

Osteocondritis of the spine

This disease often occurs after discopathy, it is characterized by excessive mineralization of cartilage tissue, which as a result hardens and causes destruction of the joints. At the same time, ligaments and vertebrae are destroyed.

The main factor in the pathogenesis of the disease is heredity. Blood microcirculation is disturbed, autoimmune processes change, and excess weight also matters. Most often, the disease affects representatives of small breeds, but large dogs also get sick. The disease restricts the movement of the hind legs, although no other symptoms are observed, this leads to the fact that over time the dog's limbs fail.

Arthrosis and arthritis

These diseases cause poor functioning of the dog's limbs. They are typical for animals of heavy, massive and large breeds. In the joint with arthrosis, the cartilage tissue becomes thinner, the heads of the joints rub against each other and gradually collapse, which leads to severe pain when moving.

Arthritis involves inflammation, while arthrosis destroys bones without inflammation. Arthritis is more common in older pets, and there is inflammation of the joint capsule, which is caused by a lack of vitamins in the diet, excess movement or lack of exercise, animal obesity.

Sometimes the dog cannot move its limbs for a short time, then the ability to walk is restored. Such cases require a mandatory visit to the doctor.

General symptoms of pathology

Diseases can appear suddenly and develop rapidly, or the build-up of symptoms is gradual and takes a long time. Sometimes the signs are fuzzy, a lot depends on the cause of the failure of the hind legs:

The main symptom in all cases is pain, which is pronounced or dull. At the beginning of the disease, the dog does not fall to its feet, only during a walk the coordination of movements of the back of the body is disturbed, a wobbling gait appears. The animal does not walk well, sometimes it simply drags its legs behind it, pulls itself up on its front legs to move.
Pain occurs in a pet after an active walk, games. An attentive owner will immediately notice such a state, usually the dog's legs give way.
Vivid pain syndrome leads to the fact that the animal cannot walk, falls and tries to get up again. Often the pet panics. The condition in which the paws hurt can appear temporarily, while the dog is lethargic and does not eat.
Constant pain drains the dog's strength. Not only does she not move or run, but she cannot stand up and is trembling all over.
The most terrible manifestation of the disease is the insensitivity of the hind legs. Muscles do not respond to injections with a sharp object, the pet does not move its limbs. In this case, we are talking about paralysis or paresis, which requires immediate veterinary care.

First aid

First aid for limb failure is to call the veterinarian at home. There are cases when the mobility of the legs was restored in completely hopeless animals, so the owner should not panic. First aid measures:

If the dog is injured and the owner knows about it, then you should try to limit the movements of the animal as much as possible. To do this, a board or other flat and long object is placed under the body of the pet and the dog is tied or bandaged to it.
Do not give painkillers, as this will blur the picture of the disease. Also, the pet, without feeling pain, tears off the bandage or tries to run, aggravating the disease of the joints or spine.
You can not massage the paws, back of the animal, make him rise. At such times, the pet does not need food, so you should not feed it. An animal that has fallen into a panic is calmed down in a flat voice, trying to reduce anxiety.

Animal treatment

Specialized care is provided only by a veterinarian. The doctor may prescribe surgery if there are threatening injuries or if damage to the spine and pelvic bones is suspected. For diagnosis, ultrasound, myelography, urine and blood tests are used, and other studies are carried out on the recommendation of a veterinarian.

For the treatment of dogs with lesions of the hip joints, spine and spinal cord, the same remedies are used as for humans. It is dangerous to use such drugs for animal therapy on your own. This is especially true for pets of small breeds, since the wrong dose of medication can kill them. Many drugs are prescribed depending on body weight.

The effect of treatment most often occurs if the appeal to a specialist was timely. Usually this is the time when pain symptoms appeared, but paresis and paralysis have not yet developed. During this period, drug treatment will help to avoid irreversible consequences.

Therapeutic measures in case of failure in the work of the hind limbs include several procedures in combination, their purpose depends on the age of the animal, the severity of the lesion and the causes of the disease. The doctor prescribes painkillers, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, vitamin preparations, chondroprotectors. During the operation, hemostatic, antihistamines, antibiotics are used.

Folk methods

All folk recipes must be negotiated with a veterinarian. Unlike a person, an animal cannot talk about how it feels, so you need to be careful about your pet during such treatment. Some folk remedies for dog therapy:

To reduce pain at home, warming local procedures are done. For dogs, warm bags with sand, cereals, salt are most often used, which are applied to the lumbar or thigh area. You can use woolen things folded several times and heated with an iron. All warm-ups are done after evening walks, so as not to cool problem areas after the procedure.
They practice rubbing the back or thigh with compositions based on honey, alcohol, propolis. To do this, you can take irritating substances, for example, hot red pepper, mustard, turpentine.
To reduce the swelling of problem areas, herbal infusions and decoctions are used, which have a diuretic effect. These include products from lingonberry leaves, cranberries, bay leaves, corn stigmas and other ready-made diuretic pharmaceutical preparations. It is advisable to give them to the dog separately, without adding them to the drinking container, since the effectiveness of drugs from this is reduced.

Problem Prevention

To treat paralysis of the limbs, you need to recognize the disease in the early stages. If neurological disorders are inherent in the genes, then it is not always possible to correct the situation, but you can try to reduce the consequences of the disease.

Timely examination helps to identify tumors that put pressure on the nerve endings and disrupt motor activity. They need to be removed to improve the quality of life of the animal. In the open-air cage there should not be a slippery base, it is unacceptable to make a cement or concrete screed leading to hypothermia of the paws. The best option is earth or boards.

The diet should include all the minerals and vitamins your dog needs. To do this, they consult with a veterinarian and introduce vitamin complexes for animals into the diet, depending on age and body weight.

Many diseases of pugs are caused by a genetic predisposition, as well as the specifics of the structure of the body and muzzle. It is important to detect any ailment at the earliest stage - often this can save a pet's life. Let's learn about common pug diseases, their symptoms and treatment.

If for some reason the dog began to limp, although there were no injuries, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head is possible, that is, a violation of the blood circulation of the femurs. Often the disease affects both hind legs. The pug becomes inactive, painfully reacts to touching the paw, it begins to refuse. Later, the necrotic process affects the entire limb: the muscles on the affected legs dry out.

Treatment is possible only surgical, but soon after the operation, mobility returns. Pugs are genetically predisposed to such limb problems. You should act quickly, until the paws fail. A problem with small dogs is necrotizing meningoencephalitis: inflammation of the central nervous system. Manifested by convulsions, involuntary movements of the pupils, paralysis. Aggressive immunosuppressive treatment is required.

The animal has seizures similar to epilepsy, paws give way, head twitches, tremors and convulsions occur. Encephalitis can develop due to a tick bite, but often the cause cannot be found.

It is believed that this disease can also be hereditary. In middle-aged and older bitches, the uterus may become inflamed. It provokes frequent urination, intense thirst, lethargy. Possible purulent discharge from the loop. Urgent treatment is needed, sometimes it is necessary to resort to the removal of the uterus and ovaries.

Often, pugs grunt and cough: the reason is the so-called. brachycephalic syndrome in pugs due to a long palate with a short muzzle. In this case, it is difficult to breathe, grunting, the dog may be due to heat and fatigue (pugs often begin to choke at the end of a long walk), as well as illnesses (runny nose, etc.). Pugs often grunt when they are happy or stressed. The tendency to this problem is also hereditary: if parents often suffocate, puppies will also be prone to this problem.

If the dog is coughing as if he is choking, this is a "reverse sneeze" - the dog is trying to clear his airways. Such a cough can be similar to vomiting, and sometimes it really turns into vomiting. Periodically, this cough occurs in many dogs with a short muzzle and goes away on its own, but if the attacks become more frequent, a specialist consultation is necessary. The dog could either just catch a cold or become seriously ill, up to heart problems. It is also worth checking if the choking dog has foreign objects in the nasopharynx.

If a pug snores, it may be genetic (approximately 20% of pugs snore - another manifestation of brachycephalic syndrome). But if this has not happened before, the cause of snoring may be an allergic rhinitis, a cold, excess weight, sleep apnea, when the dog suffocates for a moment, etc. If the pug snores with frequent transition to choking or coughing, you should contact your veterinarian, which will tell you whether it is necessary to eliminate the allergic factor, treat a runny nose or have surgery.

By themselves, a cough and runny nose can mean that the dog has a slight cold, or be symptoms of an infection. For example, "kennel cough" occurs after contact with other dogs: exhibitions, training on the site, etc. Runny nose and sneezing, in which snot appears, may be due to allergies. One of common causes also is rhinitis - in this case, a runny nose, if you do not take up active treatment, sometimes lasts for years. In all these cases, you need to contact your veterinarian.

eye diseases

Pugs have very common eye problems. The prolapse of the eyeball looks especially frightening when it strongly bulges and turns red (this happens due to a blow or an insect bite). What to do in this case? Having attached a damp cloth to the dog's eye, immediately go to the hospital.

If the skin folds touch the cornea, keratitis develops: the eye turns red, ulcers appear on it. Sometimes this causes pigmentation of the cornea, i.e., pigmentary keratitis. It is treated both surgically and with drops. Pigmentary keratitis sometimes occurs due to allergies. Often cataracts develop (the dog bumps into objects due to deteriorating vision) and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the area around the eye). All eye sores in pugs require an immediate visit to the veterinarian, as they can lead to blindness.

Also, this disease can be the result of a cold. Symptoms such as hot, inflamed ears, the appearance of sores and crusts on them are often caused by a microscopic ear mite. An accurate diagnosis should be made by a veterinarian. Medicines for ticks can cause side effects and should not be used without prior consultation.

When scratching the ear, you can not use iodine - it will burn the tissue. It is better to wipe the wound with brilliant green or hydrogen peroxide. An insect can get into the ears - in this case, the dog often shakes its head. To begin, lay the animal on its side and drip vegetable oil into the ear. If the insect has surfaced, remove it with a cotton swab, if not, contact your veterinarian, but do not try to remove it yourself, otherwise you can push it deeper.

Skin diseases

If a pug's hair falls out, the cause may be juvenile demodicosis - a tick attack that most often attacks this particular breed of dog. In addition to progressive baldness, demodicosis in a pug leads to the appearance of sores, wounds, and later purulent abscesses and scabs on the body. Treatment is usually complex, including diet and walking regimen to strengthen the immune system. Usually this disease manifests itself in puppies up to a year.

Pimples in pugs are often caused by allergies. If they are red with a dot in the center, fleas are the most likely cause. A logical question: how to remove fleas? To do this, use special shampoos, collars or sprays. You should also disinfect the apartment.

Atopic dermatitis manifests itself as itchy, inflamed areas on the face, in the armpits, between the fingers and around the anus. Many breeds are genetically predisposed to it, but food allergens, pollen, house dust, etc. serve as catalysts for the disease. This disease should be treated by subcutaneous injection of the allergen in a gradually increasing concentration. All procedures are carried out exclusively in the veterinary clinic. It is important to keep the skin clean inside the folds, otherwise inflammation is possible. Especially the muzzle needs such care.

If the diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting, give your dog plenty of water or syringes to prevent dehydration. If diarrhea becomes chronic, it may be a symptom of colitis or gastritis (which is also evidenced by excessive salivation).

Constipation often occurs due to an improper diet, lack of water, or a sedentary lifestyle. Sometimes constipation can be caused by an overdose of astringents for diarrhea. More dangerous causes of constipation are prostatitis and intestinal obstruction. In severe cases, the treatment of constipation requires surgery. Pugs are prone to obesity. In addition to frequent constipation, excess weight exacerbates breathing problems: obese pugs suffocate almost all the time.

Often a pug snores because of the fat folds on the neck.

If your pug is drooling a lot, it may indicate a problem with his teeth. Abundant salivation in transport indicates that the pet is motion sick. The puppy needs to be accustomed to the car, gradually increasing the duration of the trips.

Urolithiasis disease

Signs of urolithiasis are as follows: the dog urinates frequently, the urine becomes cloudy, sometimes with pus. The animal becomes lethargic and apathetic, often licks the genitals. May urinate at home. In this case, it is treatment that is needed, since it is very difficult to wean a sick dog from writing at home. First, diuretics are prescribed, further treatment depends on the size and nature of the stones. Often, surgery is needed.

Video "Diseases of pugs"

From this video you will learn what diseases pugs can suffer from.

Owners often turn to the veterinary clinic, complaining that the dog's hind legs are being taken away. Each of them describes the symptoms in their own way: the pet is lame, hunches its back, drags its paws, it has paralysis.

Introduction

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

Individual pathologies, when a dog's hind legs are taken away, include age and breed predisposition. So, pugs, poodles, English and dachshunds and Pekingese have a predisposition to the destruction or displacement of the intervertebral

Discopathy

This pathology is quite serious and can pose a threat to the life of a pet. Displaced, the disc compresses. Outwardly, this will be manifested by periodic bouts of severe pain: the pet freezes in one position (usually with a hunched back and an outstretched neck), shortness of breath appears, severe trembling, hind legs weaken and give way.

The reasons why dachshunds experience a decrease in the strength of the intervertebral disc, scientists have not yet fully identified. A genetic predisposition has been established in some lines of breeding dogs. Due to the mutual pressure of the vertebrae on each other, the gelatinous nucleus pulposus moves into the thickness of the fibrous ring and subsequently leaves its limits, falling into the paravertebral space. The fibrous ring has the lowest strength on the side of the passing spinal canal, and therefore parts of the destroyed disc are usually displaced in this direction. This causes compression of the spinal cord lying here, as well as its nerves.

If the compression of the spinal cord is not so pronounced, then clinically it will manifest itself only in this way - the dog's hind legs have failed. The pet drags them, tries to transfer the weight of the body to the forelimbs. He tries to jump onto a chair (sofa, armchair), but he does not succeed. Can't bend over to the floor, bowl. If there is a suspicion of discopathy, you need to go for a qualified diagnosis and prepare for treatment, up to surgical intervention. Compression of the spinal cord can cause irreversible changes in the body, when therapeutic measures are already simply 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 defeat Many things can affect the occurrence of this pathology: heredity, overweight puppy, unbalanced diet, etc.

Causes of dysplasia

There have been many scientific debates about the causality 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 premise 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 shown by the first theory.

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

The general conclusion of experts: the disease is a classic example of a quantitative trait, which is influenced by many genes (polygeny), and in this case, many factors environment exert their influence on the final formation and manifestation of signs. The clinical manifestation of dysplasia, when the dog's hind legs are taken away, is not present in all animals. But this does not mean that a pet at risk is not susceptible to this pathology if there are no pronounced symptoms. When choosing a mating partner, the pedigree should be examined 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 unequivocally proved that dysplasia is associated with heredity and is inherent in certain breeds. And if the breed is characterized by a powerful physique and large mass, then the probability of the disease is very high. the dog carries a huge burden. It gives the body when moving the pushing force from the hind limbs. And during this push, the joint is extended and holds the head of the femur along the entire acetabulum. Particularly great friction occurs in the joint when the animal, standing on its hind legs, jumps or walks.

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

Myositis

In middle aged dogs after too much physical activity the next day may develop inflammation of the muscles - myositis. Due to overstrain, tear, rupture, rupture of muscle fibers and hemorrhage into the thickness of the muscles can occur. Due to damage, traumatic edema develops, and with a significant rupture of the muscle fibers, a scar forms, and the muscle shortens. This leads to myogenic contracture of the corresponding joint. If pathogenic microflora gets into the affected muscle, purulent myositis will develop.

One of the symptoms of this disease will be "stilted gait" or weakness of the hind limbs, the dog limps on the hind leg. Treatment of dogs with such an ailment will not cause great difficulties, but only

Osteochondrosis

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

fractures

This pathology is often found among puppies of large breeds. And many owners cite trauma as the cause. The dog tightens its hind leg, cannot lean on it. Reacts painfully to touch. In most cases, fracture occurs with minimal impact from the outside. This type of injury is called a pathological fracture and indicates a low mineralization of the skeleton. Causes - low intake of calcium or vitamin D, high intake of phosphorus.

For recovery in this case, it is not enough to fix the fracture. The main thing is to prescribe the right diet. The best option is to use ready-made feeds that are balanced in terms of phosphorus, calcium, vitamins D and A. An excess of these substances will delay bone healing.

Old age

Does an older dog fall on its hind legs? This may be due to a malfunction of the brain. According to the observations of veterinarians, this is most often due to various vascular problems, less often - the cause is the presence of brain tumors. Proper treatment in this case can significantly improve the well-being of the pet and prolong his life for years.

What should be distinguished from

Kidney problems cannot cause a dog to lose its hind legs and develop a hunched body, unless the pet has an extreme degree of exhaustion with autointoxication. But in this case, weakness will spread to the entire muscular apparatus.

What not to do

The most common mistake owners make when detecting weakness in the hind limbs is self-treatment of dogs with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, indomethacin, aspirin, etc.). The clinical improvements observed by the owners after the use of these drugs are only temporary, but they hide the underlying disease well, which greatly complicates the correct diagnosis of the disease, due to which the dog's hind legs are taken away. 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.