Yorkie can't use hind legs after being in active for a while
 

My 7 year Yorkie finds it difficult to get up after being inactive for a while. She can get up on her front legs, but can't seem to move her hind legs, she has to pull herself up with her front legs. I wonder if this is just due to her ageing or could it be something more serious? The strange thing is after a few seconds of walking, she is fine and can even run!

Bella is a little stiff after lying down for a while. It's not as bad as your case, but she is only two years old. Hopefully more experienced people will chime in. Welcome to Yorkietalk!

7 years old is not "old" this is not normal. Have you tried massaging her hind legs? I would definitely have your vet take a look at her.

You never want to take things for granted or assume with a dog's change in behavior, abilities or activities. They can't talk and tell us they are hurting, stiff or sore, have numbness in their legs, etc. The only way they can show us there is something going on with them is by how they act or change their ways of doing things. Any change from what used to be normal activity can be indicative of trouble brewing. This dog definitely needs to have a vet check her as soon as possible. She needs a diagnosis and possible treatment - could be in pain. Maybe stiff from a recent, unobserved injury or just needs some arthritis medication or something.

She needs a vet check to see what is going on, good luck

This could be a symptom of issues in the back. Longer, lower dogs like dauschunds have these sorts of issues more commonly

What ever happened with this pup? What did the vet say? I do hope the pup is not seriously ill.....but even a pinched nerve in pup's back can cause a lot of pain.....and the longer the nerve is pinched off, you can expect permanent damage....please let us know what the vet did to diagnose the issue and what has been done for your baby.

I wouldn't rule out a blood clot.

I brought her to the vet and he says that she has hip dysplasia, which causes numbness of limbs. He also wants to make sure its nothing else causing this so she needs an x-ray

Oh, poor, sweet little thing. I'm so sorry. Hope you can get her fixed up, feeling better.

Have her also assessed for DLSS Degenerative Lumbosacral Syndrome - while very uncommon in Yorkies - it does happen in other breeds. I know I have one dog with this and was very uncommon for that breed as well.

Oh and btw I would be going to an ortho specialist if HD is suspected. They are the experts here - and should be able to give you very detailed advice on how to handle this condition - they are also the only ones who can officially Grade the HD and or give an opinion on whether or not there is LCP as well.


Do not forget about the DLSS if they suspect this only an MRI is definitive for diagnosis - however it might not show up if it is in its early stages.


The good news is that with the wee dogs medical management is very successful as well as hip surgery


Keep us posted.

Sorry to hear the diagnosis but at least now you know there is a problem and what it is which goes a long way towards being able to help your doggy..


Good luck

Thanks for the up-date. Sorry to hear it is HD,poor sweet little baby. Please keep us posted on how she is doing.

How did your vet diagnose hip dysplasia without an xray? Are you going through with them??

Some reading for you about arthritis and HD
 

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ully-soon.html


Canine Hip Dysplasia | Hip Dysplasia in Dogs


While the articles posted did not go into detail about what can go wrong within the hip joint - there are two most common problems with true hip dysplasia. First hd is not truly an arthritic problem - but is a structural short-coming with-in the hip joint that eventually or sometimes quickly lead to arthritic changes (dependent upon the severity of the disease).


The hip joint is known as a ball and socket joint - it can be easily visualized if you cup one hand make a fist with the other and place your fist into your cupped hand. Your fist is the ball joint and the socket is your cupped hand. Hip joints are meant to fit very snugly together and with HD they don't. Sometimes the cup is too shallow for the size of the ball - sometimes to deep - sometimes the rim of the cup is un-even or oddly shaped. Sometimes the ball joint is mal-formed - either too small or too large or ovoid in shape.


But you really want an expert to examine the joint to take the right radiographs for ddx'ing specific hip conditions. And to advise on either medical management - ie non surgical options and or surgery.


Then further to the exercises - management alluded to in the article. Here are some other options again everything to be discussed with your specialist


1. Acupuncture can be very effective for pain management - Get a vet who is certified in canine acupuncture.


2. Chiropractor treatment for the spine. Again it is very important to get a canine chiropractor practioner - and to also have good and usable diagnostic Xrays.


3. Swimming is grand as is underwater treadmill work.


4. There are various supplements you dog could go on - some of greater efficacy than others. Glucosamine and chondroitin - Glycoflex - Dasuquin to name just a few.


5. Canine physiotherapy is great as well - specific strength building exercises for the hindquarters.


I wish you all the best for your pup

It could be a bad case of arthritis, or even a defect that was always there, just subtle, but don't quote me on that; I'm far from a professional and you should have a vet look at her.

Thanks for your well wishes, she is having the x-ray soon. The vet doesn't seem to be too concerned, he feels that it is a mild case. So hopefully she will be fine!

Keep us all in the loop! Warm thoughts and prayers going out for you both!

Canine acupuncture and chiropractors.... now that is something I would like to witness!:aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork