Back Legs Stiff and Weak

[Mustang9846]

My EM is 5 months old. When he stands up after laying down for an extended time his back legs are stiff and weak. Has anyone else seen this? My vet doesn't seem concerned about it but it scares me.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Can you catch a video of it?

 

[Mustang9846]

I will tomorrow. I don't think it will happen again today he is usually active in the evenings.

 

[Kelly]

How old? My gilr is 9 1/2 and she has trouble with one leg after lying for period of time, but that's arthritis.

 

[Mustang9846]

5 months

 

[dpenning]

I see lots of dogs kinda stretch when they stand up. They keep their legs straight and kind of lean forward. Is that what you are talking about? If so I wouldn't worry about it, he's just stretching. Vid would help for sure.

 

[Mustang9846]

No, I've seen lots of dogs do that too but this is different. I took a video but it won't let me post it. It reminds me of an old man trying to walk, they are very stiff. Twice they actually buckled on him. It scares me.

 

[Smart_Family]

I would see a vet, especially with a pup that young

 

[STEVSH]

My catahoula has had this her entire life. She has spinal arthritis. Even as a pup, she would get up and be very stiff when walking for the first few steps. Now she is 9 and has no feeling in her back paws because of the progression. The vet can flip her feet over and she will just leave them there. Unfortunately there is nothing we can do for her except for pain medication. I would suggest a vet visit as well.

I got her at five months, and the shelter owner was pretty sure she was thrown against a wall or something. It was an abusive situation no matter what though.

 

[ruthcatrin]

No, I've seen lots of dogs do that too but this is different. I took a video but it won't let me post it. It reminds me of an old man trying to walk, they are very stiff. Twice they actually buckled on him. It scares me.

Upload it to either youtube or photobucket and then just post the link if you can't get the embed function to work.

 

[Mustang9846]

I was on top of it with my vet at is 1st appt and brought it up at every appt after that. Maybe I need to get another opinion from another vet. I'm not home now, will work on the video when I get home.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Next time, if you have a smart phone or tablet, load the video on it to show the vet.

 

[Smart_Family]

Definitely switch vets or get a second opinion.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Posting for Mustang9846:

[video=youtube;HqCmlI0u9ls]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqCmlI0u9ls[/video]

I want the opinion of some of you EM folks. I'm not sure I like that wobbly stance, but I've never worked with a young EM either.

 

[Smokeycat]

It reminds me a lot of how my senior cat used to walk after her muscles had atrophied due to age and health. Makes me wonder if he has some sort of disorder with muscle development.

 

[jcook]

I'm no expert, but that doesn't seem normal to me. I'd get a second opinion. Sending good thoughts your way. Keep us posted on how he is doing.

 

[DMikeM]

OMG there is something really wrong here. Get him to a new VET as soon as you can. Not even my older arthritic dog moves that bad. I would have forced the issue with the vet when your pup had buckled.

 

[dpenning]

First, find a new vet, second, make an appointment. That is NOt normal. You may need a specialist but I can't imagine a vet thinking that is ok! It may be so simple as pano but he should identify it as not normal.

 

[raechiemay]

I agree, a second opinion is definitely in order. Duchess will sometimes be a little stiff from sleeping for a long time but usually comes right out of it. What your pup is doing worries me. Please keep us posted!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Find a way to take that video with you to the new vet too. The video says it WAY better than the description.