Wonky doggie

teresagarsden

teresagarsden

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I dont visit the dog forum often but I need your ideas / experiance please.
I have a lovely mastif x German shepherd dog that will be 16 yrs old at the end of the month, now Kenwood is very rarely sick or sorry but 4 days ago he seemed to have problems with his balance on his back legs.
He is fine in himself but just every 6 steps or so staggers to the side then off he goes again. He has not yet fallen over but I am just thinking now is this the start of the end or has anybodies dog done this and got better (with or without vet)

Thanks in advance for your help
 
Wow, that's a great age for such a big dog.

TBH I would now be considering his future, as a large, weightbearing dog, once they cannot get around or toilet themselves unaided/without struggling and when they struggle to get up, then for me personally, it's time - they have a lot of weight to support, they cannot be carried, they cannot understand why they cannot behave the way they want to.

If it is a condition like CDRM (commonly misdiagnosed as arthritis/hip dysplasia) then it is neurological and while there is no pain, it is a degenerative disease and uncureable. GSDs are prone to it and we have lost two females to it. It begins with scuffing of the back paws, eventually power is lost to the rear of the dog and if it is allowed to progress (some people put their dogs on carts) power is lost in front too.

Thinking of you and Kenwood, whatever you decide.
 
Thanks for the reply -
Kenwood is smaller than you would think about the size of a large collie and up until last week was bouncing around like a puppy. I got him as a companion for my dalmation who I had PTS 2 yrs ago at the grand old age of 17. I spoke to my husband a we decided to give him another week then get the vet involved and see if we can make it to New year then make a decision.
Poor baby I remember bringing him home when he was a puppy like it was yesterday.
 
Bless him. Is it just his hind legs? I know two people with dogs of around 14 that have had strokes lately - both of them collies too.. They were slightly wonky everywhere, you could see it in the head a bit too..
 
My sisters' GS x Greyhound who is 12 has something like this, started with him not wanting to jumping to the car, and she took him to vets and they said it might be a disc issue. He is having a scan at newmarket on Friday and then depending on what they find there might be able to operate and relieve the problem.

However as your dog is 16 he might be a bit old to have an operation but they might be able to give him steriods or something else to help him be more comfortable.
 
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