As a dog owner, dog paralysis back legs is perhaps the most frightening thing that may happen to your pooch. A loss in mobility might mean the end for your dog, yet it does not have to be. There’s plenty it’s possible to do to take care of your dog if he suffers from partial (where the dog can’t move back legs) or full paralysis.
There are different paralysis dog types. There are some dog hind leg paralysis sudden cases, whereas others may develop over time. Read further to learn about measures you can take if your pet ever experiences partial (dogs back legs not working) or full paralysis as well as preventatives steps that ensure that your dog never has to suffer this debilitating condition.
What Are the Types and Signs of Dog Paralysis?
Sudden paralysis in dogs is caused as communication between the brain and spinal cord has been disrupted. Occasiona0lly the dog won’t have the ability to move at all and have full paralysis, whereas other times your pup only may appear weak, or have a hard time moving.
The 3 paralyzes in dog types are:
- Tetraplegia – Not able to move all 4 legs
- Paraplegia – dog can’t move back legs, not able to move the hind legs or (dog loses use of back legs temporarily)
- Paresis – Partial paralysis, able to be mobile, but not easily
Paralysis in dog symptoms may range from obvious indications to subtler ones, depending upon the trauma’s location.
But there are many things to be on the lookout for:
- Constipation
- Incapability of controlling bowel movements or urination
- Pain in the legs, spine, or neck
- Hard time moving around
- Walking with front legs while dragging his hind legs or dog back leg not working
- Refusing to get up, or incapability of moving any of his legs
Causes of Dog Paralysis
If your pet was hit by an automobile or recently experienced another traumatic situation, the cause of your pet’s paralysis is obvious. But, periodically, symptoms might appear suddenly, out of nowhere. Identifying the canine paralysis cause will help your vet make the proper diagnosis and cover the best action plan to help your dog possibly regain mobility.
There are many common environmental causes and underlying conditions which may cause dog paralysis, which includes:
Tick Bites
The main cause of dog paralysis is tick bites.
Specific tick species will inject a neurotoxin into your pet’s bloodstream as they bite. The toxin may trigger an abrupt neuron paralysis, which sometimes, might result in sudden paralysis. As this occurs, you must address the problem as fast as you can. If left neglected, the paralysis is going to spread and even can become deadly. Tick paralysis is more than often caused by several ticks, yet occasionally it just takes a single tick to trigger paralysis.
Common indications that your pet was bitten by a tick involve vomiting and a loss of coordination. Some canines even may experience changes in the quality and tone of their bark. The symptoms usually will start to appear 6 – 9 days after a tick attaches itself to your dog’s skin.
Thankfully, tick bite paralysis may easily be treated using medicine.
Congenital Diseases
There are many conditions in canines that may leave them more predisposed to developing this condition.
Chief among them is IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) (more on that in the next paragraph). IVDD mostly affects chondrodystrophic dog breeds, or canines that have abnormally short legs, such as Dachshunds. It’s a condition which occurs as the cushioning intervertebral discs in between the vertebrae of their spinal column become burst or ruptured into the spinal cord area. As this occurs, the discs press on nerves which run through their spinal cord, potentially causing paralysis.
