Other Weak back legs Question

[KMARINO]

I have noticing Vegas back legs are weak. A few months ago he pulled a groin muscle on his left leg, got a shot of steroid and healed nicely, then about 2 months later he pulled a muscle in his right leg, same thing shot of steroid all healed well. In this time I did notice him bulking up in the chest area from not using his back legs as much....OK move forward...Saturday I had to once again take him to the vet to get anal glands done (3rd time in 6 weeks! ) But I talked to the vet about Vegas's legs. He did a a range of movement on both his legs and seems like no torn ACL's (which I knew) and no pain. Our vet just came to the conclusion Vegas is just top heavy and dosen't put the weight on his back legs. Even always has, and still pee's like a girl.

When he plays he is fine, he can run, jump on the couch (He uses his front legs to pull up the back half) etc. but when he walks he kind of drags his back feet and walks like a drunk kind of all over the place. When he is standing he kind of lifts one leg than the other. I hope I am making sense!!

Question, since it does not seem to be a medical problem, is there any exercises I can be doing to strengthen his back legs?? Again I don't think there is any pain because when he wants to he can be a spaz running in the house.

 

[Texas Carol]

Oh, my sweet Vegas!!! I'm wondering if walking on a treadmill would help?

Also, what about taking him in a pool and holding him in the middle and letting
him kick?

Let us know what you come up with, I'll keep y'all in my prayers for answers
that work and help Vegas. GOD be with you! Carol

 

[whitebronc]

Has his back hips been x-rayed?

 

[KMARINO]

Oh, my sweet Vegas!!! I'm wondering if walking on a treadmill would help?

Also, what about taking him in a pool and holding him in the middle and letting
him kick?

Let us know what you come up with, I'll keep y'all in my prayers for answers
that work and help Vegas. GOD be with you! Carol

We have a pool, I have taken him out and he won't move his legs, he is too scared. I really dont think he has the instinct to swim. I have a 4 foot high baby gate locked at all times (I am OCD about making sure its locked) completly surrounding my pool so that I have no mis-haps!!
[MENTION=7601]whitebronc[/MENTION], no x-rays, but that will be our next step, just a range of motion and feel from the vet.

 

[TessaAndSamson]

I've never noticed that with Samson so no advice here.

He uses his front legs to pull up the back half

LOL that is exactly what Samson does! I always watch him put his 2 front paws up then use his upper body to pull the rest of his back end up, first one back paw, then the second, I always think to myself why does he do it like that?! LOL

 

[whitebronc]

@whitebronc, no x-rays, but that will be our next step, just a range of motion and feel from the vet.

It might be worth it to make sure his hips are good. If nothing else you get the piece of mind knowing it is not that.
Wish you the best and I hope they can diagnose the issue soon!

We had Ike's hips x-rayed and sent to a specialist to get a 2nd opinion. We had to put down our St. Bernard we rescued do to bad hips, so I get paranoid about that kinda thing.

 

[KMARINO]

I've never noticed that with Samson so no advice here.



LOL that is exactly what Samson does! I always watch him put his 2 front paws up then use his upper body to pull the rest of his back end up, first one back paw, then the second, I always think to myself why does he do it like that?! LOL

Vegas actually strains his upper half to get the rest to follow, he puts his head straight up in the air, lol

 

[Texas Carol]

We have a pool, I have taken him out and he won't move his legs, he is too scared. I really dont think he has the instinct to swim.>>>

I thought this could be happen, will he walk in water up to his chest if you're leading him on a leash?

 

[Lucy-licious]

LOL this is sooo Billy. We always giggle at him doing it. He's really clumsy too..but has very strong back legs that can launch him from standing almost 2 foot off the floor it's landing that's the problem. Daft puppy.

 

[whitebronc]

Vegas isn't knuckling with his rear paws when he walks right?

 

[KMARINO]

Vegas isn't knuckling with his rear paws when he walks right?

No not at all, just kind of drags his back feet. You got me thinking, I am going to call the vet and have hip x-rays done. I had a Dobie in my past life that also had hip problems, didn't act like Vegas, more like arthritus hard to get up and down. As I said, Vegas when he wants to can do the "Fred Flinstone" run all over our tile floor when excited, lol. Just at other times he drags them back feet.

 

[Davidh]

It may just be his walk, the bully shuffle.

 

[BruceP]

You got me thinking about it so I had HRH get off the couch and then get back up... she hops up, like you would expect a frog to hop up.. LOL Now she is laying frog style next to me.... OMG,, maybe she is part Frog!!!!

 

[Mack-N-MatildasMommy]

I have no answers, but poor Vegas!!!!

 

[KMARINO]

Well as worried as I am, Joe was just in the kitchen drilling a bottom kitchen door and Vegas just humped his back off, guess his back legs are not as bad as I am fretting, you would think an almost 4 year old, neutered male would knock it off by this age.....nope....Vegas humped Joe's back off while he was drilling...meaning standing up on his back legs..and why do I worry??????