I have a question about Hambone. Granted, he is almost 11 years old and "wisdom" dictates he will start to slow down and "degenerate". But, I wanted to know how concerned I should be about his slight "wobble" in his hind quarters?

I am mildly worried since I have had two dogs in the past put down because the muscles wasted in their hind legs and they lost bladder control. (I deemed it a kindness to end it. Both were miserable in their lives).

However, I don't yet notice a muscular difference of the two legs beginning like I did with theirs. I have crossed his hind feet over each other and he can still shift back to normal stance and I have tucked his toes under and he can still shift to flat foot stance. I think he is a littler thinner back there, i.e. not as wide as he used to be. He is not overweight by any stretch of the imagination.

He isn't as active as he used to be, so would there be "exercises" I can do with him to build up his rear? Am I going overboard with imagination?

I will have the vet check him out but he doesn't get his shots until later next year. I want to be proactive now and not wait for a vet examination. If it is what the other two had, there isn't much I can do about it. BUT, if I can help him now so that, if there is a "problem", he and I will have a head start.

Any help or information will be accepted gratefully.

Does he wobble like he shakes, or wobble like his hips sway a bit?

For Teagan with her HD, I've taken her swimming. I don't know if there is a dog rehab pool near you, but that could be an option. I had to work with her in the pool so she used her back legs and not just her front. We went last winter regularly and she loved it!

When he steps down from a step (3 inches down from the house to the porch platform), he will sway slightly back and forth. Sitting, he has tremors at first, then they begin to subside. Occasionally, when descending from the porch platform, he will drag the top of his paw (toes?). There are only two steps before the ground. And, for the life of me, I cannot remember whether its left, right or both sides depending on the day.

Going up, he has no problems, other than he seems to be "pulling" from his shoulders instead of "pushing" from his rear, if that makes sense.

And, he has no hip dysplasia. Or didn't, his entire life.

Nope, no dog rehab pool. He does love to swim, but as its winter, I can't take him to creek---inlet where there isn't a current, of course. Well, I guess I could, as he is a Husky mix, but no...not going to risk it. The cold would be terrible for his old bones, hypothermia, etc. I think I will look into the dog rehab pool idea in another county near me. Maybe they have one.

Good questions. (Forces me to be more observant.)

Teagan with her HD sways sometimes. Not that other conditions couldn't cause the same thing.

I wonder about spondylosis? I've had cats with it - it's arthritis in the spinal cord. They were all older foster cats or developed it as they aged. It could possibly display the slight dragging. I had a disabled rabbit who didn't have the use of his back legs (he could kind of move (eta: his back legs. overall, he was quite mobile), but his back end was always flopped over on his side and he dragged himself using his front legs. I actually got an energy healer to come in as a last ditch effort, I was dubious, but he started to get better. He was able to do bunny physio and stand up and with assistance hop by the end of his life. We also did massage, and I had taken him to a chiropractor).

Anyways, it wasn't the only reason for his disability - they were never able to entirely figure it out - but he had spondylosis, and he definitely had dragging. Not that Hambone is at that extreme either.

Has he had x-rays? They should show arthritis. Also, I don't know how much chiropractic treatments would cost for a dog (vs. a 2lb rabbit), but depending on what's going on, that might be helpful?

 Quote: jo harker

He isn't as active as he used to be, so would there be "exercises" I can do with him to build up his rear?

Yes.

Get him some kind of harness (I used a seat belt harness; doesn't matter at all which kind as long as you can attach a lead to it on the back side) and have him pull you along. He doesn't have to pull too hard...about like he's trying to get to something to check it out. Work up to 20 min a day.

Have him back up/walk backwards.

If he fetches, have him do so from a down.

Anything to build up his general conditioning is good, too, like walking (work up to 30 min/day).

leih

If you want to be pro-active, I would have the Vet check him now and not wait until he is due for his shots. The possible causes are many and only the Vet can tell you if it is serious or not.
The toe dragging CAN be a neurological symptom. I would absolutely not have him drag you by a harness if you don't know what is wrong.

Jennifer and leih suggestions gave me thought. I visualized everything and last night I remembered something. Mary brought it home to me this morning.

Hambone had been attacked by coyotes. He had muscle tears on his right haunch and he had an injury across his spine just in front of his hips and multiple puncture wounds around his ruff.

He healed so quickly and well, no one thought of later repercussions.(sp?)

Taking him to vet before I try to employ an exercise program would be the best beginning. His slowing down from his daily patrols of the farm may be his way of protecting himself.

BTW extra information not on topic: I don't and my parents don't try to force him to continue his patrols. He is of an age, if he wants to retire himself, he is more than welcome. I also told them that my next dog won't be patroling the farm. After Hambone's attack, it isn't worth it.
(And, the coyotes have been culled now).

Thank you for your replies. They truly help me.

 Quote:

... If he fetches, have him do so from a down.

This kinda raised a red flag for me.

Can we have more discussion on this? I'm not saying at all that I know it's a problem; it's just a gut reaction.

 Quote: Jo Harker

Taking him to vet before I try to employ an exercise program would be the best beginning. His slowing down from his daily patrols of the farm may be his way of protecting himself.

Absolutely!

I'd started to add that to my first response, then deleted it, thinking you'd already figure to do that<g>. Probably should have left it in...

Especially given his injury history with the coyote, the vet is critical. But, you know that.

I hope you post back and let us know what the vet has to say.

leih

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote:

... If he fetches, have him do so from a down.

This kinda raised a red flag for me.

Can we have more discussion on this? I'm not saying at all that I know it's a problem; it's just a gut reaction.

Sure, Connie...

Are you talking in general, or with this dog specifically?

leih