What this means
Posture is easiest to judge when your dog stands or sits calmly on a flat surface. Note whether the back is straight or arched, whether the head is held low, whether the legs are set wider than usual or tucked under the body, whether the dog sits on one hip, and whether it sits and then quickly stands again. Look at the gait too: whether the steps are short, whether the dog wobbles, and whether one side is lifted differently.
A dog usually changes its posture because it is more comfortable or hurts less that way. Behind it can lie a problem of the joints, bones, muscles or nerves, and sometimes it is inherited and shows at a young age. The only way to learn the cause is an examination by a vet, who may arrange X-rays or other tests. There is no need to guess at home.
Your vet will find it useful to know when you noticed the change in posture, whether it came on suddenly or gradually, whether your dog tires quickly, whether the hind legs are weakening, whether muscles are thinning and whether it struggles to get up. Film your dog standing, sitting, walking and getting up, because it may behave differently in the clinic.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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Joint pain or a joint disorder
When a joint hurts or is unstable, a dog looks for a position that puts less pressure on it. That can change how it sits, stands and walks.
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A disorder of the bones or ligaments
Some bone and ligament disorders are inherited or appear during growth. They change gait and posture.
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Back or neck pain
A sore back or neck can make a dog hold its head low, arch its back or move carefully.
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An inherited nerve and muscle disease
When the nerves that control the muscles weaken, a dog can tire quickly, wobble, and stand or sit oddly.
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An injury or strain
After a fall, a blow or a bad jump a dog may guard a sore place and change its posture.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Whether the change in posture came on suddenly or gradually
- Whether it shows all the time or only after rest or a walk
- Whether your dog tires quickly or avoids jumping and climbing stairs
- Whether the hind legs are weakening or your dog wobbles while walking
- Whether the muscles on the legs or back are thinning
- Whether it struggles to get up or change position
When to book a routine visit
If your dog has stood, sat or walked oddly for some time, show it to a vet. Film the posture and say when you first noticed the change.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Orthopaedic (bone and joint) problems Bones and joints This is an umbrella term for a range of disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments and tendons, from joints that form badly during growth to torn ligaments, dislocations or arthritis that comes with age. Some are inherited, while others follow injuries, excess weight or the wrong kind of exercise. Such problems cause pain and limit how freely a dog moves, and what lies behind a particular limp is for a vet to work out.
- Spinal muscle atrophy Nerves and muscles Spinal muscle atrophy is an inherited disease in which the motor neurons in the spinal cord, which tell the muscles to move, gradually die off. Without those signals the muscles weaken and waste away. The disease appears in young dogs and progresses over time, so its first signs are worth showing to a vet.
Body systems: Bones and joints Nerves and muscles