What this means
Dragging legs is usually linked to the nervous system rather than to simple joint pain. A dog may not feel that the tops of its toes are touching the ground, so it drags or turns over onto its claws. Many owners first notice worn-down nails or sore skin on the tops of the paws.
How quickly it began matters. A problem that appeared within hours or a day is something quite different from one that has built up slowly over months. Note whether both legs are dragged or only one, whether your dog still feels pain, and whether it can still urinate and pass stools by itself.
The way your dog places the legs also says a lot: whether it stumbles, whether the feet seem to cross, whether it stands but collapses straight away. Only a vet who examines your dog and runs tests can find the exact cause, so do not try to guess it.
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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Changes in the discs of the spine
A bulging disc can press on the spinal cord and disturb control of the hind legs. It can appear suddenly, sometimes with severe back pain.
About the condition: Intervertebral disc disease -
A slowly progressing disorder of the spinal cord
In some older dogs the hind legs weaken over months. The dog stops sensing where its feet are, stumbles and scuffs its claws.
About the condition: Degenerative myelopathy -
Squeezing of the spinal cord in the neck
Changes in the neck part of the spine can cause an unsteady, swaying gait, usually clearer in the hind legs. Sometimes the neck is sore or stiff as well.
About the condition: Wobbler syndrome -
A disorder of the peripheral nerves
Damaged nerves can weaken the legs or dull their sensation. Weakness can show in the front legs as well as the back.
About the condition: Polyneuropathy -
A back injury
After a fall, a road accident or a heavy blow the spine or nerves may be damaged. In that case it is especially important not to move your dog needlessly and to get to a vet urgently.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How quickly it began: within hours, days or months
- Whether both legs are dragged or only one
- Whether the nails are worn down or the skin on the tops of the toes is scraped
- Whether your dog reacts with pain when the legs or back are touched
- Whether your dog controls urinating and passing stools
- Whether there was an earlier fall, jump or other injury
When to book a routine visit
Show your vet a dog that drags its legs even if it came on gradually over some weeks. If the legs failed suddenly, or your dog cannot stand or control urination, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Intervertebral disc disease Bones and joints Intervertebral disc disease is a condition in which the discs that cushion the spine between the vertebrae degenerate, bulge or rupture and start pressing on the spinal cord or nerves. This causes pain and, in more serious cases, weakness or even paralysis of the legs. The damage can happen suddenly, even after a perfectly ordinary jump, or build up gradually, so it is not something to wait out.
- Degenerative myelopathy Nerves and muscles This is a slowly progressing disease of the spinal cord that, in older dogs, gradually weakens the connection between the brain and the hind legs. It is not painful, but over time the dog finds it harder and harder to control the back half of the body. The disease is linked to inherited factors, and whether a change in gait comes from it or from something else is for a vet to determine.
- Wobbler syndrome Bones and joints This is a condition in which changes in the neck vertebrae or the discs between them narrow the spinal canal and press on the spinal cord. This disrupts the nerve signals to the legs, and the dog starts to walk unsteadily. It can get worse gradually, but sometimes it worsens suddenly.
- Polyneuropathy Nerves and muscles Polyneuropathy is a disease in which many of the peripheral nerves, which carry signals between the spinal cord and the muscles, are damaged. When the nerves work less well the muscles weaken and coordination suffers, and in some cases the voice or swallowing is affected too. Polyneuropathy can be inherited or arise from other diseases, so its cause and course are for a vet to assess.
Body systems: Bones and joints Nerves and muscles