Labrador Back Legs Giving Out? (4 Reasons Why)

I’ve had Labs for many years, but it was scary the first time one dog’s back legs gave out from under him. I did some research to find out why it might happen.

So, why did my Labrador’s back legs give out? There are many reasons why a Lab’s legs might give out including hip dysplasia and arthritis. Trauma is another reason, such as cruciate ligament tears. Another potential cause is degenerative myelopathy.

The causes of your Labrador’s legs giving out often have to do with age. Younger dogs are prone to trauma, such as ACL injuries, while older dogs are more often affected by arthritis or degenerative diseases. Keep reading to find out how to diagnose and help your best friend.

Why do Lab’s Back Legs Give Out?

Weakness in your dog’s back legs often relates to a musculoskeletal defect or injury.

The muscles get weaker from a lack of use, a process known as muscle atrophy. This can result from recent or more chronic injuries or problems, but it is more common when the problem has been ongoing for a lengthy period of time, such as with arthritis.

Muscle atrophy causes the muscles in the leg to become thinner and less able to help your dog stand. It is commonly called muscle wasting and may be reversible with treatments such as physical therapy.

It can occur in one leg or in all four.

It is often noticeable by the leg or legs being thinner or smaller than they were previously, especially detectable if it is just in one leg.

Your dog’s leg might give out if the joint is unstable.

This can happen when they have a fracture or break, or if they have a torn ligament. It is most common in the knee joint, which is also known as the stifle.

In some cases, the problem is one that your dog is born with, such as a luxating patella, where the kneecap moves out of place.

1. Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia can be present in younger or older dogs.

Pets that are affected do not have a normally formed hip ball-and-socket joint. This can cause excessive or irregular motion within the joint. It can even lead to the femur bone slipping out of place and causing a hip luxation.

The irregular motion of the joint often leads to discomfort or out-and-out pain. Over time, it will often lead to arthritis.

Some pets are minimally affected while others need surgery.

Treatment for hip dysplasia may involve surgery where the hip joint is replaced with a total hip replacement surgery. For milder cases or when surgery is not an option, pain medication may be prescribed by your veterinarian to treat the discomfort and keep inflammation at bay.

Joint supplements or fish oils may also be used to keep the joint as healthy as possible.

2. Arthritis

Arthritis is a common disorder in dogs and many suffer from it, especially as they age.

It can occur due to irregular joints or secondary to trauma. Arthritis is often coupled with degenerative joint disease. The cartilage within the joint gets worn down over time.

Arthritis can occur in any joint:

• It tends to be very common in dogs within their hips or knees but can also occur in joints such as the elbows.
• It tends to be less common in joints such as the digits or toes.

Typically it causes discomfort so the limb is used less. This leads to weakness, which can cause the back legs to give out.

Arthritis may be treated in a variety of ways:

• If your pet is overweight, your veterinarian is likely to recommend a weight loss program.
• Anti-inflammatories, such as carprofen, may be used to combat pain and inflammation, but these should be prescribed by your veterinarian before you give them to your dog.
• Other treatments include laser therapy, which also helps treat inflammation.
• Acupuncture can also be used to provide relief.

3. Degenerative Myelopathy

Degenerative myelopathy is a devastating disease that occurs more often in large breed dogs than in smaller breeds.

It can occur in Labradors although it is more common in German Shepherds. It is a disease that affects the spinal cord and often usually ascends or moves from the back legs to the front.

Degenerative myelopathy is a genetic disease that is similar to Lou Gehrig’s disease in people.

It usually starts as weakness or ataxia in the hind legs. It tends to occur in older dogs, usually those 8 to 14 years of age.

Unlike many other issues that cause weakness in your dog’s limbs, degenerative myelopathy does not tend to be painful.

Degenerative myelopathy has no known cure.

It is treated symptomatically, although pain medication is not normally needed. Booties may be put on your dog’s paws to keep them from getting scratched up when they knuckle over. Slings may be used to help you walk your dog.

4. Trauma

Trauma is the most likely cause for your younger Labrador having trouble walking with one or both hind legs.

The most common cause in medium and large breed dogs, such as Labs, is an anterior cruciate ligament injury, or ACL injury. This is a ligament in the knee that may partially or completely tear.

Other causes of trauma include bone fractures or avulsions.

These tend to occur in parts of the leg below the knee, as the femur is the thigh bone and is the strongest bone in the body. Toe fractures can be common, especially in younger dogs, but they don’t often cause weakness in the hind legs.

Treatment will depend on what type of injury has occurred.

For many, surgery is needed, especially with an ACL injury. Without surgical correction, they may continue to have weakness in their hind limb. The injury will also often progress to arthritis as the pet ages, which can cause pain for years to come.

As with many other injuries, treatment may involve anti-inflammatories prescribed by your veterinarian, as well as pain medications such as gabapentin.

For some pets, braces or splints are used to stabilize the joint and support the limb.

Chronic care may be needed, especially when the injury leads to a progression of chronic pain and arthritis.

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