My Beagle/Australian Sheperd is newly 6 yrs old. She's muscular, a healthy weight, moderately active, and until now has had no health issues.

Starting approximately 4 months ago, we noticed her limping (hind quarters). It varied between the left & right side. We watched closely and thought her leg(s) might have "fallen asleep" after laying in strange positions. The limp would go away after a few minutes of activity.

Now, we're noticing that it's happening nearly every time she gets up from a lying position (if she's been lying for as little as 10-15 minutes). It seems to be getting more frequent and could be on both sides at once (its hard to tell)

We tried glucosamine tablets and though we follow the directions, she vomits within 10 minutes after taking them (she's always taken pills easily - its something in the pill that's making her ill). We tried giving 1 pill instead of the recommended 2 (based on her weight of 50 lbs) but she still vomits. We've discontinued use for now.

Any thoughts/suggestions before we take her to the vet? :confused:

This kind of sounds like what my vet described as OCD when she thought Owen had that instead of the elbow displesia. It is diagnosed through X-rays. I am not sure of what they do for that as Owen does not have the OCD. I am sure one of the dog experts will have more info.

Moggy

I don't want to scare you but I read up on anemia in dogs and it causes hind end weakness... You haven't mentioned any other symptoms but here is a list to check for:
Weakness (especially in hindquarters)
Lethargy
Depression
Exercise Intolerance
Lack of appetite
Fever
Bloody stools
Abdominal distention
Pale mucous membranes (pallor); possible mucosal bleeding (primarily of the gums and nasal membranes)
Difficulty breathing (tachypnea); rapid shallow breathing; respiratory distress
Elevated heart rate (tachycardia)
Bounding pulses
Heart murmur
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She could have hip dysplasia

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Emily94

I dont want to scare you but I read up on anemia in dogs and it causes hind end weakness... You haven't mentioned any other symptoms but here is a list to check for:
Weakness (especially in hindquarters)
Lethargy
Depression
Exercise Intolerance
Lack of appetite
Fever
Bloody stools
Abdominal distention
Pale mucous membranes (pallor); possible mucosal bleeding (primarily of the gums and nasal membranes)
Difficulty breathing (tachypnea); rapid shallow breathing; respiratory distress
Elevated heart rate (tachycardia)
Bounding pulses
Heart murmur
Collapse

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Thank you for this. I will monitor her until she gets into the vet. Right now, besides her hindquarter limp, she may be a bit depressed, but that is the only other symptom from this list so far. We attributed that to having a 1yr old daughter & another dog (she doesn't get as much attention nowadays) but I will keep that in mind concerning possible anemia.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucky098

She could have hip dysplasia

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I was afraid this could be a possibility. I'm unfamiliar with hip dysplasia but we try to massage her daily and she doesn't feel any different (to us), nor wimper or act uncomfortable.

I'll research this possibility further. Thank you :)

Hip displasia isn't something that hurts when you touch it, its where the hip ball doesn't fit in the socket and is bone rubbing on bone. It hurts to walk, run and sit. The only true way to find out is by an x-ray. If her hips are bad enough, you will notice her leg line from the hip to the knee is crooked and/or turning into or away from the body. That would be on the extreme end of it.

Good luck to you! Hope its nothing serious.