[Hawk9972]

Why is my dog lossing muscle in her head and having problems with her hind legs? She has lost almost all the muscles in her head. She is also having a lot of trouble with her hind legs as if she can't feel or support herself with them.

[tickle]

She doesn't have muscles in her head, hawk. You don't say what kind of dog you have, but I have the feeling it is a big dog, old and has hip displasia. Please let us know. Are you having to carry her out to do her business, are you helping her in any way ?

[carolbcac]

Actually dogs do have muscles in their head, they are just more noticeable in some breeds than others. You are usually only aware of them if they start to waste away--in fact that's what makes me concerned that it could be some type of systemic problem causing generalized muscle atrophy.
I agree with Tickle that the most likely problem with the hind legs would be hip dysplasia in an older, large breed dog.
Can you tell us more about her age, breed, and how fast or slow these problems developed? Can you feel the bony ridges in her head more easily than you used to? How about the muscles along the shoulder blades and either side of the spine?
In any case, the dog needs to see her vet pronto. Please let us know what you find out.

[MEDIstaff4u]

I have had ferrets that get adrenal disease, and this causes the animal to waste away just as u are describing.

Also, parvo causes similar problems. These are just some ideas you can ask your vet about.

And all animals have muscles in there head, or else how would they move their mouth, eyes, ears, and throat? They actually have several muscles.

[tickle]

MEDIstaff4U, I actually realize that animals do have muscles in their head to mov e mouth, eyes, ears and throat. For some reason at the moment of posting I was having a 'senior moment' and that absolutely came out wrong.

[SHERRYANDGREG]

Your dog should be seen by a vet. There are diseases which make the muscles waste away. Which could also affect the muscles in the legs.

[linnealand]

Something like that happened to one of my cats the day when he was dying of old age, late on the night before he passed away. He started moving his head from side to side, like he couldn't control the muscles in his neck. He lost the ability to stand on his own at the same time. I don't know what causes that to happen, but I would really like to know the answer to that, too.

How old is your dog? Have you noticed any other symptoms? Is he eating?

He should definitely see a vet as soon as possible.

[reneewo]

When a dog loses muscle on his head it can be a sign of heart disease.

[shazamataz]

Year old thread and OP never came back - closed.