My old dog has weak hind legs and incontinence. What can I do?

Question

hi I have a male labrador retriever and he is 10.5 years old he was suffering from past 1 year for weak hind legs. we were giving him a tablet called pet joint from past one year but we stopped it after he got better, but now from past 11 days his hind legs have become very weak and he is not able to stand up even with our support neither he his having food. I want to know your advice as he is passing urine and stools without his knowledge. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | 10 years and 4 months old | 74 lbs

Daniel Fonza, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello and thank you for posting your concerns regarding Genie. Genie is quite the old man! 10.5yrs old is a great age for a dog his size. With the description you have provided me with, it sounds like Genie is dealing with a lot of age related problems. There are multiple things you can do to try and help Genie out with any arthritic pain he may be experiencing. As for the weakness in the hind end, this may be due to muscle loss which is most likely due to him not using his legs as much as he used to. Managing his level of pain and getting him back on his feet may help re-establish some of this muscle loss but in my experience, there will most likely always be a degree of muscle atrophy due to the chronicity of the arthritis. I would consult with your veterinarian to discuss options as most of them you will need to get from your vet to manage the arthritis. Some options to start considering that you can start now at least would be the following: 1. Welactin omega 3 fish oil for canines 2. Dasuquin glucosamine for canines 3. Toe grips (if you have solid tile or wood floors) 4. Help 'em up Harness to help get Genie up easier (easier on your back!) Your veterinarian may want to start long term anti-inflammatory drugs as well as the above therapy. Some options your vet may consider would be Carprofen, Tramadol, Gabapentin, Amantadine, etc. to manage the level of pain. You can also consider administering Adequan. This is a natural product that helps stimulate joint fluid production and reduce inflammation within joints. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please contact me with any other questions / concerns you may have. I am also available via consultation.

My old dog has weak hind legs and incontinence. What can I do?

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