My senior German Shepherd's hind legs suddenly weak. Is it arthritis?

Question

My 11 year old German shepherd has suddenly started falling over on his racer end. He struggles to remain standing, sways and when walking, his back legs cross over. There is a lump in his lower spine that hurts him when touched and causes his rear end to collapse. My vet has done no tests and just says it's arthritis, but this has all happened over night. Could it be arthritis? Or does it sound like something else? Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | neutered

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

It sounds like Damian may have cauda equina syndrome. It could be arthritis in the hips but I think cauda equina is more likely. This is an extremely common problem in German Shepherds. Here is a link to an article about this problem: https://bluepearlvet.com/medical-articles/cauda-equina-syndrome/ I suggest you bring this up to your vet or get a second opinion from another vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

My senior German Shepherd's hind legs suddenly weak. Is it arthritis?

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