Senior dog losing balance, weak legs, tremors. How can I help?

Question

Our 13 year old yellow lab was diagnosed with peripheral nerve disease last year and she seems to progressively be getting worse with her balance. She has missed her front footing and face planted several times this week just on routine walks and is unstable while pooping. Can you please give me some advice on what I can do to help. It’s mainly affecting her back legs. She also has muscle tremors randomly throughout the day where her head/body shake for 2sec. It’s not seizures. #feelinghelpless. Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Female | spayed | 13 years and 1 month old | 65 lbs

Rodrigo Roca, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, I am sorry to hear about Luna. Peripheral nerve disease is a progressive disease condition that is difficult to treat. It is very important to keep Luna in a safe environment to help prevent her from further injuring herself. If she is becoming progressively weak it would be helpful to avoid stairs or try to prevent her from jumping on furniture. If possible it might be helpful to purchase a harness to help keep her stable when she is outside going the bathroom. Help Me Up is a great brand. If you are interested in getting more information regarding the peripheral nerve disease you can consult with a veterinary neurologist. Tremoring is a more vague sign that could be a sign of a discomfort or another underlying problem. If this does not resolve or becomes progressive, it might be reasonable to have Luna rechecked by your veterinarian. Hope this helps, good luck!

Senior dog losing balance, weak legs, tremors. How can I help?

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