Why are my dog's back legs suddenly weak, sore, or giving out?

Question

Last night Bentley got up to come in the house and his back legs kind of gave out. Didn’t think much of it because he’d been playing all day with our other dog. This morning it’s the same thing. Once he’s standing he’s sort of ok but one or both of his back legs look sore/weak. Sort of like he’s been working out all day or something. But during the last month hes been playing all day with our 6 month old puppy. I have him inside today to rest. He’s never had hip problems in the past. Pet's info: Dog | Saint Bernard | Male | neutered | 7 years old | 160 lbs

Rodrigo Roca, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, thank you for your question about Bentley. Based on the weakness and symptoms that you are describing it is possible that Bentley may be experiencing some mild pain from arthritis or could have strained a muscle/tendon. It is also possible that Bentley's back could be sore as this usually leads to signs of weakness in the hind limbs; however, this type of injury is much more common in smaller breed dogs. If Bentley's signs are more mild and he is otherwise acting ok I would recommend continuing to monitor him for the next 24-48 hours. If this weakness or soreness do not go away I would recommend having him seen by your veterinarian so that they can perform an examination and look for any sources of pain. They can then discuss the need for pain/anti-inflammatory medications if warranted. Hope this helps, good luck!

Why are my dog's back legs suddenly weak, sore, or giving out?

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