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Why does my dog have random leg pain, weakness, and seem unhappy?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 5 months old

My dog has frequent pain in his legs randomly. And i also noticed some weakness in him. His behavior is also changed and seems not happy.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 8th, 2018

I am sorry to hear about Oscar. Some tick-borne diseases can result in shifting lameness between legs and lethargy. Another possiblity if he is a larger breed dog is panosteitis, which is like a growing pain in dogs. It can become quite severe and cause lethargy and decreased appetite. You can read more about this at https://www.vin.com/veterinarypartner/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4953019. I would recommend bringing Oscar in to the vet's office for examination to determine why he is so uncomfortable, which will help determine his treatment. Best of luck to you and Oscar.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on July 16th, 2018

    There are many reasons why Oscar may be experiencing leg pains. Ideally, he should be physically examined by your veterinarian to diagnose any underlying medical causes. Blood work can check for tick borne disease, systemic infection or autoimmune disorders. Radiographs (x-rays) may diagnose orthopedic issues. For now, restrict his activity to just leash walks for elimination. Avoid or prevent any running, jumping, rough play or stairs. Do not medicate him without the advice of your veterinarian. Many OTC medications can be toxic to dogs. If necessary, your veterinarian can dispense medication for pain management.

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