I didn't know dogs got that! Did your vet say why? With people, it's most often because they're diabetic. And he tells you there is no pain????????????? I think you need a better vet. I have a very mild form of it, though I'm not diabetic and it isn't degenerative, and I can tell you it's very painful. People take things like Lyrica for it.

It may also be caused or made worse by a pinched nerve. I suspect this since it seems to have come on rather quickly. I suggest you find a chiropractor who treats animals and see what he says. I think if you could find the cause you could get help for your dog. There are canine neurologists, too, who might be able to give you a better diagnosis and prognosis.

Sounds like your old dog has a very common degenerative myelopathy, not peripheral neuropathy. Most old larger dogs develop this with age and it is indeed a non-painful, slow-onset condition that involves decreasing neurological function of the spinal nerves (not the peripheral nerves) resulting in rear-limb weakness, poor muscle tone and eventually inability to support the bag legs and difficulty pooping and peeing on command. I would guess over half of all large breed to middle breed dogs develop this eventually should they live long enough. Sometimes putting them on cortisone temporarily improves the nerve function but this is only temporary. Prognosis is poor and there is no cure. Thankfully it rarely happens to younger dogs. This is the reason I had to put down my own Golden Retriever. NOt an easy thing to have to do when the dog is basically otherwise OK, but his frustration, dragging his rear end around and the associated anxiety was enough to have me say goodbye.

Thanks for the info. His regular vet suspected peripheral neuropathy, and the university vet school docs confirmed. There are several potential treatable causes (tumor, diabetes, thyroid disease,infection) but these were ruled out through testing. So, it's considered "idiopathic." From what both vets said, and the little I've found online, there is no treatment. He is schedule for physical therapy (!) through the vet school so that his range of motion, etc. can be maintained. lzrddr...I did find info online on myelopathy, particularly in German Shepard Dogs, but I haven't been able to find out the difference between this and the neuropathy. I have a call into my vet...I'll ask. Eahamel...yes, I was surprised to be told it is not painful, but, again was told this by both vets. Wish dogs could talk...and my guy is pretty stoic, so it's hard to know really if he is in pain or not.

If you have hard floor surfaces, look into something like power paws. It's like a grippy bottomed sock, that gives better traction so they can get up and walk on hard surfaces without slipping. There is another brand that works even better, because it has grippy stuff all around the foot, so if the sock twists, it still works. Unfortunately I can't remember the brand.

I've tried the grippy socks won't stay on his paws slips off. It's so painful watching to furbaby stuggle to walk & balance. I am carrying him up the stairs, putting him on my bed He otherwise healthy has an appetite unfortunately I don't see him lasting until X- mas. Bailey is such an awesome family member best dog ever. Just so heartbreaking

There are different kinds of grippy footwear. Did you try the power paws or another brand?

As indicated by the weakness in the larynx, your dog may have myasthenia gravis. "Dogs that acquire mild forms of this disease later in life have a fairly good prognosis, so long as they receive proper, timely treatment. Symptoms of myasthenia gravis can vary greatly from dog to dog. The most common symptom is muscle weakness that worsens with exercise but improves with rest." "These dogs are treated with a class of medication that inhibits a nervous system enzyme called acetylcholinesterase. Anti-acetylcholinesterase medications will be required for the rest of the dog’s life." Good luck!

I would like to know what the original posters's outcome was with her dog. I had two Springer Spaniels, both diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis and peripheral polyneuropathy. One managed to live with the condition and actually lived until 16 years old. The peripheral neuropathy was very slow progressing and she never required the tie-back surgery that is sometimes needed with the laryngeal paralysis. Interestingly, she also was 12 years old in 2012 - same age as original poster's Springer in 2012. My younger Springer who came from the same lineage also developed laryngeal paralysis and at 12 1/2 years old he required the tie-back surgery, as his flaps completing stopped working and he went into respiratory distress. The surgery gave him renewed energy and he was able to actually run around and enjoy life again. We hand fed him after the surgery to help avoid aspiration pneumonia. Sadly, within 12 months the neuropathy started to affect him very badly. At the one year mark, the decline was rapid and he experienced extreme muscle atrophy, loss of functioning of one back leg, weakness in the other back leg, difficulty going potty, no energy, and some other issues. Due to his depression over the condition and daily struggles, we opted not to wait for the condition to worsen and made the very difficult decision to say goodbye at 13 years, 8 months old. The surgery was performed in July 2018 and we lost him in August 2018. We feel the surgery was well worth the additional year we had with him. I am writing this to provide documentation for others who may be researching this topic. The peripheral neuropathy is a horrible condition. It is not typical in Springer Spaniels but apparently was passed through in this lineage. The Breeder would not know, as it would not have surfaced until her stud dog was in his late years and there is no test for it.

Hello. I am currently living with two "old boys", both Rhodesian Ridgebacks, (aged 13 yrs , 5mth and 12 years, 8mths). They both have mobility issues. Two years ago he older boy, Khan had a straight forward operation to relieve a pinched nerve 9 (in the neck area). Unfortunately the neurological surgeon operated on the wrong vertebrae which resulted in Khan being left tetraplegic. The clinic then sent him home (for me to take care of) and did not do a MRI, which revealed the mistake for 3 weeks. We were then informed that the condition was now irreversible (2% chance of recovery) even with the operation being done again, correctly and that they would put Khan down, for free. We raced off to another specialist and were told the same thing, but this clinic understood that we wanted to give Khan every chance and they supported our decision to do the operation, followed by months of physiotherapy. They had a superb physio team and Khan stayed with them 2 nights a week. I worked from home and lived in the kitchen for the next 4 months doing Khan's massage, physio and providing 24 hour care. Now I know I might sound crazy, but Khan was in excellent spirts, engaged, eating and there was nothing wrong with him physically, except his inability to sit, stand and walk. The surgeon told me that he was getting gold star care, and assured me that I was not being selfish in keeping Khan alive. After 5 months of Khan not showing any inclination to start walking, I had decided that we would just continue with Khan as he was, until he was ready to go. Then out of the blue, one day he started to walk, with 4 nurses supporting him in a double harness. But his legs were moving and he was not knuckling (when their foot is curled over so top is touching the ground). He improved steadily over the next 2 months, during which time I figured out how to support a 40 kilo dog on my own, and somehow "walk him" up and down my road. Khan amazed everyone one of his medical team. After he started walking they all felt that they could tell me that according to all of the statistics, given the time he was injured and then the amount of time he did not walk, there was absolutely no chance that Khan would ever walk again. They were all amazed. Khan's case has been presented (by the surgeon) at a European medical conference. It just goes to show that nature does not know about statistics and percentages. Now, Khan is an exceptional dog. He has a huge heart and is unflappable. His spirit was never crushed by his conditional and struggle to walk again. Two years on he is still walking, getting up and down off the sofa and enjoying his life. He requires a double harness and some support (for his back legs) to get up and down steps, and if he is very tired, but he is soldering on. My other boy, Kaiser was diagnosed with polyneuropathy 5 months ago. He had developed a strange walk with one back foot doing a twisting move, was very fatigued, and his back legs had given out completely on two occasion. The condition was already effecting his back legs and his larynx (which would not close properly). He also has a protruding disc (the tail end of his spine). Apparently this was also the reason that he had pneumonia twice in the previous 15 months. We were told that there was no treatment, only pain relief and appetite stimulants. His condition remained relatively stable, with a stiff, shaky and a hoarse bark until the end of January. He still enjoyed his walks (in a double harness) and was determined to walk for miles, even if his legs had given out. He was happy for me to support his back half while he walked. I was not so happy, as carrying 45 kilo's with one arm, while bent over and walking is not easy. But we make do. In the past 3 weeks he has gradually had more trouble standing up, is shakier when walking, and has less appetite. When he lies down, he is on his chest with his back legs stretched straight out, up around his ears. When he tries to stand he does not pull his legs back under and so tries to stand with "splayed legs" Think sliding on the Bambi on the ice in the Disney movie and you will get the picture. He now requires assistance standing, almost every time. He gets into a sitting position and I lift up his back half. He is quite happy with this system and barks (a pitiful wheezy bark) when he wants to get up. In the last couple of days his right back leg has collapsed while he is going to toilet and he ends up stuck on the ground. Obviously he (and I) finds this distressing. We now accompany him on all trips into the garden. Kaiser has a completely different personality (than Khan). He is unperturbed by his legs collapsing when he is on a walk, and continues to sniff bushes and look around. But he does seem to be down at times when he is on his bed. He has always loved sleeping more than any other activity, so I honestly can't say that he is sleeping more. I am taking it day to day now. One day he refusing to eat anything (they have always been on the raw diet) and lies in his bed so long I am convinced he is miserable and that I am selfish to keep him going. The next day he gets up to greet me, tries to run to his bowl and gobbles down 3 meals at once and insists on a walk. I know we are getting to the end, but I honestly don't have a clue if it will be weeks or months. I know that I am very fortunate with my work to be able to provide the level of care that my two boys require. I could not have done this without the RVC, a supportive medical team, a help em up harness, a car ramp, a tuffies bed (the best futon and water proof covered dog bed available), and a supportive local vet. The advise that I would give to anyone with a dog that is diagnosed with a condition (or something remains undiagnosed) is to do your own research, ask lots of questions, and trust that you know your dog better than anyone.

tanya_mrzlak,

I have a puppy with the same problem. I know you posted 3 years ago but if you see this how is the dog now? I can’t find much on his disease but would like to ask you some question.

Thank :)