Witnessing your beloved pooch suddenly not moving from one spot is a definite nightmare for pet parents. Although at some point of time, their playfulness may drop down to almost a non-existent level, given their age, watching your pup unable to move out of the sudden can mean a lot of things.
From a simple injury to the risk of a probable Intervertebral Disk Disease, there can be a lot of factors that could be contributing to this scary situation.
So, the best thing a parent can do in such cases is to consult with a vet. But before that it is also possible that they might have a painful strain on their leg, so understanding why the pooch is not moving from one spot is also very essential.
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What does it mean when my dog is unable to move from one spot to another?
Generally denoted as a case of canine paralysis, the final diagnosis may however differ according to a myriad of factors. For instance, if the situation is gradual, it may be due to a tick-related disease or due to tumors in the CNS. Similarly, if the change happened suddenly, it might have been because of a strain or sprain in their muscles.
Thus, if you see your pooch not moving from one spot, the vet will start with a number of blood, urine and mabe skin tests. After a thorough study only, the reason behind such instances gets clear. And finally, based upon the severity, you may be advised to let your pooch undergo physiotherapy or start with regular medications.
What causes canines to lose control of their muscles?
Tick Bites
While ticks are one of the most common issues prevalent in dogs, three of their sub-breeds are known to cause canine paralysis on a huge scale. These include the American dog tick, dermacentor tick, and the Rocky Mountain wood ticks. Their bodies produce a special kind of neurotoxin which travels down into the unsuspecting woofer’s body, gradually causing their senses to shut down.
So, as the neurotoxin messes with their CNS, the canine starts showing severe lethargy signs with vomiting, loss of appetite, tremors, etc. In severe cases it may also cause instant paralysis and death by suffocation. So, the instant you see any of these signs, don’t waste any time and get your beloved furbaby the emergency professional attention it needs.
Sprain or Strain in Muscles
Given that dogs are curious and super playful by nature, sometimes this scary situation may also be a result of a sprain or strain in their muscles. Much like us humans, this happens when there has been a tear in their tendon (strain) or in their ligament (sprain) which is causing them severe pain when trying to move the affected spot.
The dog will whine out when it’s touched or just to grab their owner’s attention, and there may also be a visible swelling at the place. The only option here is to take them to the vet and get them treated. Based upon the damage, the vet might put on an elastic bandage or advise some oral medications and ointments. In very rare cases surgery may also be required, if the tear is at a complicated place.
Testicular Swelling
A very painful phase for certain dogs, testicular swelling may also be the reason why your pup is denying to move from one spot. Also categorized as Epididymitis (inflammation of the testicular tube) or Orchitis (swelling of the testes), such dogs experience sharp, intense pain everytime their scrotum moves even by an inch.
Thus, if you notice unexplained hardness of the testes, sudden increased size, bite wounds, fever, loss of appetite or if the pooch is excessively licking the area, then it might be due to the above-stated medical condition. There are various causes behind the same and hence to prevent further worsening of their health, an immediate vet consultation is a must.
Physical Trauma
Many-a-times a past physical trauma might also be the triggering factor for such a thing. If your pooch has been a victim of a car accident or hit by something hard on his back legs or private parts when on a walk, the pain must be causing up the reaction.
You see, although reports and studies show that dogs do have emotions, their way of exhibiting what they are feeling is very different from us. So, while some dogs may whine excessively if they are in pain, others may choose to go completely silent and stay unnervingly still which often scares off their parents real bad. Hence, if your dog is not moving from one spot but still let’s you touch him/her, make sure to go through their body in search of the underlying cause. This will help the vet to find the cause as soon as possible and start treatment for the same.
Viral or bacterial infections
Just like certain ticks, many viruses and bacteria, such as the rabies virus and the C. Tetani bacteria are also the leading causes behind a damaged CNS in dogs. These health conditions occur when the deadly microbes successfully break into the skin of injured pups, traveling all the way into their organs, brain through the bloodstream, and causing severe confusions.
As a result, the pup goes ballistic and is unable to control its movements. The telltale signs and symptoms include lethargy, weakness in muscles, loss of appetite, uncoordinated motor movement, etc. If kept ignored, the pooch gradually loses its mind and becomes a threat to everyone else. Thus, if you don’t want your beloved pup to go through such scrutinizing pain or being forcefully euthanized, be mindful of their surroundings and run them through necessary tests at the vet, whenever required.
Tumors
Tumors are no wonder lethal. Subject to where they develop, they could easily cause paralysis of the whole body, only with the hind/back legs or have a partial paralysis. Such conditions are named as Tetraplegia (loss of movement in all legs), Paraplegia (inability to move their back legs), and Paresis (partial paralysis with difficulty moving around). This happens when the tumor is developing in their spinal cord, or the brain.
This kind of paralysis is gradual and often takes months or sometimes even years to even show the initial symptoms. And because of this vets advise regular professional checkups. The only possible solution of finding these tumors inside their body is by running tests or sending a sample to the labs.
Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD)
A progressing disease mostly found in breeds with long bodies like the Dachshunds, this is when due to certain factors the cushioning disks get severely damaged. As a result, the vertebrae collide with each other, simultaneously pressing all spinal nerves in the area, causing intense bursts of pain and loss of mobility.
The Intervertebral Disk Disease is a very risky medical condition which can also lead to even more frightful instances and hence if your pup is diagnosed with this very health issue, getting them properly treated is the final answer. When the treatment is started early, there is a fair chance that the pup can resume its daily life by getting past the agonizing episode. So, why risk their happiness and quality of life???
Losing the ability to move is also frightening and stressful for the innocent canines. Thus, it is better to start seeking out your vet’s consultation and act accordingly, rather than wasting time contemplating possible causes and solutions.
Because, a wise man once said,
“Always take care of your dog. Even if your world falls apart, he will still be there for you!”
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