A recent event made me realize that a puppy’s body is made up of lots of complicated and fragile parts. And it only takes one small anomaly to change their future. We usually talk about the major diseases that turn a healthy dog into a disabled pet, but did you know there are little-known conditions that keep puppies from walking? Those diseases inspired me to share the story below.
A puppy with an unusual problem
A few weeks ago, I was contacted about a 9-week-old Labrador retriever puppy who is being trained for the Lucky Dog television show. Animal trainer Brandon McMillan noticed the puppy’s hind legs locked in place when he tried to walk. McMillan took the dog to several veterinary specialists for answers, but was coming up short. An acquaintance of McMillan reached out to Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog.
I contacted Cathy Erwin of Walkabout Harnesses to see if she had any ideas. Cathy is the brainy creator of the famous Walkabout lifting harness for paralyzed dogs. She is also one of the first canine physical therapists in the country. Cathy thought the puppy might have a condition called Straight Leg Shepherds. She explained how the deformity started in German shepherds, but was now being diagnosed other breeds and in mixed breed dogs. We sent the potential diagnosis to Lucky Dog.
I’ve never heard of Straight Leg Shepherds so I decided to investigate the condition. Here is what I found about the syndrome and other little-known conditions that keep puppies from walking.
Straight Leg (Legged) Shepherd
According to the Straight Leg Shepherds Association, puppies born with the problem have rigid hind legs that are unable to bend normally. The reason for the condition is unknown, but researchers at North Carolina State University refer to it as a “neurologic mutation deformity.” They think the condition starts in the nervous system of the body.
Affected dogs have stiff and restricted movement in their muscles. They also have deformities in the bones of their hind legs and hips.
The good news is that puppies adapt well to the condition and benefit from rehab therapy. Specialists work with the dogs to build up their core strength and balance. It makes it easier for them to stand on their own.
The SLS Association reported that symptoms were being reported over the last few years in breeds other than German shepherds.
Swimmer Puppy Syndrome
Puppies born with this condition have a very distinct look. Their chests and abdomens are flat and their legs are splayed. They hold their limbs out to the side like a turtle. Dogs have to paddle their limbs in order to move around. It looks like a swimming puppy.
Puppies with this syndrome have weak adductor muscles which are responsible for pulling their legs together. The condition can affect the front limbs, hind legs, or all four.
The cause of Swimmer Puppy Syndrome is unknown, but certain breeds are predisposed: Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, English Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Pekinese, Cavalier King Charles, French and English bulldogs.
With treatment, most puppies recover from the condition. Owners are taught to massage their dog in a way that rounds out their flat chest and a harness is used to maintain the shape. The dogs also benefit from exercises to strengthen their limbs. Bands are placed on each pair of limbs to keep them from splaying and help the puppy stand.
While Swimmer puppies have the advantage of outgrowing the abnormality, they are also at risk for complications. Pressure from lying flat on their bellies predisposes them to breathing problems. Some of the dogs can’t get enough air into their lungs. Their flat stomachs also make them prone to spitting up milk and not getting enough nutrition. Other puppies can aspirate liquids and develop pneumonia.
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia Gravis is a disease that interrupts the way nerves communicate with muscles in the body. The condition occurs when a neurotransmitter compound called acetycholine or ACh, stops working. This prevents muscles in the body from contracting which in turn causes general muscle weakness that gets worse with time. Eventually dogs lose the ability to hold themselves upright.
Puppies can be born with a congenital form of MG that appears during the first 6-8 weeks of life. Or Acquired Myasthenia Gravis can develop later. Dogs are affected between the ages of 2-4 years-old and 9-13 years-old. Early symptoms of the condition involve weakness in the esophagus and muscles in the face.
Like Swimmer puppy syndrome, dogs with MG can suffer secondary complications that hamper their ability to get enough nutrition. Their inability to swallow can lead to regurgitation of food and pneumonia. Many develop Megaesophagus.
UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is studying MG. They conducted a small clinical trial where dogs were given series of plasma exchanges. All of the dogs improved during the course of the treatment.
Read more about conditions that keep puppies from walking.
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I have a 9 week old chihuahua puppy that can’t use his back legs to stand , but he can move them when he try’s to use them ..if I work with him can he possibly be able to walk ?
Laura, I’m sorry about your puppy. Your question is hard to answer without a diagnosis. Do you know the cause of his paralysis? Sometimes paralyzed dogs have involuntary movement in their hind legs, but it is hard to know if that’s what’s going on with your puppy. Was the dog born paralyzed? Could it be swimmer’s syndrome that is described in this post? I have another story that describes rehab exercises you can do at home, but please check with your veterinarian first. https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/6-rehab-exercises-your-handicapped-dog-can-do-at-home/
Let me know what your veterinarian thinks about your puppy’s condition. I can be more helpful at that point. Best wishes.
This is very interesting, Willy was paralyzed as a puppy from trauma to his lower spine and had other injuries from abuse and neglect, he has fused knees and thus straight legs.. I think this is the only reason he can stand for short periods.. is because his knees are fused like this(he has no feeling below his thigh). Very interesting to hear there is a condition that causes the straight legs he has, as a Shepard mix, im curious if it had anything to do with his leg fusion (or that’s what they presumed since they didn’t know for sure since his “owners” never took him to be evaluated). 🤔
Alyssa, Thanks for sharing your dog’s story. I saw your comment on Facebook and sent you a detailed reply, but basically I think you should reach out with your question to the Straight Let Shepherd Association mentioned in this post. I am not a veterinarian, but I don’t see how abuse would fuse your puppy’s legs. I’m so happy you saved your dog from a terrible life. It makes me wonder if your dog was abused because he had the deformity in his legs and didn’t walk like a typical dog. I’d love to know what you find out from SLSA.
The link above doesn’t lead to an association do you have another resources for the straight leg Shepard ? We have 3 foster puppies with straight legs (all German Shepard !)
Alyssa, Thank you for letting me know the Straight Leg Shepherd Association link was broken. I wasn’t able to find a new website for the group.
My shihtzu developed swimmers syndrome and my husband thought we should put him down, but I found a chiropractor who adjusted dogs, and happily, after two adjustments, my dog was back on hidd feet.
Peggy, you are a hero for not giving up on your dog. I hope your pup has a long and happy life.
My 10 month old gsd mix suddenly went weak on his back legs. He finds it hard to stand and sit. He finds pain in bending his knees he refuses to chew food and drink but I give him water mixed with yogurt so he will have water in his body. There is no clicking or popping heard but when he walks he has stiff legs. He has a healthy weight and a high back any ideas what that may be?
Nicola, thank you for reaching out about your dog. What has your veterinarian said about your German shepherd’s condition. I am not a veterinarian, but it sounds like he could possibly have a herniated disc. Dogs with straight-legged shepherd syndrome, discussed in this post, are born with the disease. The fact this came on suddenly and is painful for your dog to move are signs of an acute problem like a herniated (ruptured) disc. It is also very worrisome that he isn’t eating or drinking without your assistance. Please talk with your veterinarian to see what they think, but more than likely your puppy should be examined as soon as possible.
I have a dog with SLS! She was born from both purebred German Shepherd parents, and was the only puppy out of the 5 to have any medical issue. We noticed it when she was old enough to start walking, and she began walking around like a “mermaid”, dragging her legs straight behind her. We thought maybe she had a spinal injury, but her hips and spine were fine, she had control of her bathroom needs, and could still wag her tail. We tried massage therapy, swimming, standing her up, but her knees and ankles would not move at all. We didn’t expect her to thrive the way she is now! She just turned 3 this year, she walks normally despite not bending her back legs, even moving them individually! She runs as fast at her buddies, loves playing fetch, goes up and down sets of stairs, and surprisingly even went in heat around a normal time for a dog. She isn’t phased at all by it, and as my first dog I feel I was very lucky to have her. Zelda even had a custom made Legend Of Zelda themed collar!
Emily, Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m glad you didn’t give up on Zelda and that she is living a wonderful life. Best wishes to you both.
Hi there,
I live in Samoa where there is a minimum level of veterinary care and dogs are regarded as a pest to be hit with sticks and stones.
While out at a canoeing event, I came across a puppy that seemed to be abandoned by its mother. It was all alone under a bush and must have just reached the age where her eyes had opened a day or two before. I sat there for over an hour hoping that Mum would come back but no such luck.
Puppy was a little weak but with regular feeding she seemed to develop quite quickly. That was 3 and a half weeks ago. She has grown well, except she is struggling to walk.
She doesn’t seem to have SLS, swimmer puppy or MG as mentioned in this article but her back legs are weak and she stumbles an awful lot.
Just now while attempting to climb a step her left hind leg seemed to lock up, just like when you get cramp. It is obviously distressing to her as she cries for sometimes 10 minutes. She also cries a lot at night time and i wonder if it is related to this. She is up and down, sometimes very active and others she her legs bother her.
Have you ever heard of such a condition in dogs and do you have any suggestions for how I can help this poor little girl?
Many thanks,
Grant
Grant, Thank you for rescuing this puppy. I am glad you understand that animals, like humans, have feelings and are not pests. While I am not a veterinary professional, I have a thought about your puppy’s pain and hind end stiffness. She could have contracted a parasite wile she was living on her own. Neospora is a parasite that causes a condition called Neosporosis. Symptoms in puppies range from: stiffness in the hind legs, to rigid limbs and possible paralysis. It also causes liver damage and a host of other complications. Here is a story for you to read: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/protect-dog-paralyzing-neosporosis/
If the symptoms fit your puppy, please take her to a veterinarian right away. An antibiotic called Clindamycin is usually prescribed for a period of 4-8 weeks. You can also do physical therapy with her at home and massage to relieve the contractions. Here is another link about at- home exercises. https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/6-rehab-exercises-your-handicapped-dog-can-do-at-home/ But if your dog has Neosporosis, the antibiotic is her best hope for recovery. Please let me know what your veterinarian says about her condition. Best wishes.
We have had a Belgian Malinois pup for 4 weeks now (we were given him at 4 weeks of age).
Now at 8 weeks of age, he has suddenly shown signs of some kind of paralysis (Seems like he is very drunk). When I collected the dog a few weeks back, the Breeder told me that there was a pup showing signs of the exact same paralysis my pup is experiencing today.
This condition has appeared in the past 3-4 days, he is eating properly and doing normal toilet activities. I have checked all over for ticks, etc. and no sign of any ticks. His legs can bend and he also seems to be fine from an energy perspective.
The paralysis seems to be more on his hind legs, but from the video clips you can see that it appears the front may also be somewhat paralysis.
I’ve put a couple links of short videos below, any tips or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
https://streamable.com/ikjot (yesterday)
https://streamable.com/lm538 (today)
We are waiting on a vet’s visit later today and my father has been giving the pup calcium tablets in the meantime (not sure if that could be doing anything detrimental).
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Nic, Thank you for reaching out about your puppy. It looks like you will have already gone to the veterinarian by the time you read this message, but I found a video that shows a puppy with similar symptoms. I am not a veterinarian, but in the case of the puppy in the video the condition is called Cerebellar Dysplasia or Cerebellar Hypoplasia. It is a neurological condition where a dog or cat has jerky movements. It is similar to Cerebral Palsy in humans. Here is the link to the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57HEqOwKo34
I also have a story I wrote about a cat with they problem: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/family-welcomes-cat-cerebellar-hypoplasia/
Animals with Cerebellar Hypoplasia do not get better, but they adjust to their limitations. Please let me know what your veterinarian said about the puppy. I also am concerned as to why the breeder allowed a 4 week old puppy to be adopted.
Thanks very much . The Vet believes it to be the Cerebellar Hypoplasia condition. He has given some injections as a last hope to see if they will help, though told us not to hold out any hope for it. We will see in a few days, and yes you are correct about the breeder giving out puppy at 4 weeks (not good practice at all). I have also told the breeder that he shouldn’t breed the same two dogs again, due to 2 of his litter of 5 having this condition. Thanks.
I have two orphan puppies, mother passed when they were only 1 week old. They are healthy in weight and size, and they eat very well now at 40 days.
Both puppies cannot use their rear legs, they try to crawl their way. I believe the reason is that they were kept at a bathroom in the house where the floor is very slippery. Now I have them out in the garden since today, hopping they get better.
Do you think the reason is the slippery floor, or should I look into something else?
The dogs are a mix between male Labrador and female bullmastiff.
Thanks!
Richard, Thank you for saving these puppies. I bet they are adorable. I am not a veterinarian, but from what I read puppies start to walk at about 30 days. So hopefully they will catch up and learn to walk better now that they are off the slippery floor. If things do not improve in the very near future or if they are unable to use their rear legs at all, please take them for a vet exam.
Thanks, will follow in a few weeks. Hopefully the will learn how to walk!
Have a great week!
i have 2 foster puppies about 3-4 months old. Their back legs and ones ankles are stiff..straight and don’t bend at all. Breeder tossed them out on street. They are shih tzu- chi mix( we believe.) Had xrays and bones are normal . the male can walk straight up half time and drags legs the rest. Female drags back legs most of the time. Vet thinks hyperextension, but most info.is on ankle not all joints. What do you think, can it be SLS?
Karen, Thank you for fostering these puppies. I am not a veterinary professional, but I understand dogs can have hyperextension in their hocks as well as the ankle. That would put the stiffness in a higher area on their leg. I was wondering if your veterinarian has checked to see if the puppies have any deformities in their spine, hips or knees? If there is pain in these areas they might have learned to stiffen their legs to prevent it.
And if it is hyperextension, will the puppies be going for treatment? They might benefit from physical therapy, a hydrotherapy pool or massage. There is a German shepherd named Hutch with SLS who had great results with hydrotherapy. In addition, you might want to ask your vet if a leg brace would benefit the puppies. SLS is being seen in breeds other than German shepherds, but it is still rare especially in small breeds.
Hi, I thought I would post a positive comment. I have a litter of 3 Havanese puppies and they are 8 weeks old now. One of the pups seemed to be taking longer to learn to walk with her back legs spayed out. I took her to the vet at 3 weeks old and the vet said that she did not have full swimmers syndrome because her chest and rib cage were normal. We did put her in hobbles to hold her back legs together. We also did exercises to strenthen her back legs and help her to use her joints correctly. She wore the hobbles for about 4 weeks and now she is walking fine. She runs and plays and keeps up with her siblings as if nothing was ever wrong. I think for some, early intervention can help to correct some problems. The vet said that she should be fine but she should not be bred just in case and I agree. She will be fine in a pet home.
Pat, You should be congratulated for quickly recognizing there was a problem with the puppy and getting her the treatment she needed. I appreciate you sharing a story with a happy outcome.