Our family dog which is a German Shepherd is 13 years old & her back legs have started giving way?

Question

We have been told that this is common in German Shepherd Dogs as they get older. She has also started dirtying randomly all around the house, which she has never did before as we have a large garden where she is free to rome as she pleases. Any suggestions would be greatfully received. Thanx

Answer 1

Good age for a German Sheperd , my 14 year old beardies legs have also gone very weak and if she cant get out will mess in kitchen . I dont believe she is any pain and she eats and is still very alert . Think the odd mess if we love our oldies is something we have to put up with . Dread the day when I have to say goodbye so unless she is suffering I will put up with this . Perhaps you could try going into the garden more often with her to try to make sure she does her business out there . Good luck terrible time isnt it . x

Answer 2

I am sorry to read this. Your dog has bad arthritis and, as a result, is unable to control her bladder.

Talk to your vet. Sometimes a simple pain medication is enough to relieve some of her symptoms. That is, with the pain reduced, she may be able to walk better or at least control her bladder more.

Be prepared, though, for a lot more messes in the future. I had a bigger Dalmatian who had to be put down at 13 years, 9 months after suffering a series of ailments. For the last year of his life, though, his back legs got weaker and weaker and he had more accidents in the house. What I'm trying to say is that the end is coming - so try to prepare yourself. Even with pain medication and medicine for arthritis, she will soon suffer other ailments.

Only you know if she's reached the point of being put down. If she's still eating, drinking and seems happy - it's not time yet. But if she sleeps all day and can barely move, the time has come.

I wish you the best in what will probably be some difficult months ahead.

Answer 3

I have a 10 year old shepherd who has back leg problems i took him to the vet about a year ago thinking he really was on his last legs,the vet put him on a course of anti inflamatories and he has made a great recovery and is not in pain,he takes them every 2 days ,but if he runs around he detioriates and has shaky legs but once the tablets kick in he is ok again.
Your dog is a good age for a shepard but give him a chance and take him to your vet and take his advice.

Answer 4

Oh, how I know what you are going through. Save that I went through this with my 14 year old Lab. I hate to say it but it won't get any better. You can do a few things to make it easier however - for both of you!

I had my dog on Rimadyl for her hips (which did help a bit) and on another med for her incontinence ("dirtying" where she shouldn't).

My girl eventually got to the stage where she needed assistance getting up and down, going in and out, and sometimes walking on a level surface. She never once complained though, she ate well and seemed happy. When she came to the point that the medications weren't helping it seemed that prolonging her life was only going to make her suffer - as I knew she had to be doing. She hated being dirty and she hated making messes in the house and her kennel - she wasn't a dog that did that. Shortly after that realization I had her put down. The hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

Answer 5

My suggestion is take her to your vet. It could be that she may be having some issues with her internal organs. Animals that are sick will many times do things they normally wouldn't do. Bloodwork can determine a lot as to what is going on with her. A secondary cause could be hip displasia which can cause nerve damage to the hind end and that can cause instability in the back legs as well as weakness. Don't wait on this. It could cost more to wait than to catch this now. She is old and it is not uncommon for the systems of the body to begin shutting down. Medical support could identify the problem and determine if the issue is treatable or whether you need to consider euthanasia.

Answer 6

I have a German Shepard...mix but mostly German and her back legs are stiff she is 14 years old still walking...but just hard for her to get up at times..we give her two chewables of rimadyl which is a pain medication and it helps her a lot! hope that helps

Answer 7

Hi there
your German Shepherd is a good age for a pedigree. The German Shepherds are well known for having Hip Dysplasia. this comes from in-breeding and reputable breeders are trying to breed this out of the German Shepherd.
I would suggest that you have her checked out at the vets to ensure she is not in pain. If it is hurting her to walk out to the garden to do her business she will do it around the house to save going outside.
might be time to send her over the rainbow bridge where all dogs go to await their owners later.
good luck

Answer 8

Your dog can get help for both her problems from your vet. A vet can prescribe meds which will control her incontinence problem - she doesn't need to suffer from it (neither does your house). As for her back legs giving way - has she been diagnosed with arthritis? Is she now on glucosamine supplements to help her joints? She needs to be checked out to confirm the cause of her problem with her back legs - if she's in pain, it can be totally controlled with prescription meds.

Answer 9

I am so sorry to hear that your dogs health is not too good, she is an old dog at 13, all you can do is make her life as confortable as possible and give her plenty of love. This is what i would do myself.

If a dogs health really deteriorates to much, the kindest thing to do is put them to sleep. But this would be the last option for me.

I hope this helps you.

Answer 10

When the legs give way your animal is in pain and the kindest
thing to do is to put her down. Rimadyl and other drugs just
slightly mask the pain. Why let her struggle in pain. Shepherds really have bad hips to begin with so I would bet she has been
in pain even before the legs started going. Please take her to your vet and I am sure he will say the same. Its hard to say good bye but worse to watch a dog suffer.