Doberman pup - weakness in back legs, won't play, barely wants to eat

Hello, any help would be great. About a week and a half ago our 4 1/2 month old dobbie pup started having a hard time getting up. He has weakness in has back legs. I took him to the vet this last Monday when we noticed he wasn't playing, barking, or hardly eating. They ran blood work, urine, and stool samples. The vet felt as if he just hurt his back and that we should kennel him for a week or so to allow healing to begin. He started acting like a puppy again the next day. He was even getting up almost without any hesitation or weakness. The next day he seemed okay also. Thursday he acted a like he first did, weak and not wanting to do anything. He almost looks depressed. I have been boiling him plain chicken breast to help him with his eating because he just isn't interested in eating otherwise. Friday it was really hot and so was yesterday so I kind of figured he was laying around more because of that. Last night he had a accident in his kennel and instead of moving away from it, it layed in it. I am soooo scared he may die. They vet says all of his organs and stuff are working normal. If this is the case, then why is he like this. I don't know what we are missing. No vomiting and stool is normal.

I think you should take him to another vet, and I wouldn't wait. Something is defenetly wrong with your puppy :sad:

I am actually calling around to find one in my area that is open today. Thanks for taking the time to read my posting.

Yes I think you should take your puppy to another vet for a second opinion or maybe even an animal hospital. Time is of the essence, since you have NO clue what is wrong. :pray: everything is ok....Please keep us updated

Dobermans are predisposed to a condition called Wobblers Syndrome (http://www.dpcc.ca/dpcc-health.htm, scroll down a bit) where they have unsteadiness in the back legs. But if your pup is not eating and lethargic, it could be some sort of illness or infection. I hope you figure it out soon! :fingerscr

Yeah, I was thinking Wobbler's too... I hope you can find a vet who is more helpful.

I also thought that it might be wobblers, but he only has hind leg problems and nothing in his neck. The vet mentioned wobbles, but stated that it was very unlikely. I guess it usually happens when they are 3-5 yrs, not that it can't happen earlier. Well I will be seeing the vet first thing again in the morning. If you can think of anything else, please don't hesitate to write. I was thinking that maybe he has eaten something, but we don't have any plants except mint. I never see him eat it, only tinkles on it...which we can no longer eat it. Oh well, I love him anyway. He is still my little angel.

I don't have anything to add. The people that have responed know more about dogs than I do, but I just want to wish you luck and I hope it's something that can be fixed...:fingerscr

I have noticed he has really watery eyes also, but today it was kindof brownish. The eye itself doesn't look bothered all. Since we do live in California, I was thinking he is just like me, an allergy sufferer. My husband also told me that he picked him up yesterday out of his kennel and he yelped, it also happened when I picked him up. I thought maybe his foot got stuck and I didn't realize it. His stools were fine this morning, but this afternoon he had an accident in the house...really watery-mucous diarrhea. Haven't noticed it anymore. I am hoping it is because he hasn't been eating his normal dog food and has been eating boiled chicken breast. (Sorry for the graphic discriptions, thought it would be necessary incase a vet reads this)

Well I will be seeing the vet first thing again in the morning.

Is this a different vet? Good luck and keep us posted. :fingerscr :goodvibes: :goodvibes:

Ya. My friend worked for a vets office and she highly recommended him. Well I got him to eat 2 more chicken breasts and a little bit of some wet dog food that my Mom's dogs eat. Don't worry it's not on the bad list and my Mom's dogs are as crazy as ever.

My first thought was Wobbler's as well. Or degenerative disc disease - the yelping when being picked up made me consider pressure on the spinal nerves. I think an X-Ray is definitely in order. Your pup is young, but disc disease is not unheard of in a young pup - been there. Hope everything is okay, but if it is disc related you will need to take action quickly.

Good luck at the vet today. I hope Razor is okay. :fingerscr :goodvibes: :goodvibes:

My first thought was Wobbler's as well. Or degenerative disc disease - the yelping when being picked up made me consider pressure on the spinal nerves.

Sounds like Mocha's IVDD (intervertebral disc disease), which can be diagnosed with an X-ray.

I hope everything turns out okay....I always feel so sad when I hear about sick animals...:sad:

I wouldn't factor out Wobbler's because of age though. I'd get the DNA test to be sure. My dobie only got Wobbler's at around 12, so IMO, while most might occur at 3-5, some can still happen earlier or later.

Also, when my dobie had it, all he had was sort of numbness/slight paralysis of the back legs. He had nothing to show for it at his neck level. The occlusion happens at the neck, sure, but the first signs are always back to front.

I just wanted to let you all know that Razor will be fine. He was diagnosed with Panosteitis. He got an anti-inflammatory shot today and he will be taking daily meds for a while, but will be just fine. I took him this morning at 10am and by 2pm he was already doing a lot better. His appetite is back, which is wonderful news. They had to put him on adult dog food instead of puppy food to help him not grow as quickly. Below I have included some information on Panosteitis incase someone else is having the same issue.
www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1561&articleid=466 - 28k -

Thank you to everyone for your threads.

Well that is good news. Glad it was nothing serious. My dog had Panosteitis when he was a puppy too, and now he is fine.
He never had it as bad as what you described though, that is why it never crossed my mind as a possibility.
Good Luck with everything and keep us posted.

Glad you got a diagnosis for Razor and that he will be fine. :highfive:

Just out of curiousity, what food did the vet put him on?