It can be a sign of pain or injury that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.
Most dogs who drag their back legs do so because they have an itch.
This is one of the most common reasons why dogs drag their back legs, which means you need to pay close attention to any unusual behavior your pet displays.
Possible Reasons Why Your Dog Might Be Dragging His Back Legs
The most common reason for a dog dragging his back legs is an itch.
There are other causes too, though.
Here they are:
Excessive rubbing
An allergy
Chronic pain
A muscle spasm
Sciatica
Neurological disorder
Tumors
Inflammatory disease
Infection
Foreign body stuck in paw
Fracture
If you notice your dog dragging her back legs, it’s important to understand the possible causes before you do anything about it.
If you don’t know what to look out for, then take your dog to see a vet right away.
1. Excessive Rubbing
The most obvious way to test whether your dog has an itch is to rub her paws over rough surfaces, like carpet.
If she starts licking her paws, then this could indicate excessive rubbing.
Itching is an uncomfortable feeling, and if your dog is repeatedly scratching herself, she might end up with skin irritation, which will require medical treatment.
2. An Allergy
Allergic reactions happen when the immune system recognizes an allergen as foreign.
This leads to inflammation and swelling of the affected area.
As a result, the affected areas become red, swollen, and painful.
This type of reaction can also affect the eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth, and even the genitals.
If your dog is allergic to fleas, ticks, pollen, mites, or dust, she might start itching all over her body.
She may also develop a rash on her belly and chest, which is a sign of atopy.
You should get your dog checked by a veterinarian if you suspect she has allergies.
He will perform tests to confirm the diagnosis.
3. Chronic Pain
Some dogs suffer from chronic pain.
They keep doing things they shouldn’t be doing because they feel bad whenever they stop.
Most often, these dogs have arthritis.
They need to learn how to live with the symptoms, so they can avoid further problems.
If your dog is suffering from chronic pain, he might drag his back legs.
This is because it hurts him to walk normally, so he does everything he can to ease the discomfort.
4. A Muscle Spasm
Muscle twitching is called a spasm.
Some people think it’s normal, but it isn’t.
If your dog is experiencing a muscle spasm, he might drag his back legs.
Usually, this happens after strenuous exercise.
When the muscles contract, they can cause pain and stiffness.
If you notice your dog dragging his back legs, it’s best to rest him until he calms down.
5. Sciatica
Sciatica refers to pain caused by nerve compression in the sciatic nerve.
Dogs can suffer from this condition too.
It usually affects older dogs, especially those who spend most of their time lying down.
If your dog is dragging her back legs, it could mean she has sciatica.
This is a serious condition that requires immediate veterinary treatment.
6. Neuritis
When your dog suffers from neuritis, she experiences burning pain in her hindquarters.
It’s normal for dogs to scratch themselves on occasion.
However, if your dog is scratching excessively, rubbing himself against things, or licking his paws constantly, you should take him to the vet immediately.
These behaviors can indicate a serious problem like urticaria or dermatitis.
Urticaria is a skin rash caused by itching, while dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin.
If your dog is dragging his back legs because he has an ear infection, it’s best to see your veterinarian right away.
Ear infections can be painful and lead to inflammation in the ears, which can result in drooling and scratching.
The good news is that ear infections usually go away quickly with proper treatment.
Treatment Options for Dogs Who Drag Their Back Legs
The first step in treating your dog’s dragging his back legs is to determine if there is an underlying cause.
If your dog has been dragging his back legs for a while and there are no signs of discomfort, then this could be nothing more than a habit.
However, if your dog shows signs of discomfort—such as limping or favoring one leg—then he may have an issue with his back legs.
There are several different causes for this type of behavior, including hip dysplasia, arthritis, cruciate ligament damage, and even cancer.
If your dog has hip dysplasia, then you should take him to see a veterinarian immediately.
Hip dysplasia occurs when the cartilage covering the ball-shaped end of the femur (the thigh bone) develops abnormally.
This can lead to joint pain and lameness.
Arthritis is another common reason for dragging your dog’s back legs.
In this case, the bones become inflamed and painful, leading to stiffness and pain in the joints.
When this happens, your dog will favor one side of the body over the other, resulting in dragging.
Cruciate ligament damage is also a common cause of dragging your dog’s back legs.
In this case, either the front or rear cruciate ligaments are damaged, causing your dog to limp or drag one leg when walking.
Finally, cancer is the last thing on our list as a reason why a dog might drag its back legs.
However, if your dog has a tumor on the spine or spinal cord, it could be a factor.
This type of tumor can result in dragging the affected leg.
How to Prevent Your Dog from Dragging His Back Legs in the Future
If your dog starts dragging his back legs, he may also display other symptoms such as limping or favoring one leg over the other.
You might notice that he has trouble getting up on his hind legs and walks with a limp, or even falls down when walking.
These are all signs that your dog is in pain, and if you don’t take action fast enough, it could lead to serious problems.
Diagnosis of the Problem
The first thing you need to do if your dog is dragging his back legs is to make sure there isn’t anything wrong with him physically.
For example, if your dog is pulling at his fur, this could mean he is scratching himself.
Look around your house and see if you can find anything that he could be chewing on.
A lot of times dogs will chew on their toys, which can cause them to drag their back legs.
Make sure you check under furniture, in cabinets, and behind appliances to see what else your dog may be chewing on.
Next, look at whether your dog has a problem with his paws.
If he doesn’t wear any shoes, then inspect his feet carefully.
He may be having issues with his pads, which can become irritated easily.
If you notice any swelling or redness, it’s important to get it checked out right away.
It could be a sign of an infection.
Treating Your Dog’s Pain
Once you’ve ruled out physical causes for your dog’s dragging his back legs, you still need to treat the underlying issue.
There are several ways to help your dog feel better, including treating any infections or removing any parasites.
But before you start treating your dog’s pain, it’s important to understand how to prevent your dog from dragging his back legs in the future.
Some solutions require a little more work than others, but they all provide relief to your dog.
What to Do If Your Dog Continues to Drag His Back Legs
If you notice that your dog continues to drag his back legs when he walks, this could mean that he has an itch on his back.
You will want to make sure that you take him for a visit to the vet if he starts dragging his back legs.
This might also indicate that he is having difficulty walking and may need some help with mobility issues.
You can find out what kind of itch your dog has by looking at his body.
Look at his ears, paws, belly, and tail. Is there anything sticking out?
You might see fleas, ticks, or other parasites.
If your dog has any of these, you will need to treat them immediately before they become more serious health problems.
If your dog is scratching his back legs while walking, he’s likely doing so to remove a dead skin cell or two.
This is normal for dogs, especially older ones.
However, if he drags his back legs for longer than a few seconds, then it could be a sign of discomfort.
He might even yelp or whine while going about his business.
The best way to prevent your dog from dragging his back legs is to keep him clean.
Make sure that he gets plenty of exercise every day.
This will encourage him to use his muscles and get rid of the build-up of waste matter in his system.
That being said, if your dog is still dragging his back legs after all of this, then you need to bring him into the vet.
Do I need to worry if my dog keeps dragging his back legs?
If your dog drags her back legs constantly and doesn’t seem to stop when you try to distract her, then yes, you need to take action immediately.
You may be able to treat this problem on your own by using some natural remedies, but if you want to avoid more serious issues, then you will need to see a vet.
The good news is that there are many types of conditions that can cause a dog to drag its back legs.
These include:
Chronic Pain
Paralysis
Neurological Disorders
Infection
Sciatica
Fractures
How Can I Tell If My Dog Is in Pain?
Before you can determine whether your dog has an itch, you need to know how to tell if she is in pain.
This involves watching for signs such as:
Licking
Scratching
Grooming
Ruffling fur
Panting
Barking
Yawning
Crying
How Long Will It Take to Heal?
One of the most important things you can do if your dog keeps dragging her back legs is to get them checked out by a veterinarian as soon as you notice the symptoms.
This will help them find out what exactly is wrong with your pet.
Once you have done this, it will be up to the vet to decide the best course of action.
However, if you don’t seek medical treatment right away, then you could end up with permanent damage.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
