Why is my 10-year-old cocker spaniel suddenly unable to stand up?

At his age I would worry there is a injury affected his back or hips that is causing him to be weak and unsteady. If he is overactive and jumps frequently, he may have damaged part of his spine to cause swelling and compression on the nerves. The best thing to do in confine him so he does not continue to injury himself until you can get him to the vet for an evaluation and radiographs

It is most likely a slipped disk in his back or it could be a tumor of the spinal cord or even a blood clot (FCE). If you want to know what it is exactly he will need more testing like a CT scan or MRI. Otherwise continue with the steroids as the vet prescribed. If he cannot urinate on his own that is a problem so watch him closely and if he can't urinate you need to call your vet.

From the photo, Clyde’s anus looks irritated but the lighting may be off. It’s very concerning that he won’t stand up. It could indicate that he is in pain or that he had an injury to his back. This is unusual for a very active dog and I recommend to have him examined today. Most serious conditions have a better prognosis if they are diagnosed and treated early. If he is in pain, the veterinarian can provide medication to make him feel better. The irritated anus could be unrelated to the reason he will not stand up. Irritation can be related to allergies, anal gland problems or trauma. I recommend to play it safe and have him examined. I hope he starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I'm concerned that Charlie is very unwell, and I highly recommend taking him in to a vet immediately, or getting a housecall vet to your home. Do not let your children be rough with him, as it may worsen his condition, and also is not safe for the children, as Charlie may feel forced to defend himself and accidentally injure them. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can be prone to heart disease and also a condition called syringomyelia that can lead to neurological symptoms. He may also be dealing with infectious disease or trauma leading to his symptoms, but it is not possible to tell without having him examined by a vet, so I recommend having him seen by one right away. See the link below for more information: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952547

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lulu. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. It does not sound like she is not feeling well. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain which can be excruciatingly painful. It causes dogs to shake, pant, and not want to move. Most will hesitate to jump on furniture or be reluctant to do stairs. If this is the case, x-rays can be taken of the spine. Based on these results, medications are prescribed. In the meantime, keep her quiet and carry her if possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. Sometimes large dogs go "down" and really struggle to get on their feet afterwards. If a solution can't be found, it can mean that it's time to say goodbye to them. However, I'd recommend trying additional pain medications, acupuncture, laser treatment, and a sling if any of those are options. Definitely check with your vet to see what more can be added. Also, get some yoga mats to line the walkways in your house to help her grip the floor if she does get up. I hope she's on her feet again soon!

Hello, sorry to hear about Isa. She may indeed have a herniated disk, this tends to be very painful and dogs may Yelp and whine when they move or get picked up. They also refuse to do their normal jumping on furniture and may avoid stairs. However, there are other causes for pain such as hip pain and knee pain which may also cause some limping. There are other things to consider such as GI pain especially with the diarrhea, liver or kidney disease, and pancreatitis. Isa should be evaluated by her veterinarian to rule out evidence of a herniated disk and determine where she is the most painful. Hope this helps and best of luck