Why is my Great Dane dragging his paw and keeping his head down?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your dog. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian. It is worrisome that he is dragging his paws. This can be indicative of a neurological problem. He may have damaged his neck or back during the fight. He may need x-rays as well as medication to decrease inflammation around his spinal cord, muscle relaxants and pain medications. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs and interfere with ones prescribed by his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

Since Dante can't talk, only a physical exam will be able to determine the source of the lameness. Just like people, the pain/limping can be related to many causes including a ligament tears, soft tissue injury, a developmental abnormality or even a spinal issue. You may try strict rest for a few days (no walks, running, jumping or stairs). If Dante does not improve, have him examined by the veterinarian. He may need radiographs and the doctor will determine this based on the exam. I hope he starts feeling better quickly.

Poor Diesel! Is he painful? You need to take him to your vet. In an older Great Dane, I am so sorry to tell you this but I would be most concerned about a possible bone tumor. Take him to your vet for an exam--they will likely recommend taking an X-ray. They can also prescribe some medication to help with pain. Don't hesitate to post again if you have any other questions.

The symptom you report could have a few origins; the nervous system, bone, muscle, blood vessels, or the soft tissues. If he is limping (toe touching or hopping) this could be a knee related issue (cruciate injury) which is a common problem. If he is dragging the limb and not placing his foot over correctly (dragging the top of his foot and not flipping it to put the pads down) this may be a neurologic issue. There are a few disease processes that can cause neurologic impairment so a neurologic exam by your vet would help to localize if this is the issue. If there is no trauma a vascular event (clot) is also possible as well. Is the foot warm? It is good that Lakota does not seem painful although sometimes not using the leg is their symptom of pain, any swelling anywhere on the leg? I think what is best is an exam with a veterinarian to localize which organ system is causing the issue, orthopedic (bone, soft tissues) vs neurologic, and help ease your mind about what is causing this. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It's very likely that this is a [painful condition](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-most-painful-conditions-in-dogs), as evidenced by the fact that he doesn't want to hold his head up. It could be due to a sprained muscle, a pinched nerve, or something more serious involving the vertebrae in the neck. Most of the time these situations do not resolve on their own, and I find that my patients need pain medications and potentially muscle relaxers, as well as strict cage rest for at least 2 weeks. In addition, you'll want your vet to do a thorough exam to rule out [Intervertebral Disc Disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/intervertebral-disc-disease/) (IVDD) that can occur if there is pressure being put on the spinal cord by a disk. Until you can get an appointment with your vet today or tomorrow, I would get [a harness](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-collars-leashes-and-harnesses/dog-harnesses) instead of a collar so as not to put any additional pressure on the area.

Hello. I think you are quite correct that this is probably spine &/or nerve related. Intervertebral disc disease ( IVDD ), or osteoarthritis are common aging problems in dogs. At its worse, a dog may need surgery. In most cases, treating with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can keep a pet very comfortable. Please have Lass evaluated by your veterinarian to see if she would benefit from medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Degenerative myelopathy affects strength, proprioception (knowledge of where the body or limbs are in time and space), and motor function. It usually does not affect sensation/feeling or motor reflexes ("withdrawal"), which is what you are checking when you put your fingers between her pads. Degenerative myelopathy also usually affects both hind limbs, not just one limb, and moves progressively from the hind limbs to the fore limbs. There is a blood test your veterinarian can do to confirm it. While lyme disease can certainly cause joint pain and may potentially interfere with nerve signal conduction, it usually involves more than one limb. It makes perfect sense to treat Texxie for lyme though, especially if this is her first time testing positive. I would also be concerned for some type of disc injury to her back though. A bulging or ruptured disc can put pressure on nerve roots or the spinal cord and cause profound weakness and paralysis. This is best diagnosed by an MRI. Other possibilities include some type of embolism to her spinal cord (like a blood clot or piece of tissue that might lodge along the spinal cord and disrupt information going back and forth), an infection, or cancer. Ideally, Texxie should be screened for all of these things. In the meantime, it's very good that Texxie has sensation and reflexes in her hind limb. Keep her very still, quiet, and check in with your vet frequently if she gets worse or seems painful. Good luck and I hope Texxie gets better soon!