Rabbits drag their legs because of illness, cancer, trauma, spinal injury, aging, bacteria infection or parasitic organism. Dachshunds are bred as short-haired, long-haired or wire-haired, and all are known for their short legs and long body. Splooting is when a dog lays on his belly with his hind legs stretched out behind him. One owner told me she didn't train her dachshund to do this, he just … They may also do it on a hot day to press their bellies closer to the cool pavement or shaded grass. It amazes me that a long bodied dog can do this. Despite taking preventive measures, a Dachshund sometimes will suffer a disk herniation where the disk bulges out from between the vertebrae in the spinal column. Dachshunds with back pain have a tendency to adopt a hunched stiff posture known as thoracolumbar kyphosis. According to the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory , “Chondrodysplasia [can]… impact the health of animals through an abnormal process that causes premature degeneration of the intervertebral discs.” Tensed Abdomen. Rabbits You may see your dog start to drag a foot on walks. If you see your rabbit drag one or both legs, don’t wait, take it to the vet right away. So, why does a rabbit drag its back legs? Degenerative myelopathy, a disease affecting the spinal cord, results in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. In fact, people ask me all the time what causes a rabbit to do this. The two middle nails on that weak paw may wear more than the others. Ears standing up Accidents or injuries, Osteomyelitis, Diabetes, Arthritis, Poisoning, Cancer, Botulism, Trauma to the spine, Tick bites, Malignant Tumors, etc. When scared, in pain or uncomfortable, the doxie dog will clip his tail between his hind legs. Dachshunds are small, lively dogs that are keen hunters. I have been getting to know some dachshund owners and I have met more than one who's dachshund sits on it's butt with it's back straight up with it's front feet hanging to it's side. The end result is a dog with different-size front legs and, if severely affected, an abnormal gait. The causes stated above are the most common causes we see when a dog is dragging his back legs. Your dog’s reflexes will slow in her hind feet and legs. However, you can’t do anything if you don’t know that your Dachshund […] What's behind that irritation can range from infection to worms to inflammation . Image source 3. Dachshunds are prone to antebrachial growth deformity, a condition in which one front leg continues growing while the other one stops. Dragging rear legs when walking; Signs of pain in neck, spine, or legs ... Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, and dogs who have long backs and are low to … Initially you may mistake it for other orthopedic problems. In smaller dogs like the doxie, this limb length disparity generally means that joint issues develop. It will be suspected on the basis of breed, medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. If this happen to your dog, you must know what to do, and you must do it fast. Image source 4. Reasons for Dog Dragging Back Legs. Why Dogs Drag Their Bottoms: Common Causes and Treatments Scooting -- when a dog drags its anus along the ground -- is almost always a sign something is irritating your dog. It is considered a disease of middle-aged to older dogs including German Shepherds, German Shepherd crosses, Siberian Huskies, and Collies. With increasing pain, Dachshunds may walk carefully with a taut distended abdomen, sensitive to touch or squeeze. Eventually, you’ll see a lack of coordination and wobbliness in the gait. Lowered Head. They have an excellent sense of smell; they were bred initially to hunt both above and below ground by burrowing for gophers and rodents. 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