This afternoon when I got home from work I noticed that Jack was having trouble going up the stairs (my house is split level...you come in the door and must go up or down; nothing is on ground level). We went to the park and he was running around with his dog buddies though he was walking slowly on the way home. Again at home he was having trouble with the stairs, especially going up. He's not crying or making any kind of sound that would indicate pain; he's not flinching or cringing when he puts weight on any of his legs. He gets his front paws on the step and then seems to be having trouble getting his back legs to jump up. I can't really pinpoint what the problem is. His front paws kind of slide around like they aren't planted enough, or maybe it's the he can't push off of his back legs. He doesn't want to jump up onto the couch but is happy to cuddle with me if I lift him up (I carried him up the stairs after he had trouble with the first couple too.)

Is this just old age catching up to him? He'll be 16 in a couple of months. Or is this perhaps something else? It seems to have come on rather suddenly, but maybe I just didn't notice it until today. We go up and down stairs a lot in my house, because of the layout so I think I would have noticed, but maybe not.

Any ideas? What should I be watching for? Is there anything I should be checking specifically? He hasn't indicated any pain when I feel for sore spots, etc and he's not a particularly stoic dog. Does this warrant a trip to the vet right away or would you wait a few days to see how it plays out? My initial thought is to just watch and see for a few days to see if it gets better or worse but there are plenty of things I could be unaware of or overlooking.

My big concern is that stairs are a MUST in my house; the main living area is up from ground level and the bedroom/bathroom are down. I have no problem carrying him up stairs if that's what he needs, but I'm not home with him all day.

i would be worried about his back. keep a close eye on him, but i'd get him in to see the vet in a couple days if things didn't improve.

I don't have any advice for you, I just wanted to say I hope it's nothing, just old age and that Jack will just need help now and then with the stairs.

chiropractor?

Sherri - I don't have any advice. I just hope he's feeling better.

He may have over done it at the park, I normally keep Arnica on hand for my dogs when they over do it then rest. I would keep an eye on him perhaps pick up some turmeric and ginger root (if you don't already give that) and then you'll know if a vet visit is in order.

Also, just in case, check the color of his gums to see if they are a normal pink or pale/white. If he's having any pulmonary issues or internal bleeding, the back legs tend to give out because they don't get supplied with enough blood. Remote possibility, but with an elder dog, I think checking gums is a good idea just to rule out this stuff.

Hope he's feeling better very soon!

Poor boy. Perhaps arthritis? Do you give him anything for that now?
Have you seen that amazing video on Cetyl-M? Some folks on other boards are telling how well it works for hip dysplasia and arthritis.

If it isn't anything really serious, think about building a ramp over a portion of your steps so he can get around the house.

Chiropractor!!

Poor lil' guy! I'd do the same as others said, watch it for a few days, and bring him in if it gets worse, or there's no imporvement.

I hope he just overdid it a bit, and will be able to mend himself.

Oh, poor fella...sounds like you have gotten good advice, just wanted to add my get better vibes. Hopefully he just overdid it a little at the park. I second the arnica for that kind of thing too.

Poor Jack. As my 93 yr old Grandma used to say, Old age is not for wussies.
Is he already on a joint supplement like Glyco Flex?
Arnica really helps Sammy if he has a flare up and then it's off to our vet chiro.
Keep us posted on the little guy.

Well, I went home at lunch to check on him and his hind end seems really wobbly. He was having trouble balancing to lift his leg to pee and even when just walking around his back legs seemed not quite right. No more waiting; we're off to the vet at 3:30. Unfortunately, Jack's regular vet is on vacation until Thursday of next week so we have to see his partner (the guy that told me it was OK to feed Oliver as much as he wanted cuz he's old and that regardless of kidney function he should be on a low protein senior food. ) Hopefully this guy is more knowledgeable about "regular" stuff than he is about nutrition.

Good vibes please....

Oh no! I hope the vet turns out to have some sense about this, at least more than he does about nutrition. I was really hoping he'd be self-healing.

Lots of good vibes, and I hope it's nothing, and he'll be better soon.

Tons and loads of good vibes from me and my crew.

Aw, lots of good back-end vibes from us here -- my seniors know what this is like, and at my age I'm starting to also! Hope Jack is feeling better very soon.

I hope the vet doesn't make light of this just because of Jack's age. I also hope it's nothing more than a little overexertion at the park the other day.

awww, get well soon little buddy

Well, $250 didn't buy me much information. The vet pointed out that Jack was doing some "knuckling" occasionally with one of his hind legs which I hadn't noticed. He said that was worrisome because it could point to something neurological. For now, we're going to try a couple of weeks of Deramaxx (anti-inflammatory and pain releiver) plus R&R - no stairs, no jumping up and down from furniture (he couldn't jump up anyway), no walks. Hopefully he's just twisted his back while playing or when jumping off of the bed and this will fix it up. If not, then we look further. For now I'm going to hope that it's just a wrenched back and try to convince him to be more careful.

Jack isn't very happy about this. He wants to follow me up and down the stairs, wants to go for walks with Oliver, etc. He really doesn't believe that he's a little old guy and should be taking it easy!

Hopefully he'll be back to new in a couple of weeks.

Hmpf. I hope the meds help and he's back to his old self in a day or two.

Rats...I was hoping you'd get a more conclusive answer. Fingers crossed that this takes care of everything. Take it easy for a few days, Jackie boy.

Poor Jack I hope the meds and the R&R help, even if he's not happy about it. Is there a way you could make ramps for the stairs?

I will toss in my two cents for acupuncture. I take my boy for his arthritis because he can't tolerate Rimadyl or Deramaxx, but I know the vet also uses it for neurological problems.

Not sure if there is a vet accupuncturist locally but I did find a couple of chiros. Assuming Jack doesn't get any worse, I'll give the Deramaxx the couple of weeks the vet suggested and if he's not any better I'll be making an appointment to see if something like that will help him.

It's weird...sometimes he seems better, sometimes he's really wobbly. He's NOT happy about being carried up and down stairs, being left behind when I take Oliver for a walk, etc. Ah well, I'll put up with his moods if it will make him better.

Sherri -- Snoopy is the same way when I leave with Lucy to the dogpark alone. He is in a WORSE mood, however, if he has come with us and come home with a sore hip.... I guess it's a trade off. Grumpy ol' hounds...

ETA: I started giving him DogGonePain each day and Yucca a few days a week and I've really noticed a difference in his comfort level - I recently found a GREAT source for both - vitapal.com - they even do free shipping.

Aw Jack, here's a soothing massage little guy. We're sending healing vibes to. I hope your meds help and that you are better soon.

Sherri, please read my previous post regarding Deramaxx. Its side effects are lethal. Find another option, do not use this medication.

Please.

http://www.ourdogsonline.com/ubbthreads....tMeds#Post47360

I don't have anything to add, but positive feel better vibes for Jack.

Bari, thanks for pointing that out! I had no idea. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow and ask for alternatives to reduce the inflammation.