TL;DR: A scissoring gait where a dog's legs cross while walking is a sign of serious neurological dysfunction and requires immediate emergency veterinary attention.
What does it mean if my dog’s legs cross over each other while walking?
When a dog's legs cross over each other while walking—often referred to as a scissoring gait—it is typically a sign of neurological dysfunction or ataxia. This occurs when the neurological pathways between the brain and the limbs are disrupted, causing the dog to lose track of where their feet are in relation to their body. It is often accompanied by stumbling, swaying, or knuckling of the paws.
Is a scissoring gait in my dog a medical emergency?
- Urgency Level: High. A sudden change in gait where the legs are crossing is considered a medical emergency.
- This behavior often points to serious conditions such as spinal cord compression, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), or brain lesions.
- If your dog is also dragging their paws, tilting their head, or seems unable to support their weight, you should visit an emergency veterinarian immediately to prevent permanent paralysis or nerve damage.
How do videos and photos help the veterinary team triage my dog?
- Capturing a short video of your dog attempting to walk is incredibly valuable for a triage team or veterinarian.
- Because neurological signs can be subtle or may fluctuate depending on the environment, a video provides an objective record of the incoordination.
- This allows the medical team to see the exact nature of the gait and the severity of the neurological deficit before the physical exam begins, ensuring your pet gets the right priority in a busy clinic.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Scissoring gait, where the dog's legs cross over when walking, can be associated with lesions affecting the spinal cord segments L6 to S2. Atrophy of the gluteal, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and all muscles below the stifle can indicate a lesion of these nerve roots as they exit the spinal cord. Arterial thromboembolism, often secondary to myocardial disease or other underlying disorders such as hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism, renal disease, cancer, and heart disease, can also cause pelvic limb ischemia, resulting in paraparesis and potentially affecting gait. In cases of arterial thromboembolism, acute and painful paraparesis, inability to flex or extend the hock, decreased sensation distal to the hock, and weak or absent femoral pulses may be observed, warranting urgent veterinary attention.
Chapter: Neurology
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1260)