TL;DR: An awkward gait often indicates underlying joint or neurological issues; while usually non-emergent if the dog is stable, you should seek immediate veterinary care if they cannot stand or lose coordination.
What does it mean if my dog has an awkward gait?
An awkward gait refers to any change in how your dog walks, trots, or runs, such as a 'bunny hop,' swaying hips, or dragging toes. These subtle shifts often indicate underlying joint, muscle, or neurological issues, even if your dog is not whimpering, as dogs are notoriously stoic and frequently hide their discomfort.
When is my dog's awkward gait considered a veterinary emergency?
- The urgency level is typically low if your dog is still eating, drinking, and able to walk under their own power.
- Schedule a non-emergency appointment with your veterinarian to address these subtle movement changes.
- Seek immediate emergency care if the awkwardness turns into a total loss of coordination, dragging of the limbs, or an inability to stand.
How does recording a video of my dog's movement help with triage?
- Videos are valuable because adrenaline at the clinic often causes dogs to mask their symptoms or walk normally due to stress.
- Capture a clear video in a relaxed home environment showing your dog walking from the side and from behind.
- A home video allows the vet to perform a more accurate visual triage and pinpoint the affected limb or joint before the physical exam begins.
Clinical Context (Merck Veterinary Manual)
Many causes of lameness do not produce a characteristic gait abnormality, making diagnosis challenging. Lameness can be classified as weight-bearing (supporting leg) or nonweight-bearing (swinging leg), and may be composed of both. Supporting leg lameness is observed when the animal reduces the time or force applied to the weight-bearing limb. Some causes of lameness produce very characteristic gaits, such as the foot "slapping down" in fibrotic myopathy or the hyperflexion of a limb during the swing phase in stringhalt. It is critical to determine the cause of the lameness, because treatment varies depending on the cause; mechanical lameness will not respond to analgesics, whereas pain-related lameness often responds to analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Chapter: Neurology, Musculoskeletal
Source: The Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th Edition (Page 1238)