If your dog suddenly can’t walk up the stairs, it usually means climbing has become painful or their back legs have become weak. Common causes include arthritis, a muscle strain or torn knee ligament, hip dysplasia, a slipped disc in the back, and neurological diseases, so a sudden change like this is always worth a vet visit, and an urgent one if your dog is in obvious pain or wobbly on their back legs.
To solve your dog’s issue, we first have to understand the problem. Here are 6 reasons why your dog might not be able to walk up the stairs, plus a few other causes your vet will want to rule out:
Arthritis
What is arthritis?
Arthritis is a common condition that can affect any joint in the body. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Arthritis is a degenerative disease, which means it gets worse over time.
Treatment for arthritis may include pain relief medication, physical therapy, and weight management. Surgery is also an option for some dogs with arthritis. Early diagnosis and treatment of arthritis can help to slow the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life for your dog.
What are the signs of arthritis?
The most common signs of arthritis are stiffness, lameness, and pain. You might also notice your dog is having trouble getting up from a lying or sitting position.
Your dog may also be less active than usual and seem to be in pain when touched.
If your dog is showing any of these signs, it’s important to take them to the vet for a diagnosis. Arthritis can’t be cured, but there are treatments that can help improve your dog’s quality of life.
Muscle Strain
What is a muscle strain
A muscle strain is a common injury that can cause your dog to suddenly stop being able to walk up the stairs. This type of injury is usually caused by overuse or repetitive motion.
For example, if your dog likes to chase a ball up and down the stairs, they could easily strain a muscle in their leg.
What are the signs of a muscle strain?
The most common sign of a muscle strain is lameness. You might also notice your dog is reluctant to put weight on the affected leg.
There may also be swelling or bruising around the area of the injury.
If you think your dog has a muscle strain, it’s important to take them to the vet for a diagnosis. Muscle strains can usually be treated with rest and anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your vet. Never give your dog human painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen (paracetamol), as these can be toxic to dogs.
Neurological Disorders
What are neurological disorders?
Neurological disorders are conditions that affect the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Some neurological disorders that can affect a dog’s ability to climb stairs include intervertebral disc disease, degenerative myelopathy, and myasthenia gravis.
What are the signs of neurological disorders?
The signs of neurological disorders can vary depending on the condition. However, some common signs include loss of balance, weakness, paralysis, and seizures.
If your dog is showing any of these signs, it’s important to take them to the vet for a diagnosis. Some neurological problems can be treated very successfully, especially when caught early, while others can’t be cured but can be managed to improve your dog’s quality of life.
Hip dysplasia
What is hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is a condition that causes the hip joint to develop abnormally. This can lead to pain, lameness, and eventually arthritis.
Hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition, which means it’s often passed down from parents to puppies. Environmental factors, such as obesity, too-rapid growth in puppies, and too much high-impact exercise while the joints are still developing, can make it worse.
What are the signs of hip dysplasia?
Lameness in the hind legs is the most common sign of hip dysplasia. If your dog has hip dysplasia, you might notice that they’re reluctant to move or put weight on the affected leg. You might also notice that your dog seems to be in pain when touched around the hips or back end. Many dogs with hip dysplasia also “bunny hop” with both back legs together when running or climbing stairs.
If you think your dog has hip dysplasia, it’s important to take them to the vet for a diagnosis. Hip dysplasia can’t be cured, but there are treatments that can help improve your dog’s quality of life. Treatments for hip dysplasia can include weight management, anti-inflammatory medication, joint supplements, and physical therapy. Surgery is also an option for some dogs with hip dysplasia.
Hip dysplasia is a progressive disease, so it’s important to catch it early and start treatment right away. If you think your dog might have hip dysplasia, make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible.
Degenerative myelopathy
What is degenerative myelopathy?
Degenerative myelopathy is a neurological disorder that causes the spinal cord to deteriorate. This condition is progressive, which means it gets worse over time. Degenerative myelopathy usually affects older dogs and is often mistaken for arthritis.
There is no cure for degenerative myelopathy, but physical therapy, regular exercise and mobility aids can help affected dogs stay mobile longer and improve their quality of life. Unlike arthritis, DM usually isn’t painful and develops gradually rather than suddenly. If you think your dog may be showing signs of degenerative myelopathy, it is important to make an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible so that a diagnosis can be made and treatment can be started.
What are the signs of degenerative myelopathy?
The symptoms of degenerative myelopathy can vary depending on the severity of the condition and how far it has progressed. In the early stages, dogs may seem to be a little stiff and have difficulty getting up from a lying down position. As the disease progresses, they may start to drag their feet when they walk and eventually lose the ability to walk altogether. In advanced cases, dogs may also lose control of their bowels and bladder.
Myasthenia gravis
What is myasthenia gravis?
Myasthenia gravis is a neurological disorder that causes muscle weakness. This condition is caused by a problem with the communication between the nerves and muscles.
Myasthenia gravis can be congenital (present from birth) or acquired. The acquired form is the most common and is an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system attacks the receptors that let muscles respond to nerve signals. It is sometimes linked to hypothyroidism or a tumor of the thymus.
What are the signs of myasthenia gravis?
The most common sign of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that gets worse with exercise and improves with rest. A dog may walk normally for a few minutes and then struggle, which can make stairs especially hard.
You might also notice your dog regurgitating food or water, or having difficulty swallowing or breathing. Breathing problems or regurgitation (which can lead to aspiration pneumonia) are an emergency.
If your dog is showing any of these signs, it’s important to take them to the vet for a diagnosis. Acquired myasthenia gravis can usually be managed with medication, and many dogs even go into remission.
Other common causes: slipped discs and knee injuries
Two other common causes of a dog suddenly refusing the stairs are worth knowing about:
- Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD): a disc in the spine bulges or ruptures and presses on the spinal cord. Signs include back or neck pain, a hunched posture, yelping when picked up, reluctance to jump or climb, and wobbly or weak back legs. Breeds with long backs and short legs, like Dachshunds, Corgis and French Bulldogs, are most at risk.
- Cruciate ligament tear: the dog version of a torn ACL. It often happens suddenly during play and causes a dog to limp on or hold up one back leg, making stairs difficult.
When is it an emergency?
See a vet the same day if your dog is in severe pain, yelps when touched or picked up, is dragging their legs or knuckling over on their paws, can’t stand, or has lost control of their bladder or bowels. These can be signs of a spinal cord problem, where fast treatment makes a big difference. Until you see the vet, keep your dog calm, carry them up and down stairs, and limit their movement.
Conclusion
If your dog is suddenly unable to walk up the stairs, it could be a sign of pain from arthritis, an injury or hip dysplasia, a problem in the spine, or a neurological disorder. Treatment can vary depending on the cause, but may include rest, medication, physical therapy, weight management and sometimes surgery.
Whatever the cause, it’s important to take your dog to the vet for a diagnosis, and to block off the stairs in the meantime so they don’t injure themselves further. While you work out the cause with your vet, our guide to the best wagons for dogs who can’t walk may help you keep outings going.
