Trembling

[Whippets Rule]

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My whippet Woody is ten years old and lately one of his back legs has started to tremble quite badly when he stands still.

I've also noticed that Bryn my lurcher has trembly front legs and sometimes one back one as well.He is nine.

The vet said it's the onset of arthritis which to me seemed odd as i didn't know arthritis would make them tremble.

Anyone else experienced this with their dogs?

 

[therpan]

My old Lurcher Lucy did the same on one of her back legs

 

[Tony Taylor]

I think it's fairly normal for older dogs to tremble. I've 3 over 10 yrs old and they all do it. It's most noticible when they're eating but they do do it when they re standing still. It doesn't seem to unduly affect them when they're walking or running though.

Long backed dogs seem to be particularly affected apparently due to the realatively long distance the nerves travel to the muscles and it's possible these motor neurones are affected.

Older dogs tend to lose muscle tone and mass as well which doesn't help.

Getting old is a terrible thing and the syptoms your dog shows is most likely caused by ageing.

Light to moderate exercise is beneficial as it helps slow down the atrophy of muscle and maintains nerve function but over exertion can cause increased inflammation of the affected motor neurones making it worse.

 

[Whippets Rule]

I think it's fairly normal for older dogs to tremble. I've 3 over 10 yrs old and they all do it. It's most noticible when they're eating but  they do do it when they re standing still.  It doesn't seem to unduly affect them when they're walking or running though.Long backed dogs seem to be particularly affected apparently due to the realatively long distance the nerves travel to the muscles and it's possible these motor neurones are affected.

Older dogs tend to lose muscle tone and mass as well which doesn't help.

Getting old is a terrible thing  and the syptoms your dog shows is most likely caused by ageing.

Light to moderate exercise is beneficial as it helps slow down the atrophy of muscle and maintains nerve function but over exertion can cause increased inflammation of the affected motor neurones making it worse.

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Thanks for that. They get approximately an hour and a half gentle lead walking every other day and the days in between we walk through the woods for a couple of hours which they walk and run at their own pace.

 

[dessie]

Yes, my old black dog Dante does it. As soon as he moves off the trembling stops. My Vet says that it is perfectly normal in old dogs as long as they do not do it when they are asleep, then it is a much more serious scenario. She didn't say it was anything to do with arthritis though and she is an orthopaedic specialist!

 

[jean.dunbar]

My old lady, Gemma(11), trembles on her back legs when she has been running. She still LOVES to race but sometimes only gets one race, and only on the straights, because of the tremble. I've seen it to varying degrees in a lot of older dogs.

 

[Boffy01]

My Harry who is 12 years now has recently started trembling as well.

I have just purchased some Joint aid for dogs which will hopefully help.

Here's the web address if you want to have a read http://www.gro-wellfeeds.com

They had a really good write up in Dog World the other week as well. It is pricey but the dosage is on 10gms per day so it's not actually not bad & if it works it's worth every penny. I will let you know how I get on with it.

Good luck :luck:

 

[Boffy01]

Sorry I forgot to mention that oily fish 3 times a week can also help. Sure our dogs will love that treatment! (w00t)

 

[Boffy01]

Update as promised.

Harry has been on Joint aid for dogs for the last week and already the trembling has almost stopped. I know it's early days but I'm very happy with it so far. Any improvement is better than none.

Good luck :luck: