Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 4/23/2007

Question
i am not sure one what all goes wrong with german shepards hips and hind legs can anyone explain it to me better than they loose all use of their hind legs?

Answer
Sometimes they will get fibrocartilagenous infarcts that will cause temporary loss of use of the legs.  It is reversible with steroid therapy. There is another condition called degenerative myelopathy that slowly destroys the spinal cord in these dogs. Then they drag their legs.