Expert: Jannie Balliett - 6/6/2010

Question
My sister lives in Italy and has a male Boxer, who will be 9 this year.  For the last few weeks he has been walking very slowly, last week his back legs gave way and he wet the floor there was an expression of utter shock on his face when this happened, he sleeps a lot and doesn't run round the garden any more, nor does he bark at bicycles passing by as he use to to all the time.   He has started walking round and round the kitchen table (very slowly) and has become a bit aggressive.  He has snapped and growled at his owner for no apparent reason, also you cant touch him as he snaps at you. My sister says, when he is standing his back end sways.  Her vet gave a diagnosis over the phone and said it sounded like arthritis and gave her a weeks course of tablets for this condition, my sister said there was no improvement.  She doesnt want to take him to see the vet as he wont let the vet examine him, he is a huge Boxer and the vet is wary of him.
Max also walks with his head down and doesnt lift his leg to wet, he wets like a female.
I had a Boxer who had arthritis in her back legs and tended to limp now and again but had none of Maxs other symptoms.  Max has no limp.
Do you think this sounds like arthritis, or is it something else.
I would be grateful for your opinion so I can inform my sister.

Answer
He can have arthritis and hip dysplasia, but I am sorry to tell you that it sounds like a neurology problem.

He MUST go to a vet- a specialist that can handle neurological disorders.

Call the vet, ask for a recommendation unless the vet has the capability of checking for neurological disorders, and ask for a sedative. Go get it and come back and give the sedative to the dog and then carry him to the vet. A mussel would be a good idea.

He is at his end days and sounds miserable and ill. He needs help to live the rest of his life peacefully.