Why Is My Dog Walking Sideways? Here's What Vets Say (+Videos)
A dog walking sideways may be a concern for dog owners, especially when the dog starts walking this way out of the blue.
There may be several underlying causes for a dog walking sideways and the best way to find the underlying cause is by seeing the vet.
A recording of the episode can be extra helpful so that the vet is provided with visual footage of the actual behavior rather than just a mere description.
Complicated cases may require a referral to a specialist, most likely a board-certified veterinarian specializing in neurology.
Following are some potential causes for a dog walking sideways along with pertinent information about diagnosis and treatment.
If your dog is walking sideways, please play is safe and have your dog see the vet for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Ear problems can cause dogs to walk in sideways fashion
A Problem With The Dog's Ear
A dog walking sideways may be suffering from some problem with the ears. A dog's ears and his sense of balance are closely connected.
Balance, which helps the dog walk and run without falling, is controlled through special signals sent to the brain coming from the eyes, inner ear and other sensory systems of the body.
The dog's inner ear, in particular, contains special “sensors” which are capable of detecting the rotational movement of the head.
Middle ear or inner ear infections can affect the dog's balance, causing affected dogs to feel dizzy and nauseous, just as if they stepped off a merry-go-round.
On top of walking sideways, dogs with an ear infection may display a head tilt as well.
Idiopathic Vestibular Disease
Your dog's balance system is often referred to as the vestibular system and any issue affecting this system is known as a vestibular disorder.
Dogs suffering from a vestibular disorder will exhibit a head tilt, they may lean or drift to one side when walking, while others may walk in circles or may end up rolling once lifted in a standing position, observes Dr. Randall C. Longshore, a board-certified veterinarian specializing in internal medicine.
On top of walking sideways as if drunk, dogs with a vestibular disorder will often appear dizzy (which ultimately leads to the dog refusing food and becoming nauseous) and will exhibit abnormal eye movements (called nystagmus), explains veterinarian Dr. Jeff. When they stand, they'll often keep their legs spread out.
When the ultimate cause for this disorder remains unknown is it referred to as idiopathic. Because this condition is often seen in older dogs, it is also often referred to as geriatric vestibular disease or old dog vestibular disease.
An MRI or CT scan may be needed to diagnose this condition, but due to the costs associated with these procedures, many vets may opt to just treat the dog symptomatically and see whether the problem resolves.
Dogs may be prescribed anti-nausea drugs, and if a middle-ear infection started it off (more common in younger dogs), a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs.
To treat the dizziness, the vet may suggest meclizine. Generally, dogs will get better within 1 to 2 weeks.
Possible Undetected Pain
Dogs often do not express pain in the ways we expect them to.
Walking sideways may therefore be a dog's way of compensating for pain originating somewhere.
For instance, a dog may walk sideways in the case of discomfort stemming from a strain, sprain, or bruise.
Other than walking sideways, pain in dogs may be shown through panting and fast breathing.
Such pain may follow vigorous exercise, showing up about 12 hours later or the pain may arise as a result of turning or twisting something 'the wrong way.'
Perhaps the pain is localized to the dog's neck, affecting more precisely, the dog's cervical area, or the issue may stem from the spine, possibly due to disc herniation.
X-rays, unless the condition is readily obvious, will not typically show signs of disc herniation either in the neck or back. The dog will require an MRI, CT scan or myelogram for diagnosis.
Other sources of pain causing the dog to walk in an odd way may include the dog's knees, hips, spine, abdomen and sometimes even the dog's anal glands.
In some cases, the dog's anal glands may become full or impacted causing them to become painful as they continue to fill up and expand. This pain may cause the dog to walk in an odd way.
If the vet suspects muscular pain, neck pain, or back pain, he or she may prescribe a course of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs along with rest and see whether the symptoms subside.
For herniated discs, the vet may in addition prescribe other pain meds ( Gabapentin, Tramadol) and possibly, muscle relaxers. Severe cases may require surgical intervention.
Why is my dog walking sideways?
Low Blood Sugar in Small Breed Puppies
Sometimes, a sideways gait accompanied by lethargy, nausea and vomiting in a small breed puppy can signal low blood sugar.
Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, impacts young small breed puppies when they haven't eaten for some time.
Their blood sugar lowers considerably because they don't have the ability to stay for too long without eating when young and quickly become depleted of glucose.
In such a case, first aid treatment would involve feeding the puppy a teaspoon of honey, pancake or karo syrup directly into the puppy's mouth, and repeating again in the next hour, suggests veterinarian Dr. Peter.
It's important to make sure these products do not contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs.
Once the puppy perks up a bit, then it is possible to give the puppy some water to drink and small amounts of a bland diet made of 50 percent rice and 50 percent boiled boneless chicken fed 4 to 6 times a day for several days and then the regular diet can be gradually reintroduced.
If the puppy doesn't perk back up after an hour a trip to the emergency center is warranted.
Tip: to avoid future episodes like this, Dr. Peter suggests feeding small breed puppies every 4 to 6 hours until they are 4 to 5 months old.
Brain Tumors in Dogs
Brain tumors may also cause changes in a dog's gait, causing them to sometimes walk sideways. These are most commonly seen in older dogs.
As much as it may sound like bad news, the presence of a brain mass tends to be benign and slow growing, however, it's still a space occupying lesion in the brain, explains veterinarian Dr. Deb.
Diagnosis is obtained through an MRI, which can be very costly to perform (around $2,000).
Presence of a Liver Shunt
A dog walking crooked, in a sideways fashion may be suffering from a liver problem. In particular, small dogs are prone to a condition known as liver shunt.
Bloodwork including a special test known as Bile Acids Test may help diagnose this condition.
A Matter of Seizures
If the episode of the dog walking crooked is temporary, like lasting just for a minute, there may be chances the episode was a seizure.
When somebody thinks of dog seizures, the first idea that may come to mind is a dog lying dog and trashing with his feet in the air, but dog seizures may be much more subtle than this.
Partial seizures may cause abnormal brain activity and this can temporarily affect a dog's motion.
While seizures are most common in young dogs, in older dogs systemic diseases or even tumors may be a culprit for the seizures and should therefore require investigation.
Ingestion of Toxins
Other potential causes for a dog walking sideways may include ingestion of harmful toxins, such as plants, drugs, pesticides or herbicides.
A Structural Issue
A dog who runs sideways all the time and doesn't seem to be suffering or in any pain, may be walking in this fashion because of some structural issue.
This curious gait, known as crabbing in dog lingo, may be seen in dogs who have structural problems causing them to walk in a sideways fashion so as to avoid their legs from touching.
Over or under angulation, short backs, sway backs are a few examples.
The Lanky Phase of Development
On a lighter note, crabbing" may be temporarily seen in young dogs, mostly when they go through the lanky phase of development and their back legs are slightly longer than the front or it can stem from lack of coordination.
These youngsters may temporary move in a diagonal fashion to avoid stepping on themselves, but as they further develop, this movement may correct itself with early intervention.
If your puppy is running sideways or your dog is crabbing, consult with a vet for an assessment.
For dogs who walk crooked only occasionally, it may be worth it to record the behavior as it occurs and show it to a vet.
What Should I Do if My Dog is Walking Sideways?
As seen, there are several causes for a dog walking sideways.
It's highly recommended to see the vet to have your dog correctly diagnosed so that he can receive the most appropriate treatment.
Complicated cases that don't seem to resolve should warrant a visit to a veterinarian specializing in neurology. Prices for consults with a neurologist may vary, but generally are around $200.
This article was published Dec 16, 2017 at 1:00 AM
Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice or behavioral advice. If your dog is acting sick or aggressive please consult with a qualified professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
