Among the variety of odd things dogs do, a dog walking in a U-shape is one of those behaviors that make us wonder what on earth may be going in Rover's mind. As with any odd behaviors in dogs, it's always important to evaluate whether the behavior is one of those things dogs do in certain specific contexts or if perhaps it's a behavior that may stem from an underlying health problem and that therefore warrants a trip to the vet. As usual, behaviors that are unusual for a specific dog, and that start out of the blue, should raise a red flag.  A Greeting Behavior Some dogs will curve their bodies when they are greeting you such as in the morning or when you come home from work. With the head and butt facing you, ears back and tail wagging, your dog is likely celebrating your return and letting you know you're special. This U- shape walking is just temporary and in context with these greetings and other happy moments. At other times, the dog walks normally. [otw_is sidebar="otw-sidebar-1"] Why does the dog assume this typical U shape? Most likely it's the dog's way to present both his face and anal area for inspection as a sign of friendship or in more technical terms, a willingness to engage in affiliative behavior. As we have seen in a previous article, dogs engage in different dog greeting behaviors, and often these entail mouth and rear end investigations. A Sign of Apology Dogs cannot tell each other "excuse me" or "I am sorry" the way we do. Instead, they must rely on their body language to prevent misinterpretations and potential conflict. Well-socialized dogs are often pretty good in resolving conflict, sending and acknowledging messages that have a pacifying purpose and show an intent to not cause harm. It could therefore happen that an incident takes place that could potentially appear as a challenge and lead to misunderstanding, when it is not. In this case, the dog may adopt active appeasement signals to prevent possible conflict that could lead to aggression. A dog may also assume such signals with the owner upon noticing signs of the owner being upset or angered. Walking around in a U-shape, C-shape or banana shape may be therefore a dog's way to send an "apology" or calm down another dog or owner. Typically, the dog approaches in a crouched posture with the ears back and tail low and between the legs (Shenkel 1967). The tail wag may involve the whole rear end area. If with another dog, the dog may also nudge his muzzle towards the other dog's face and give several brief licks geared toward the mouth or lips. According to Shenkel these appeasing signals are reminiscent of the days when dogs were young pups engaging in infantile food- begging behaviors. [otw_is sidebar="otw-sidebar-1"] Medical Conditions A dog who in walking in a U- shape or a dog walking in a curved C-shape can sometimes be suggestive of a medical problem. For example, a dog who walks curved may be experiencing back problems, such as IVDD, a progressive deterioration of the discs in the spine, but it could also be a sign of a dog with some digestive issue or even gland problems. If your dog is suddenly walking in a U shape with an arched back and curved body and it doesn't seem like it's part of greeting behavior or an appeasement signal, please see your vet to determine if there may be something medically going on. Dogs can be quite stoic in not showing signs of pain, and the only signs of dog pain we may see at times is limping or an unusual posture.
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[otw_is sidebar="otw-sidebar-2"] 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 a visual of the actual behavior rather than just a mere description. Complicated cases may require a referral to a neurologist. Following are some potential causes for a dog walking sideways along with pertinent information about diagnosis and treatment. A Problem with the 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. 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. Middle ear or inner ear infections can affect the dog's vestibular system, causing affected dogs to feel dizzy and nauseous, just as if they stepped off a merry-go-round. This may lead to a dog exhibiting a head tilt, circling and walking sideways from being dizzy, which leads to a dog who feels sick, nauseous and may refuse to eat. This condition is known as vestibular disease, and while it can be caused by a middle ear infection, at times the cause remains unknown (idiopathic). Because this condition is often seen in older dogs, it is often referred to as geriatric vestibular disease or old dog vestibular disease. [otw_is sidebar="otw-sidebar-1"] 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 treat the dog symptomatically and see if the problem resolves. The vet may prescribeanti-nausea drugs, and if there is a middle-ear infection, a course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. To treat the dizziness, the vet may suggest meclizine. Generally, dogs will get better within 1 to 2 weeks.
Possible Undetected PainToe touching in a dog with a knee ligament tear Dogs often do not express pain in the ways we expect them to. Walking sideways (also known as crabbing in dog lingo) 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 neither 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 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. [otw_is sidebar="otw-sidebar-1"] 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. Is gabapentin making your dog wobbly? Other Potential Causes 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. If the episode of the dog walking crooked is temporary, 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. In an elderly dog, the possibility of a brain tumor needs to be considering as a potential cause for walking sideways. The definitive way to diagnose a brain tumor in a dog is through an MRI. In small dogs there is potential for low blood glucose causing the sideways walking. In such a case, it may help to rub honey, karo syrup or pancake syrup onto the gums (making sure these products do not contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic to dogs.) 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. Thiscurious gait may be seen in dogs who have structural problems causing them to walk in a sideways fashion so to avoid their legs from touching. Other potential causes for a dog walking sideways may include ingestion of harmful toxins, such as plants, drugs, pesticides or herbicides and other non-edible items, a stroke, or some type of vascular issue in the brain, side effects from certain medications and more. As seen, there are several causes for a dog walking sideways. It's highly recommended therefore to see the vet so to have your dog correctly diagnosed so that he can receive the most appropriate treatment. [otw_is sidebar="otw-sidebar-2"] |
Dog walks sideways when excited
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