Shaky Leg Syndrome

• Posted on 17 February 2023
• By Dr. Jill Tack
• Posted in chiropractic for pets, dr. christina cole, shaky leg syndrome, shaky legs in pets
• 0

Ever notice your dog start to shake without reason? I’m referencing a shake that isn’t occurring out of fear, anxiety, or distress. This kind of shaking is strictly an uncontrollable one that begins and ends randomly, and doesn’t seem to cause any discomfort or irritation. Often in the hind legs, Shaky Leg Syndrome, as I like to call it, can be an indicator of any number of things.

Ever notice your dog start to shake without reason? I’m referencing a shake that isn’t occurring out of fear, anxiety, or distress. This kind of shaking is strictly uncontrollable, begins and ends randomly, and doesn’t seem to cause discomfort or irritation. Often in the hind legs, Shaky Leg Syndrome, as I like to call it, can indicate any number of things. 

Possible Causes

As several veterinarians have suggested in paper upon paper, these tremors tend to be indicators of something else going on, a root cause yet to be discovered. According to multiple sources, shaky legs can indicate kidney disease, dehydration (perhaps related to kidney disease), trauma, toxicity, a side effect of a medication, hypoglycemia, inflammation, or even a nervous system disease. A shaky leg could mean just about anything.

After going through a process of elimination (i.e., a blood panel and overall exam), these shaky legs are often left classified as “idiopathic.” There is no beginning or end, no explanation behind why the shakes are happening. This is usually where chiropractic or several other alternatives will come in.

Neurological Considerations

Being a nervous system protector, my first thought is neurological when I see a shaky leg. Either something is impinging the spinal cord, nerve roots, or nerve itself, causing the consistent shaking, or perhaps there is some misfiring between the brain and body connection leading to the shakes.

Regardless of the official cause, both avenues are right up an animal chiropractor’s alley. A structural shift within the spine will put abnormal pressure on an area of the nervous system, causing a calculated misfire of messages between the brain and the body. This impingement can increase or decrease nerve responses.

I have found that animals with an increase in their nervous system response tend to be brought in for examination. An animal with a decreased response is not as quickly noticed; thus, we see less of it in our practice. A shaky leg is a misfire in the nervous system or over-firing nerves.

Arthritis and Structural Issues

If an animal has significant arthritis, disc disease, or even a mild structural shifting occurring, a shaky leg can be a symptom. For instance, a dog with arthritis may have so much excess bone formation that an osteophyte (or spur) could interfere with the nerve and nerve root. This solid object may put near-constant pressure on the nerve, causing it to respond with the shakes. When this pressure is relieved, the shakiness will begin to resolve. I understand that arthritis already present in the body is not going anywhere; however, prevention of future arthritis through stabilization of the spine and restoration of average weight-bearing structure is just as important in aiding the shaky leg-suffering dog. 

All things considered, the root cause of a shaky leg could be as simple as a structural shift within the body. The shakiness will subside when that shift is restored through chiropractic adjustments, and your pup could return to normal.

Hope for Shaky Legs

This is not always the case; these animals often suffer from a different underlying cause. For all those classified under the “idiopathic” category, there is hope and a possible light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the years, I’ve seen several animals with seriously shaky legs for no apparent reason. With some chiropractic work, the shaking has resolved relatively quickly without medication or the need for surgery. If your dog or someone you know has an animal suffering from incessantly shaking legs, it would be wise to try an alternative approach. Sometimes, a more straightforward answer is standing right in front of us!

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