4 leg atrophy

3am Sunday morning I woke up to my dog not being able to move her legs. She was on her side and all 4 were atrophing. She was trying to get up but couldn't. She was alert to me. No signs of convulsion, or any other epileptic symptom. I tried to massage, didn't work. I tried to stand her up, didn't work. I tried to calm her down, didn't work. She just had a litter of pups about 2 weeks ago. I took her away from the pups, they were sleeping, and she was with me. From the time that I found her she was unable to move her legs for about 2 hours. After she regained use she was still kind of clumbsy for about a day, when hoping or jumping over things. I have never seen her like this and I have had her since she was 1 year old. I am wondering what are the possible problems she could be having to cause this and if I need to get her to the Vet ASAP.

[Terry Dew, D.V.M., M.S., DACVS]

While it is impossible to provide a definitive diagnosis over the internet, from the syptoms (symptoms) you describe, this is most likely hypocalcemia due to nursing a litter of pups. I would recommend calling your veterinarian and scheduling an appointment to have should take her in and have her calcium checked.

Let us know how everything turns out.

[Jim Humphries, B.S., D.V.M.]

I agree, this dog has most likely been drained of her stores of calcium and that may very well explain all the symptoms you are seeing.  SHE NEEDS TO BE SEEN BY YOUR VETERINARIAN IMMEDIATELY.