I have a rescued 12 year old GSD and this morning took him for a walk (something not done for a while) and he was dragging his back feet to extent that he was ending up walking on his knuckles,  after a few more wobbly steps he ended up all cock-eyed and ended up sitting down unable to stand up for a minute or so.

Is this just bad joints or something more serious or just a lack of exercise?

He's never been able to jump up at anyone as the lady owner before us said he already had bad hips but we had managed to sort this out quite easily and he was quite able to run up and down a field chasing cars etc.

Love to know anyone opinions.

Jasbenuk

if you lift a back leg up & bend his foot underneath him(so his toes are on the floor not his pads) does he try to put it right?

Hi

He does turn them back when he is standing still.  When we were out walking earlier he seemed to do both feet then stumble.

maybe use the search facilty on here to look up CDRM,

Doesn't sound good at all. Was he from a rescue or did you rescue him from the lady? If from a rescue, what did the rescue say, surely they exercise their dogs and should have explained any problems. I personally wouldn't walk a 12 year old GSD for any longer than  2 x 20 minute walks anyway, if he is up to it.

You say he could run up and down a field chasing cars, can he run, but has a problem with walking? Or does he walk fine one day, but not another?

With his age it could be anything from stiff joints, arthritis, HD, he probably needs a good vet check and perhaps some physio if it only affects him some days.

If it really was just from a lack of exercise and he needed small steps to build up, he would not be running chasing cars, so I am tending to lean towards physio, but only a proffessional can really advise after a consultation.

Does this seem familiar?

http://www.gsr-sp.com/DM_Article.htm

Hope it's not this tho :(

Good luck

how long ago was he chasing and running? could he have sprained himself? what is he like walking around the house? does this happen or not, because maybe, if it doesnt happen maybe he is to interested in everything going on on his walk and forgets to walk properly. only a few thoughts as I was reading your post, but if it was me I would take him to the vets

Hi

He was chasing and running around in the summertime, so I don't think it thats, he seems alright when he is walking around, he's getting a bit slower now and is not able to jump the 1ft garden wall and has to use the steps.  His front legs seem to want to get him everywhere as he managed to put me all the way to the field which is only 5 minutes walk away, but it was soon after that he started to drag his feet.

As you say maybe he forgot to walk properly.  His back legs have got a bit of dyslplasia and he has never been able to jump in the back of the car (not that this has stopped him trying, even if the boot is left open for the shopping !!).  We rescued him direct from the lady and i don't think she took him out too much as he had very long claws and hard pads which we managed to get soft. 

The fact that he cannot right his toes if turned under really does indicate CDRM. Sorry but there is not cure. If this is the problem then he will just get worse and eventually loose the use of his back legs altogether. CDRM is a horrid complaint and you often have people mistake it for hip problems but it is very different, I often wonder how many "Hippy" dogs are in fact CDRM dogs. Does he wobble and use both back legs as a single prop to ballence himself?
These are often the dogs who eventually are reduced to using K9 carts if that is the way you wish to go. Most loose the ability to regulate the need to pass water or open thier bowels, and incontinence follows. Do take him to the vet to get a proper diagnosis and any tips they may have to keep things at bay as long as possible.

Degenerative (chronic and progressive) Myelopathy has nothing to do with the hips or hip displasia-it is a progressive degeneration of the nerves in the spine(& ergo the feeling & movement)in the back legs.

It can start with the dog simply bunny hopping at the back & then progesses to the knuckling over & gradual lack of power & muscles in the hindquarters. Eventually the hindquarters lose all strength & the dog may(usually do)become doubly incontinent

Some owners will put their dogs into K9 carts replacing the back legs with a set of wheels, unfortuantely this can put increased stress on the forequarters & arthritis can develop casuing the dog pain

DM does not cause the dog pain-only flustration in not being able to move as quickly as he/she wants in the early stages

Sadly there is no cure & very little treatment that can be given despite research being done in the UK & elsewhere