Canine Orthopedic Vs. Neurological Symptoms

Orthopedics deals with bones and their surrounding tissues. Orthopedic problems for dogs can be sprains, muscle bruises, fractures and arthritis, and these injuries can range in severity. Neurology deals with the nervous system: spinal cord, brain, peripheral nerves. There are many causes of neurological diseases in dogs ranging from congenital to outside factors such as tick bites.

  1. Orthopedic Symptoms in Limbs

    • Dogs can have orthopedic problems in all of their limbs or joints. Arthritis is also a common orthopedic problem for dogs. Signs of canine orthopedic problems are not too noticeable at first; the exception is when the dog falls or trips, which may lead to a sprain or fracture. Typically the first clues are minor -- the dog may not want to go up the stairs or play fetch for very long. Later the signs may be more noticeable and may include limping, trouble getting up, trouble balancing or not wanting to get up at all.

    Orthopedic Cancer

    • Cancer can also be an orthopedic disease. The cancer may originate in the bone, or start somewhere else and then spread to the bone. Some signs that a dog may have cancer in its bones are limping, swelling and tumors. The best way to determine whether its cancer is by taking the dog to the vet. The vet may then recommend an X-ray or biopsy.

    Neurological Symptoms

    • Dogs with a neurological disorder can have many symptoms that affect its temperament or its ability to perform everyday tasks. Dogs may have trouble eating, swallowing or chewing food. Loss of coordination can be a sign of a neurological disorder. Other symptoms may include partial to full loss of vision or hearing. Another noticeable sign could be changes in the dog's mood or unusual behaviors such as unusual pacing or growling. Seizures are another symptom of neurological disorders, and they can vary in severity.

    Subtle Neurological Symptoms

    • Sometimes the symptoms of a neurological disorder are not that noticeable or are confusing, in that the symptoms appear to be that of another problem. For example, the dog may be limping or holding up a limb. If your dog has lost coordination in a certain area of its body, due to a neurological disease, it may walk with its legs close together, to aid its balance. Other subtle symptoms of neurological diseases may include coughing, fever, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting.