Dogs occasionally do strange things that make you wonder whether they are normal or should cause you to be concerned. Unlike humans, dogs are unable to articulate their emotions. As a result, it is entirely up to you to determine whether they are okay.
Your dog will kick his back legs randomly due to scratch reflex, excitement, REM, muscle spasm, nerve damage, hip dysplasia, medial patellar luxation, degenerative joint disease, or marking their territory.
Please continue reading to learn about the probable causes of your dog kicking its legs back randomly and what course of action to follow.
Other articles you would like: Why Does My Dog Scratch The Carpet and How To Stop Your Dog From Scratching The Door.
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Why Does My Dog Kick His Back Legs Randomly?
While your dog kicking out hind legs may be expected, it could indicate a more severe problem. However, if your pup is feeding, drinking, and acting normally, they are generally safe, but you should still have them examined by a vet.
While not immediately damaging, many causes of your dog kicking their back legs may lead to a long-term injury to your furry buddy if left untreated.
Several of the most prevalent reasons you’ll observe your canine companion kicking his back legs include:
Defining Their Territory
There are scent glands in the back of your dog’s feet, so it’s an attempt to spread their scent when they kick. Dominant canine pets tend to do this to caution other dogs to avoid getting close to them.
On the other hand, submissive pets use this technique to communicate that they are present but not a threat to other dogs. Either way, it is an indicator of their presence.
Degenerative Joint Disease
The degenerative joint disease comes about when soft cartilage that shields and covers the ends of bones and stiff joints deteriorate. The joint disease is more prevalent in dogs born with defective joints or those who have already had a joint injury.
The symptoms vary according to your pet’s age, the intensity of the illness, and the damaged joint. Depending on your dog’s pain intensity, the first visible symptom will be a change in gait, a drop in muscle size, loss of appetite, and changed behavior.
Leg stiffness and hesitation in making particular motions are all possible signs, as is an increase in sleep and weight gain. Certain dogs will also tend to lick and bite the diseased region.
While the degenerative joint disease is challenging to prevent, it can be mitigated if detected, diagnosed, and treated appropriately by your veterinarian. Ensure that you maintain your dog’s fitness level while discouraging them from jumping from prominent positions or engaging in potentially dangerous habits.
Additionally, provide ample water and carefully massage the afflicted area. You can achieve pain relief through the use of heat and cold therapy. Also, provide a supportive and balanced diet for your pet and enhance their muscular systems while avoiding overworking them to prevent the disease from recurring.
Excitement
Dogs demonstrate their happiness in various ways, and one of these is randomly kicking their back legs as if their satisfaction is driving them.
To be sure that this is the case, make a conscious effort to become aware of when they kick their back legs. Do they begin to kick their back legs when you give them treats? Or when you’re packing up their toys?
Sometimes, when your pawed buddy kicks their back legs, it is just a way to express their excitement and shouldn’t be a cause of alarm.
Scratch Reflex
It is also possible your dog kicking back legs like bull is reflexive. It’s the same sensation as when petting your pup, and they kick you abruptly. This involuntary reaction is referred to as scratch reflex, which is a term that refers to your dog’s out-of-control response to being stroked.
Many nerves run under your dog’s skin, which is also the dog’s sweet spot. ‘
Assume you’re caressing or stroking your dog’s tummy; if you touch the ‘sweet spot,’ your dog will immediately react.
A message will be conveyed from the nerves to the spinal cord, which travels directly to his back legs rather than the dog’s head. As a result, the legs kick unintentionally in response.
If it is a sensitive area, your pet may not appreciate you touching them constantly. However, an occasional excellent scratch is likely to be delightful. If your dog appears to be itching, it may be ill or have a skin disease. Itchy dogs are more susceptible to fleas, resulting in serious health concerns.
Rapid Eye Movement
Does your dog doze off when they kick their legs? You may be concerned about why this occurs.
If you also notice them breathing rapidly or wiggling their paws when they’re sleeping, accompanied by grunts and sometimes even groaning, the culprit is most likely rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
REM is a period of sleep during which the brain maintains the same activity level while awake. The phenomenon applies to both human beings and pets. For instance, it is the same thing when humans sleep talk or sleepwalk.
Your canine buddy may be more affected if they play a lot during the daytime, as they will almost certainly dream when it is time to sleep.
As the owner, you may do various things to assist your dog is sleeping comfortably and avoiding REM cycle troubles.
These include:
- Consider adding a nightlight
- Inspecting your home for any nocturnal animals living in the walls
- Adding white noise for pets that have a hard time falling asleep
- Ensuring that the temperature is conducive
- Evaluating your dog’s life for any possible sources of anxiety
- Contacting your veterinarian
Muscle Spasms
Muscle spasms, alternatively referred to as muscle cramps, refer to the muscles’ fast and reflexive tremors. This is a regular occurrence when your dog engages in strenuous physical activity. As a result, muscle contractions are interrupted, and your pet’s muscles will spasm.
When your furry friend kicks their legs, they are in spasm. Regularly, it may manifest as jerking or twitching. You can ascertain it by feeling your pawed friends’ legs. The body senses muscle spasms as vibrations.
Muscle spasms are pretty painful, particularly when they last an extended period.
The easiest way to reduce muscle spasms induced by excessive exertion is to ensure your pup stays hydrated. Additionally, assist them in warming up and cooling down before and after strenuous exercise sessions.
Nerve Damage
Your dog randomly kicking his back legs could be a sign of nerve injury. Nerve injury impairs message transmission to the head. It may delay the signal or redirect it to another body part.
For instance, if the nerves in a dog’s lower body are impacted, there will be an issue with the present nerves. They will be unable to communicate with the brain due to their inability to receive or transmit messages. The result will be that the nerves will send the message instantly to the pup’s legs.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a common condition in large dogs in which the joint grows abnormally.
Hip dysplasia is caused by the following:
- Inheritable
- Undernourishment
- Excessive growth
- Inadequate physical activity
As a result of this ailment, dogs will experience excruciating pain. As they walk, you will notice them leaping. They will also kick their legs as the discomfort increases. You can, however, assist a dog who is afflicted with this disease through surgical treatment,
Medial Patellar Luxation
Your pawed friend may kick their back legs randomly because of medial patellar luxation. Or, as it is more frequently referred to, displacement of a pup’s kneecap.
Since dogs rarely exhibit signs of discomfort, it is challenging to identify medial patellar luxation. At this moment, dogs will kick in the back or on the side. The kicking enables them to stretch their knees. When they stretch, the kneecap repositions to its previous position. Dogs also tend to kick to alleviate patellar luxation.
It is also important to note that kneecap dislocations are more common in small toy breeds.
Although medial patellar luxation can occur in all dogs, it is more prevalent in small breeds like Chihuahuas and Boston Terriers. In some instances, both your pet’s back legs will be injured, or only one leg will be hurt in others. This problem may result from a leg injury in your canine buddies with short femoral grooves.
The severity of the condition will dictate the degree of the symptoms. Affected dogs usually skip or keep their affected limb up for a few paces, shaking or spreading the leg out. As the ailment advances, the frequency of lameness may rise.
Bowleggedness is a frequent symptom of this illness in puppies, and it worsens with age. As the knee moves more frequently out of place, the cartilage deteriorates, and the bone becomes exposed, resulting in arthritis and pain.
Seizures
When dogs suffer a seizure, they may kick their legs, a common symptom of abnormal brain activity. It causes dogs to exhibit extreme shaking as well as contractions. Their limbs and muscles are usually particularly vulnerable. It gives the dog the appearance of randomly kicking their back legs.
When a dog experiences a seizure, you may notice the following reactions:
- Perplexed
- Concerned
- Exhausted
- Terrified
- Delusions
Conclusion For Why Does My Dog Kick His Back Legs Randomly?
The only way to be confident that your dog is safe is to take him to the veterinarian. While you may be able to control the issue and determine the leading cause of the problem from the comfort of your own home, a veterinarian will provide professional advice and identify any underlying concerns.
However, you are as equipped as visiting a veterinarian with this guide. You can now easily spot your pup kicking their back legs and take appropriate action.
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