If you’ve noticed your dog walking sideways, you may be wondering what’s causing this behavior. Sideways walking in dogs can happen for a variety of reasons, and it’s important to understand the potential causes so you can address any underlying issues.
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Why Does My Dog Walk Sideways?
- Medical Reasons: One of the most common reasons for sideways walking in dogs is a medical problem. Dogs may walk sideways due to structural imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, hip problems, ear infections, or neurological conditions like vestibular disease. These medical issues can affect a dog’s balance and gait, leading to the sideways movement.
- Breed and Conformation: Some dog breeds are more prone to sideways walking due to their physical build. Breeds with shorter bodies, like German Shepherds, Cocker Spaniels, and Boxers, may naturally walk sideways because of the way their legs are positioned. This can cause interference between their front and back legs, resulting in a sideways gait.
- Dominant Side Control: Dogs, just like humans, have a dominant side. When a dog is trotting or running, their dominant side may take control, causing them to walk sideways temporarily. This is a normal behavior and usually corrects itself once the dog slows down.
- Environmental Factors and Stress: Changes in the environment, fear, anxiety, or a need for attention can also trigger sideways walking in dogs. If your dog is in a new or stressful situation, they may walk sideways as a way to monitor their surroundings or seek your attention.
- Age-Related Changes: As dogs grow older, they may experience mobility issues that can lead to sideways walking. Aging can cause decreased mobility, making it challenging for older dogs to walk in a straight line.
- Habit Formation: In some cases, sideways walking can become a habit for dogs. If a dog frequently walks sideways, they may continue this behavior over time, even if the initial cause has been resolved.
Remember, every dog is different, and the reasons for sideways walking can vary. By understanding the potential causes, you can work with your veterinarian to address any issues and ensure your furry friend is comfortable and healthy.
Home Remedies to Help Dog with Sideways Walking
If your dog is walking sideways, you may be wondering if there are any home remedies you can try to help them. While home remedies may not be able to fix all the underlying causes of sideways walking, there are some things you can do at home to support your dog’s overall health and well-being.
- Proper Training: One of the first things you can do is to teach your dog proper walking techniques. This means training them to walk on a loose leash, sit, stay, and come when called. This kind of basic obedience training can help prevent your dog from developing bad habits like sideways walking.
- Regular Exercise: Regular exercise is essential for keeping your dog healthy and happy. A daily walk or run can help burn off excess energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and keep your dog’s body and mind active. This can be especially helpful if your dog’s sideways walking is related to boredom or environmental stressors.
- Proper Diet: Feeding your dog a high-quality, balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs can also be important. A good diet can help support healthy joints and muscles, which can be important if your dog’s sideways walking is related to mobility issues.
- Weight Management: Maintaining a healthy weight for your dog is also crucial. Excess weight can put additional strain on your dog’s joints and muscles, which can contribute to sideways walking. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight can help prevent these issues.
- Massage and Stretching: Gentle massage and stretching can also be helpful for dogs with mobility issues. These techniques can help improve flexibility and promote relaxation, which can be beneficial for dogs with stiff or sore joints.
- Joint Supplements: Certain joint supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, can also be helpful for dogs with mobility issues. However, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian before starting any new supplement regimen.
- Environmental Modifications: Finally, making changes to your home environment can also be helpful. This might include providing ramps or stairs for your dog to access high surfaces, using non-slip flooring, and removing any potential tripping hazards.
Exercises to Help Dog with Sideways Walking
If your dog is struggling with sideways walking, there are some specific exercises you can try at home to help improve their stability, balance, and overall coordination. These exercises focus on strengthening the muscles in the hips, rear limbs, front limbs, and core, which can be key factors in preventing sideways walking.
- Lateral Stepping: One of the exercises that can be beneficial for dogs with sideways walking is lateral stepping, or walking sideways in shuffle steps. This helps strengthen the small stabilizer muscles in the limbs, core, shoulders, and hips. Lateral stepping can prevent shoulder and knee injuries, improve balance, and enhance your dog’s proprioception, which is their awareness of their body’s position and movements.
- Walking Sideways: Another helpful exercise is simply walking sideways. This targets the muscles on the inside and outside of the rear limb hips, helping to stabilize the hip joint and prevent splay injuries or falls. It also strengthens the muscles on the inside and outside of the front limbs, supporting the shoulder joints and preventing splay injuries in the forelimbs. Walking sideways can help propel your dog forward and support the medial and lateral collateral ligaments.
- Sidestepping Through a Ladder: For a more challenging exercise, you can have your dog sidestep through a ladder. This involves having your dog step sideways with their front paws while keeping their rear paws outside the ladder, and then reversing the motion with their rear paws while keeping their front paws on the outside. This exercise can help improve your dog’s balance, strengthen their core muscles, and enhance their overall coordination.
- Introducing These Exercises: When incorporating these exercises into your dog’s routine, it’s important to start slowly and gradually increase the difficulty. Pay attention to your dog’s size, fitness level, and any existing mobility challenges they may have. Use positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, to encourage your dog’s participation and progress.