Can dogs’ legs fall asleep? Yes, dogs definitely can get that “pins and needles” sensation of a leg or foot falling asleep. But some other more serious conditions can have similar symptoms. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains how dogs’ legs fall asleep, what the symptoms are, and what else could be going on.
We’re all familiar with the prickly sensation of transient paresthesia—in other words, a limb falling asleep. As you try to shake off the pins and needles and get your arm or leg working correctly again, you may be wondering, “Can dogs’ legs fall asleep like humans?”
Can dogs’ legs fall asleep?
In short, yes! Your dog’s legs can fall asleep just like yours. Dogs can experience a similar tingling sensation in their limbs after lying down in certain positions. However, there are also other more serious conditions that can cause similar signs.
What causes dogs’ legs to fall asleep?
Just like people, dogs have nerves and blood vessels running throughout their bodies, including the limbs. Certain resting positions can put excessive pressure on some parts of the leg. Prolonged pressure on peripheral nerves and associated blood vessels can reduce circulation and interfere with the connection between the nerve(s) and the brain. This often causes the numbness that precedes the pins and needles feeling.
When your dog changes position or gets up, all of that pressure is relieved. Then blood flows quickly back to the area, and the nerves are able to send signals to the brain. Sometimes this rush of nerve signals can become overwhelming, and the brain interprets these signals as a tingling sensation.
What are the signs a dog’s leg is asleep?
Some dogs may not show any signs if they have a leg fall asleep. But others may display mild, short-lived symptoms including:
- Limping—Due to the abnormal sensation or the “dead leg” feeling, the dog may limp or have a strange gait.
- Licking or chewing the affected leg or paw—A dog’s normal reaction to a painful or odd sensation is to lick or chew the area.
- Holding up one leg—More sensitive dogs or those whose leg is very asleep may hold the leg in the air rather than walking or standing on it.
- Reluctance to get up or walk—Initially, the dog may not want to move around—sort of like how we sometimes need to wait for our foot to “wake up” before taking a step if we don’t want to fall flat on our faces.
The most important thing to know about these signs is that they are temporary. Symptoms of limbs falling asleep should not last more than a few minutes. Plus, a dog’s leg falling asleep isn’t something that happens all the time.
What should I do if my dog’s leg falls asleep?
If your think your dog’s leg has fallen asleep, you don’t need to do anything. Give him or her some space for the effects to wear off and the feeling to dissipate. If he or she recovers in a matter of minutes and seems none the worse for wear, all is good.
However, if the symptoms you’re noticing last more than a few minutes, or if they seem to be occurring with relative frequency, contact your veterinarian. Whether your dog is limping on a back leg or your dog is limping on a front leg, it’s important to get to the root of the problem.
What other conditions make it look like the dog’s leg has fallen asleep?
Dogs may limp for many reasons, and an asleep leg is just one of them. This is not an exhaustive list, but some conditions with similar signs to a leg falling asleep include:
Joint or muscle trauma
If the dog plays hard or lands funny and strains or sprains a muscle, ligament, or tendon, he or she may be favoring the leg. Additionally, damage to a joint can make a dog limp or act painful.
Arthritis
Aging or abnormal forces on a joint from another orthopedic problem can lead to osteoarthritis in dogs over time. One of the more common signs of arthritis is stiffness when waking up, almost like the leg falls asleep. Plus, dogs with arthritis may be reluctant to jump up or use the stairs, not wanting to walk or play as much as usual, licking or chewing on a leg, or limping.
Neurological conditions
A variety of neurological issues in dogs can cause weakness, difficulty rising, knuckling in dogs, or an unsteady gait. This can make it seem like your dog’s legs are just asleep, but the symptoms don’t go away. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD in dogs), spinal stroke in dogs, and degenerative myelopathy in dogs all fall into this category.
Paw pad injuries
Holding up a paw, limping, or licking and chewing the foot commonly accompany a paw pad injury in dogs. Some common paw pad problems include cracked paw pads in dogs, burns, cuts, flaps, punctures, and foreign bodies.
Problems with the toes or toenails
Conditions that cause painful toes, like interdigital cysts in dogs and broken toes in dogs can mimic a dog’s leg falling asleep. The same goes for when a dog rips a nail off (but a bleeding nail might give it away.)
Orthopedic conditions
In addition to arthritis, other orthopedic problems can cause a dog to limp and look like the leg is asleep. Some of the more common ones include torn ACL in dogs, luxating patella in dogs, and hip dysplasia in dogs.
Dogs’ legs do fall asleep, but that isn’t always the culprit
Dogs, like humans can certainly have a leg that falls asleep. However, it is important to be able to differentiate a dog whose leg is asleep from one who actually has a different problem.
Remember that many of the conditions that can be mistaken for a leg falling asleep have symptoms that may come and go. And the signs may even be more evident after a period of rest. But it would be unusual for a dog to have a leg fall asleep repeatedly. And asleep legs should wake up quickly.
If your dog has recurring or prolonged symptoms of a leg falling asleep, it is best to give the vet a call. That way he or she can figure out what is going on. The sooner you have an answer, the sooner your dog should be able to get back to comfortably doing the things he or she loves.
Has your dog’s leg fallen asleep?
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