Cooper knows exactly where he wants to go.

His bed is only a short distance across the shelter’s indoor recovery run.

For the seven-year-old Corgi, it should be an ordinary walk.

He starts normally enough.

One front paw moves forward.

Then the other.

His short hind legs follow.

Cooper keeps his eyes on the bed.

A few more steps.

Then something changes.

His back end begins to sink.

One hind paw folds awkwardly beneath him.

The other leg buckles a second later.

Cooper’s hips reach the floor.

But his front legs do not stop.

One step.

Then another.

His chest keeps moving toward the bed while both hind legs trail behind him.

For several seconds, Cooper looks like two different dogs joined at the middle.

The front half is still walking.

The back half can no longer follow.

His Mind Hasn’t Given Up on the Walk

That is what makes Cooper’s condition so striking.

He still wants to move.

He still recognizes where his bed is.

He still starts toward it without hesitation.

His front legs remain active and purposeful.

The problem happens farther back.

Cooper is living with spinal disease that is progressively affecting the function of his hind limbs.

His desire to walk is arriving faster than his body can carry it out.

Cooper’s Long Back Makes Spinal Problems Especially Important

Corgis have long bodies supported by relatively short legs.

Like Dachshunds and some other breeds with similar body proportions, they can be affected by intervertebral disc disease.

Between the vertebrae of the spine are discs that normally help absorb movement and provide flexibility.

When a disc degenerates, material can protrude or herniate and affect the spinal cord.

The consequences vary widely.

Some dogs experience pain.

Some become unsteady.

Others develop weakness or loss of function in the hind limbs.

Severe cases can become medical or surgical emergencies.

Cooper’s individual prognosis depends on exactly what is happening in his spine and how much neurologic function remains.

His Weakness Did Not Necessarily Begin With Complete Collapse

Neurologic changes can appear gradually in some dogs.

A paw may begin scuffing.

Toenails may wear unevenly.

The hindquarters may sway.

A foot can land upside down or take longer to correct itself.

The dog may stumble during turns.

Then the legs begin buckling more frequently.

By the time Cooper’s hindquarters are visibly dropping during a short walk, the problem is impossible to overlook.

His Front Legs Are Still Strong

Cooper compensates with them.

When the back legs begin failing, his shoulders pull harder.

His front paws grip the surface.

His chest moves forward.

That compensation allows Cooper to continue moving even after his hindquarters reach the floor.