Pets Keepers Guide Forums

My 7ish year old American Pitbull Terrier recently started hesitating when jumping onto the bed, couch, or in the car. To my knowledge she hasn't missed and fallen or anything that would make her scared. My couch and bed are very low and have been in the same spot for 5 years. She's walking, eating, drinking, and otherwise acting perfectly normal. She still pulls me uncontrollably when we walk so I know it isn't a hip or muscle issue, or at least I don't feel like it is.
She has had some inner ear problems for years but since she had the wash surgery she hasn't had any ear infections in about a year. I keep her ears clean and have drops to use when she does start to get a brown/dark substance in her ears. I can hear a bit of fluid in one of her ears when I rub them but she hasn't been swimming this year and at bath time I am extremely careful to not get water in her ears so I'm not sure why I'm hearing the fluid but it's not near as bad as it has been in the past.
So my only though so far is she may be a bit off balance? I even trimmed her toenails to make sure that wasn't bothering her. She has recently gotten the hair like growth on her paw pads but it supposedly doesn't bother them and it doesn't seem to bother her. I can't afford to go to the vet right now as I lost my job and we can barely eat. In fact the dogs had the leftover spaghetti last night and I had a half a banana sandwich. They normally don't eat table food but it was all I had and I'll go hungry before they do. I'm just worried about her and pray it's just some simple little thing. Any advice?

If you are hearing a squishy sound when you dry her after a bath, she could have gotten water in her ear and it is setting her equilibrium off. If you have not yet used the drops you have for her ears, you might think about trying that. I hope things get better for you soon. I know what it is like to be out of work and having a hard time keeping the ends together. You are in my prayers.

It does sound like she might be having ear issues. I would start using the drops in her ears as a precaution The hairy growth on her paws,,, have you tried to carefully cut it out? It might be part of the problem and it would not hurt to try removing it. I hope you find work soon. I know how hard it is to be out of a job, especially when you have pets to feed. We are lucky in that there are a couple of sources here for food for pets when you cannot feed them. Our local Humane Society usually has excess donated food that they hand out to those who need it.