involuntary leg kicking

Question
QUESTION: Hanna, my nine year old female boxer has begun involuntarily kicking up her rear leg without touching her.  She may be walking when all of the sudden it starts kicking and she continues to walk.  It usually lasts for just seconds, but may stop and then start again soon after.  It started probably a year ago that she would flinch and her skin on her back would crawl if she was touched between her chest and stomach.  We brought this to the vet's attention during checkups and again during a recent surgery for black moles which were not cancerous, thank God.  Our very experienced vet is baffled by this, thinking it could be arthritis or a nerve related problem.  It's used to be only when we touched her below her chest, but now the leg starts kicking more and more frequently all by itself.  Other than this, our dog is in very good health and at a perfect weight, eats fine and gets regular walks. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. We are worried and wonder if you've heard of this before.  I'm afraid we may have to take her in for some expensive testing which we will do if necessary (though the vet has not suggested testing yet), but any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thanks.

ANSWER: It sounds neurological.

Ask your vet for a neuro-vet to test her.

I could be wrong, but neurological problems can cause involuntary twitching and movements as well as walking in circles and other odd symptoms.

She is old and at end of her life stage-- please dear, be prepared. Make her as comfortable as possible in every way, and spoil her rotten for the time she has left.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jannie:
I really appreciate your quick response and I will be talking to our vet regarding your suggestion.  Are you a boxer breeder?  I found it interesting that you said she's near the end of her life.  Our vet has repeatedly said he feels our dog has several good years left unless cancer gets her.  He's told us that she will continue to slow down and in a few years arthritis and old age will cause her to one day not be able to get up and we'll have some heartbreaking decisions to make.  He's a very respected and well-known vet in our county and he told us this with tears in his eyes.  So we are conscious that we must be prepared, but I'm not feeling like nine years old is near the end of her life. I'm just curious, have you had any experience with boxers living a quality life for 12,13 or more years?  I'm well aware that boxers are puppies forever and it's their bodies, not their spirit that will give out.  But I'd like to believe she may still have a few good years left.  

Answer
Yes, I breed.

Boxers average life expectancy is 10 years. Of course, there are exceptions; 11, 12, 13 years.

But 10 years is average and your girl is 9 years old and considered old; she is 63 years old in human years.

I would image she has arthritis already and am still concerned about the legs kicking for no apparent reason. Please see a neurologist.

I cannot think of anything else but the brain, as there is no disease that comes to mind that has the hind legs kicking symptom.

Brain misfiring can tell the muscles to do things that they are not supose to do and is involuntary to your dog.