My dog can't walk, has fever, back pain, and is shaking. What's wrong?

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is hard one... it is difficult to say exactly what is happening to Ace here without doing an exam first. This behavior you mentioned could be many things- it could be spinal pain, focal seizures, or another neurological condition. I would highly recommend Ace see his veterinarian for an exam soon. You may also want to capture a video of these episodes on your phone to show to your veterinarian as this may help aide in a diagnosis.

May sounds quite uncomfortable! A hunched back stance and trembling can often occur with some back conditions, such as intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), discospondylitis or fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE). May should be examined by her vet and assessed for the presence of neurological deficits as well as the location of the pain, as this will help to guide her treatment. Until you are able to take May to her vet, keep her confined to a very small room with no furniture or to a crate. She should not be running, jumping, or playing because this could exacerbate any back condition or injury. Do not give her any medication - there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs.

Poor Phoebe! Shaking like this is a common sign of pain in dogs, especially when there is no other obvious reason (such as fear or cold) for her to be doing this. Many dogs who have back pain due to a herniated disc or other problem act very much like this, so this would be my first suspicion based on your description. She could also be uncomfortable due to abdominal pain, or some other injury that is not visible from the outside. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam today if possible - he/she can do x-rays or other testing if needed to help determine the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment.

Poor baby. It sounds like he may have injured something. It is common for them to injure their back or neck and act this way. I would have your vet look st him today. Your vet will be able to localize the pain and give him the appropriate pain meds to help him feel better. If it is his lower back, you vet may also prescribe him a stool softener so it is easier for him to have a bowel movement. Your vet will also be able to do X-rays if needed. I do not recommend to give any human pain meds as most of these are toxic to dogs. I hope this helps and he starts to feel better soon!

Poor Zeke! I'm so sorry he's having a hard time. It sounds like he has some back and/or neck pain. The biggest concern I would have as to what may be causing his pain would be intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), where the shock absorbing discs between the back bones bulges and causes compression on the spinal cord. This causes great pain and if the problem progresses, can potentially lead to paralysis. It could also be a muscle injury, an infection along his spine (diskospondylitis) , or even a tumor causing pain. Please avoid giving him pain mediation at home, as this will limit the safe options your vet has for pain when you take him to the vet. Additionally, if your vet finds that steroids are indicated, it could set up a problem if he's received aspirin or any other OTC pain med or anti-inflammatory at home. Keep him in a confined space, and take him to your vet tomorrow, or better yet seek emergency care tonight if its available; so that he can start getting some pain relief. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It could be that Tyson is in pain, and it sounds like he is quite painful if he cannot walk up or down stairs, and struggles to stand up and lay down. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic for dogs and can be fatal if given. Because this has come on so suddenly and he sounds like he's not doing well, I think he should see a vet now. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Best of luck.

I am so sorry to hear about Peppa. Her symptoms are very concerning. If she is unable to walk/use her legs we would worry about things like a herniated disk in her back, a fibrocartilaginous embolism, a stroke, and a traumatic injury. Some of these conditions may improve with conservative treatment by a vet such as steroids, pain medication, and muscle relaxers. I would be concerned she is shivering due to discomfort. I would recommend bringing her into hte vet as soon as possible. Unfortunately we cannot advise you on treatment for her because without examining her we cannot know for certain what is wrong with her. For ideas on paying for veterinary costs you can consult http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html