Rescued Samoyed cries when I scratch his back. Is it emotional pain?

I am not sure how old your pet is but if there are no external punctures or rashes to be found, then it is possible that his bones are the source of pain. Arthritis is the number one reason for pain in the lower back and hip area. Also the armpit area is the shoulder, which is another source of arthritic pain. If he is a younger dog than some inflammation of the bone is possible (i.e. Hypertrophic Osteopathy or Hypertrophic Osetodystrophy, Degenerative joint disease). All of these conditions are diagnosed with a radiograph that your vet can perform in the hospital. If your pet is older you can try some joint supplements to see if this makes a difference. My top brands are Dasuquin and Cosequin.

I would be very concerned about this level of pain and would recommend an exam by a veterinarian. It could be neurological, a disc problem, a strain in the bones or muscles of the neck or possibly an infection somewhere in that area. The vet may recommend x-rays to get a diagnosis. Please do not give any human pain medication as these can cause serious side effects in animals. It is best to get pain medication that has been prescribed by your veterinarian that is safe for dogs. I hope this helps and that Miky feels better soon!

Jojo could be just a little more anxious right now since there is so much going on in the household. On the other hand, he could be hurting somewhere like his neck/back. I would rest him and see if he continues to act painful. When you go to pick him up, make sure you don't startle him as this can also cause them to yelp. If he continues to act painful, I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to do a thorough orthopedic and spinal exam to localize the pain. Your vet will also be able to do x-rays if needed. I hope this helps!

It could be arthritis but it could also be a soft tissue injury or something else entirely. I can't really say much just based on one yelp. Where on his body were you touching when he yelped? His head? Could be an ear problem. His neck or back? Could be a soft tissue injury or arthritis. I don't suggest you do anything but keep him calm, warm and comfortable. Minimize activity so he doesn't continue to aggravate the situation and just get him to the vet when you can especially if he continues to cry out like he is in pain. Over the counter medications are really not recommended and can cause more problems if you don't know what you are treating.

It sounds like she should be examined by a vet to determine the source of her pain. She could have neck or back pain, arthritis, abdominal pain, etc. and your vet should be able to localize the pain and decide the best way to treat. She may need an anti-inflammatory and your vet can prescribe. Do not use any human OTC pain relievers as they can be toxic to dogs.

Just because you were unable to elicit a pain response from Chapman does not necessarily mean he isn't uncomfortable or painful somewhere in the body. I am glad to hear that he seems generally happy and healthy right now and is doing his normal thing. If this continues, you can certainly monitor at home for any other negative symptoms. If the crying or whining continues with consistency for more than a day I would definitely get him checked to make sure nothing serious is going on. Hope this makes sense.

I'm so sorry that we are just now getting to your question. We are a little behind on answering questions. I agree with the symptoms you are describing that Scruffy's neck may be bothering him. We can see bulging discs that can cause pain anywhere along the back and neck. I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Scruffy to determine if his neck is painful and determine the best treatment for him. In the meantime, I would recommend keeping Scruffy quiet and not allow any running or jumping which might make his pain worse. If at any point Scruffy is unable to walk normally, it is a medical emergency and he needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Scruffy feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.