My dog cries when picked up under ribs, but acts normal. What's wrong?

Poor Pipi!! I wonder if he may have injured his ribs or even injured his spine around his chest area. Poodles can have fine ribs, so if he fell he may have fractured one. Jumping on or off furniture or stairs can also strain the muscles that run along the spine (epaxial muscles) causing a very sore back. It is also important to check there are no injuries to his skin - an insect bite or sting may cause sudden pain. Given the severity of his crying, I would suggest you take him to the nearest emergency vet for an exam, so that they can identify the location and cause of his pain. Please do not give Pipi any human pain medicines, as many can be toxic to dogs even in small amounts. I hope he recovers very soon.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Blue! Common causes of pain when small dogs are picked up are: neck and back pain for forelimb pain. If this is new and he is also jumping up less, shivering or tremoring and not using the stairs I would take him in to the Vet this week for an exam as that indicates pain. Other reasons for crying when picked up is arthritis or being scared or surprised. So try to go slowly and gently if he is otherwise acting normal. Good luck!

It could be a muscular injury or sprain. I would leave the area alone and monitor for the next few hours, if she seems to be in discomfort best to have her checked over so can get some pain relief . If she is already in quite a bit of pain best to have her checked over sooner rather than later.

Poor Joey. The two possibilities here are that it hurts or that he scares him when you pick him up. I'd lean towards pain from your description, but keep fear in mind since your vet didn't find any pain. One area pain can "hide" during a physical exam is in the spine or neck - vet's don't always check this area carefully. I would recommend a recheck visit, since it's still going on with no changes to see if anything is different on physical exam this time, and ask if doing a trial of pain meds for around 5 days would be appropriate. If pain meds don't help, experiment with never picking him up to see if that makes him happier. Good luck!

It may be because you are picking him up incorrectly or it could be due to an orthopedic issue. When you pick him up, place a hand behind his back legs on his rump and the other hand under his chest. He should not be picked up by the scruff or by a limb. Front limb pain may be due to elbow, shoulder or neck issues. Hind limb pain can be hips, knees or lower back. If the pain persists, have Chico examined and xrayed by your veterinarian to diagnose the cause.

It's hard to know where the problem is exactly and what is causing it, but Charlie is in pain, no doubt about it. i would recommend taking him to the vet ASAP, it could be a slipped disk in the spine, a trauma or an internal condition and as the pain sounds severe it is in my opinion quite urgent.

Your dog needs veterinary care immediately. He could have a problem with the vertebrae in his back, a fracture or tendon injury to a leg, or severe abdominal pain. A full exam by a vet will help to zero in on the site of the problem, and then appropriate treatment can be given.