My dog's head bobs walking. Is it arthritis, elbow, or leg pain?

I do see some abnormal opacity in the elbow joint where the arrow is, so I would have to agree with your vet here. It is not possible to zoom in on x-rays that are copied here however, so its best to get a copy of the x-rays on a CD and then having them reviewed by a 2nd opinion doctor that way. Or you can ask your vet to send these to a radiologist who is well trained on picking up on small details that the untrained eye can miss. Another option is to treat medically for a minimum of 2 weeks, and if there is no improvement, then you know that is not just a muscle sprain or mild injury, and that elbow dysplasia is more likely the underlying cause. Doing a process of elimination, while still treating the pets pain, is a common thing that owners do when they are looking for a more conservative approach. If this is indeed elbow dysplasia, then I would recommend a referral to an orthopedic specialist if you want to pursue treatment. Treatment for this condition is often surgery. Poor guy. I hope that you can get him some relief soon. Best wishes and take care!

It's very likely that this is a [painful condition](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-most-painful-conditions-in-dogs), as evidenced by the fact that he doesn't want to hold his head up. It could be due to a sprained muscle, a pinched nerve, or something more serious involving the vertebrae in the neck. Most of the time these situations do not resolve on their own, and I find that my patients need pain medications and potentially muscle relaxers, as well as strict cage rest for at least 2 weeks. In addition, you'll want your vet to do a thorough exam to rule out [Intervertebral Disc Disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/intervertebral-disc-disease/) (IVDD) that can occur if there is pressure being put on the spinal cord by a disk. Until you can get an appointment with your vet today or tomorrow, I would get [a harness](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-collars-leashes-and-harnesses/dog-harnesses) instead of a collar so as not to put any additional pressure on the area.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly neck or back pain. It could still be pain associated with a leg even if nothing seems wrong with them. I recommend that you have Chico evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics include radiographs. Treatment would be based on findings. At the very least they can prescribe pain control medications to make Chico feel better. In the meantime, reduce his activity as much as possible as that in itself can make a big difference. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Wobbler's syndrome is instability or compression of the spinal cord in the neck, leading to neck pain or lack of communication between the brain and the limbs, leading to an 'ataxic' or drunk looking gait/walking. From the image Pablo looks like he has something wrong or some pain, however I cannot tell from the image if it is Wobblers. I recommend a visit to your vet, or a consult with a neuro or surgical specialist. An MRI or CT is usually required for diagnosis. Best of luck with Pablo!

Hi there! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to pain or discomfort. Given his age, arthritis is certainly a possible concern. Have Scooter evaluated by your veterinarian to further assess this possibility. If he does have arthritis, there are supplements and medications that can help with this tremendously. Good luck and have a nice day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear Trick is uncomfortable. If his stifle is swollen or tender we would be concerned about an ACL injury, a sprain or muscle pull, or another ligament injury. If his hip is uncomfortable he could also have aggravated a congenital dysplasia issue, or pulled a muscle or ligament. If it does not improve or worsens after 24-48hours of rest, I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian to determine the underlying cause for his discomfort. I would touch base with your regular veterinarian before altering his medications. Good luck!

This depends on the age of your dog. In older dogs, this is a classic sign of hip dysplasia. In young patients with hip dysplasia, the hip joint is often "lax" or loose. The ball of the hip does not fit well into the socket. The actual formation of the ball of the hip joint may be improperly formed at the neck or head. Young patients often have the appearance of "bunny hopping" when running as this more evenly distributes weight across both back legs. They can also be intermittently lame, like your dog. They may have trouble rising or you may hear a click when he does or walks. We also see the weight being held more on the front limbs than the rear (leaning forward) when standing. In an older dog, shifting leg lameness is a sign of arthritis. Without further information, I cannot tell you what is causing this in your dog. Depending on the cause, medication can be useful to help the signs improve but a veterinary exam would be needed.