My dog is hunching back, walking slow, and shaking. What's wrong?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maya. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Neck and back pain are common in small breed dogs. This is very painful and can cause shaking, panting and a reluctance to jump. Her veterinarian can detect this on her exam or another problem if that may be the case. In the meantime, keep her quiet. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

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 Ace! It sounds like he needs to see the veterinarian today. The shaking may be related to a fever or pain. When pets exhibit back pain, it can be from a compressed disc, a slipped disc, discospondlylitis (an infection), a broken vertebrae, a tumor or an infection within the spinal canal. All of these conditions can result in severe pain and they all require treatment. Your veterinarian will need an x-ray to look at the spine. They can also provide medications to make Ace feel better. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. I am sorry to hear that Shiko isn't feeling well. A cause of a hunched back and weakness (especially if seen more in the back legs) is something called IVDD (intervertebral disc disease). This can be very painful and would result in normal bloodwork and normal eating/drinking. To diagnose this properly you need a CT, however it can sometimes be seen with radiographs. I would discuss this as a possible cause with your vet. If this is the case pain medications and strict cage rest is recommended for 4-6weeks, or possible surgery if it gets worse. Talk to your vet about this. Good luck with Shiko.

I'm sorry to hear that Mayhem hasn't been feeling well. The signs that you describe - reluctance to use stairs, pain on manipulation of the tail, not pooping (likely due to pain while posturing/squatting), lethargy, and a decreased appetite - are all most suspicious for a sign of back pain. This could be a result of a soft tissue injury while playing, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), fibrocartilaginous emboli (FCE), among others. Regardless of the cause, it sounds as though Mayhem is quite painful and would greatly benefit from an urgent trip to the vet for an exam and pain medications. Do not give any pain medications at home (including aspirin), and only give medications prescribed by his vet as most human pain medications are not safe for use in dogs. I hope that he feels better soon!

Hello! That crouched stance is usually a sign of either back or abdominal pain, which can also cause decreased behavior. I would recommend having him get a physical exam from a veterinarian. If they are able to localize simple arthritis pain, they may be able to give him some anti-inflammatory or pain medications. If they are worried about a serious back problem or abdominal pain, they will likely recommend x-rays to look at his intestinal tract and spine and possibly bloodwork to check his major organ functions. Then, they can make additional testing or treatment recommendations based on what they find. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

It could be abdominal pain as well as spinal pain. Sometimes spinal disease can have vague symptoms such as shivering or shaking. I would recommend that you have her checked over as there are some medications that will ease the pain immediately but it is essential to distinguish wether the symptoms described are related to a muscular condition,to osteoarthritis or to something more serious like an herniated disc in her spine. This last case is the worst scenario as it can worsen very quickly and determine paralysis. I hope you can have Ebby checked over ASAP and that it is nothing too serious.