My dog has neck pain, cries, and trouble eating. Is it pinched nerve?

He may have some spinal cord problems, especially with the cervical spinal cord, such as a slipped disk or arthritic changes that press on nerves and are painful. Ob is apparently very much in pain and therefore should be seen by a veterinarian tonight. The vet will do a thorough physical exam, palpate the spine to find where the pain is coming from, and also do a neurological exam and then x-rays. He will then discuss the exam findings with you and possible treatment. Your dog will get pain medicine and other medications as necessary. Dogs with pain often do not eat, and eating also may be painful as he has to chew, open his mouth and move the jaws. This may be more painful than lapping up water.

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!

This sounds like a neurological problem affecting the spinal cord. Intervertebral disc extrusion and spinal cord infarct are most likely at this stage given initial pain and clinical signs. An immediate check up is needed ti confirm this suspicion and investigate and treat appropriately. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

I am sorry Taurie is not feeling well. However, a nerve/muscle or disc issue can look very similar in a dog. Typically they have range of motion issues with the neck and shoulder regions. If taurie is having any neurologic changes like knuckling that is more consistent with a disc injury. I typically recommend an x-ray of the neck to make sure nothing looks abnormal. If the x-ray is normal and no neurologic signs are detected try cage rest and pain medication. A ruptured disc is diagnosed by a CT or MRI so it is often a secondary choic. hope that helps

Yes, severe neck pain probably due to pinched nerve is the most likely explanation for this posture and behaviour. An immediate check up is required to confirm this clinical suspicion and treat appropriately.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Prancer. Poor boy. I suspect he is in pain if he won't turn his neck to one side. Unfortunately there are no OTC pain medications you can give him. Many human ones are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I think it's best to take him into a vet today or tomorrow to get this checked out. I hope this helps!

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.