My dog has neck pain and can't lower his head. Any home remedies?

How long it takes to heal, if at all, depends on the injury the neck has sustained. If this is a muscle injury then that doesn't take more than a week or two to heal completely in most cases to heal. Fractures along the cervical spine, can take months, if at all, to heal without any type of surgical intervention. So I think it is best to find out what type of injury your pet has with an x-ray. Hopefully the injury can be seen with this diagnostic test; however in some situations more advanced testing (CT, MRI) is required to visualize small or nervous system injuries that wouldn't otherwise show up on standard x-ray film. Hopefully this is just a muscle sprain and your pet makes a full recover within a week or two.

If Ella can't lower her neck to eat, I suspect it's her neck that's in pain. I would elevate her bowl to make it easier for her to eat, and then have her seen by a vet in the morning. She may benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question Marley. Lowering his head to eat should not result in pain from his knee problems. I recommend that he sees his veterinarian to have his neck and back assessed for pain. This is common in small breed dogs and would be a more likely cause. In the meantime, carry him as much as possible and you can raise his food and water dishes so he doesn't have to reach down. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

If he hurt his back and is not able to bend his neck down to eat or drink then you should elevate his food and water bowls up off the ground. Hopefully, your vet prescribed an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, and pain medications to help make him more comfortable. If you aren't seeing any improvement then you should call your vet and give him/her an update. Your vet may be able to add or change the medications. Hope he feels better soon!

I am so sorry! If the dog is unconscious there is a good chance there has been fatal injuries and without medical attention nothing can be done. If you cannot take him to a vet, I would just keep him quiet and still. You can try to support him by syringe feeding him food and water to ensure he gets nutrition. Do not give him any human pain meds as most are toxic to dogs. You can ice the area for 10 minutes three times per day for a couple of days then use a warm compress if he is doing better. If there is an open wound you can put Neosporin on it twice a day and try not to let him scratch at it. Just know without medical attention he may pass away on his own if the injuries are severe. Without me seeing it, there isn't much I can advise. There isn't any good home remedies for severe neck or spinal injuries. I am sorry and I hope he starts to feel better!

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.