Why is my dog shaking, hiding, and yelping despite normal vet tests?

Hello. Yes, it is time to have some additional diagnostics done. I would definitely recommend starting with x-rays of the head & neck region to rule out cervical arthritis. Blood work & a urinalysis would give a good indication if there is any infection or organ dysfunction ongoing. If necessary, a spinal tap & possibly an MRI may be necessary to diagnose her, but let's start simply & see what an x-ray & blood work show you. I do hope you can have her seen soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor Delilha. It sounds like there could be something serious going on, and it may be with her neck or back. I think she needs further testing to figure out what is causing her symptoms, so I would take her back into the vet in the morning for x-rays.

It sounds like she should be examined by a vet to determine the source of her pain. She could have neck or back pain, arthritis, abdominal pain, etc. and your vet should be able to localize the pain and decide the best way to treat. She may need an anti-inflammatory and your vet can prescribe. Do not use any human OTC pain relievers as they can be toxic to dogs.

Ruling out an underlying health issue such as pain or illness is always a good first step when your pet experiences a sudden behavior change. As seven is the start of the senior years, it is possible there is some pain from laying in the bed, or arthritis causing problems. if Milou checks out health, trying to find if there is a pattern to the "attacks" may be helpful- does it happen the same time every night? Same spot? Same triggers? Is the neighbor arriving home in a noisy car at that time, etc? This may help you figure out what is triggering it so you can make some adjustments- IE moving the bed somewhere quieter, making sure your dog is fast asleep prior to that time, getting out excess energy before bed, feeding a treat to keep the stomach from becoming too empty and causing growling/discomfort, etc. If you can't seem to find any pattern at all, taking a video of the even to bring to your vet or a local trainer may be helpful in better identifying what is going on, and finding a solution.

If the kyphosis is new, I would be concerned the symptoms are related. since Nutmeg is not responding to treatment, I recommend to preform further diagnostics. Based upon your description, I would be concerned Nutmeg has abdominal pain, spinal pain or perhaps pressure on her internal organs. Top differentials include: pancreatitis hepatitis (many potential causes) foreign object in gastrointestinal tract intervertebral disc disease or injury internal abscess fluid in abdomen tumor/cancer in abdomen Some potential diagnostics including imaging (ultrasound would be preferred over x-rays), bloodwork and a blood test specifically for the pancreatic enzymes like a CPL. I hope this gets figured out quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Grace! If you can't find an obvious cause for anxiety, it's best to have her checked out for pain as pain can make pets behavior this way as well. Pain can be in many forms including back pain, pain from the pancreas or bladder pain. Since she can't talk and tell you why she is acting this way, it's best to play it safe. Try to keep her quiet and keep the house quiet and non-stimulating and pay close attention to her eating/drinking/bathroom habits until you get her in for her exam. I hope she starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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!