Why is my dog's back stiff? He won't play or run like he used to.

There could be many reasons that he has slowed down and doesn't seem as active. It could be related to arthritis, neck/back pain, endocrine disease, infections, kidney/liver disease, parasites, etc. Have a vet take a look at him to help determine the cause. Your vet can run lab-work and take x-rays to help diagnose and treat. He may need an anti-inflammatory and joint supplements to help.

It seems she is hiring somewhere. At her age arthritis can be starting but I would suspect a back injury or a soft tissue strain or sprain. The best thing is actually cage rest. No running or jumping, no playing even if she feels better after a few days. She needs rest for at least 2 weeks. I would advise getting her seen by your vet as they have medicine to help make her more comfortable and can localize he spot that is hurting to help you prevent it again in the future

Limping means that Chief is in pain, and that may be why he's not his normal self. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Poor Cooper! From your description, my main concern is that Cooper may be experiencing some mild neck and/or back pain that flares up intermittently. At this point, I do recommend taking Cooper back to his vet for a repeat exam. Some dogs can be extremely stoic, even while experiencing pain, as a defense mechanism. Your vet will be able to thoroughly evaluate Cooper's back and neck to determine if he is showing any sign of discomfort and prescribe pain medication if necessary. Until you can take him to the vet, confine Cooper to a large crate or small room to prevent him from running, jumping or playing, as this can exacerbate any back injury or pain. I hope this helps and that he feels better soon!

I am very sorry to hear that Jake seems less eager to jump then he used to be. This is a very common problem with older small- medium dogs. Though it is difficulty to say exactly what is the cause, I would be worried about osteoarthritis in Jake's hip joints. A vet would be able to diagnose with a physical examination as well as potentially using an X-ray to visualise the changes in Jake's lower back, Such as slipped discs, knees, and hip joints. Because Jake seems otherwise very well in himself I would advise adding a supplement to his diet to help with joint health. There are several of these on the market currently. Look for Glucosamine & Chondroitin in the labels, and always buy a pet formulated brand, as doses are different for humans. I would also advise a change in his exercise regime to promote lean muscle mass development. Muscle wastage is a common contributing factor in older dogs. More frequent, but shorter walks will benefit Jake. For example, two 20 minute walks, One in the morning and one in the evening If you notice that Jake is particularly sore after a walk you can apply a cool compress to hip area I hope this answer was helpful and if you believe that Jake is not benefiting from these tactics I advise a trip to the veterinarian to ensure noting more is occuing.

Poor Axle! This definitely sounds like a neck or back injury. They can tweak their back from running too fast or turning/jumping the wrong way. This could be an inflamed intervertebral disc or a pulled muscle. I would strictly confine him for a week. I would also have your vet check him out to confirm this is the problem. Your vet will be able to get him started on some pain anti-inflammatory meds to help heal his injury and make him feel better. If he looks like he is labored breathing, his gums are not pink, or he is walking really wobbly (drunk walking), then I would take him to the emergency clinic as This could be a serious problem and need to be addressed immediately. I hope this helps and that sweet baby starts to feel better soon.

I'm sorry that Teddy is painful. There are many reasons he might be painful. If he is normally a very active little guy, he could have fallen or run into something to cause some kind of injury. He could have pain in his legs or his neck or back as spinal pain will also cause dogs to not want to be too active. Disk disease is a very common condition that can cause pain, although he is a little young for that. There could be an abscess or other type of infection starting to form. If he seems very painful now, I would recommend taking him to a veterinarian for an examination to determine where he is painful. They may recommend x-rays of the painful area to look for fractures or other type of injuries. You can also restrict his activity to a kennel so that he can rest. Please do not give him any over-the-counter human pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen or Tylenol as these can have serious side effects in animals.