Why is my dog's neck stiff, twitching, and causing her pain?

Poor Millymoo! Your best option is to take her to an emergency clinic and if she is in that much pain or distress, I think you should go. If you cannot get her to an emergency clinic tonight then things you can do at home include a gentle massage for five minutes. You can do this two to three times. You can also apply a warm, not hot, compress twice. This can help to relax the muscles. If you have any omega-3 fatty acid supplements for dogs, this can act as a natural anti-inflammatory. It will not be as strong as the medication from your veterinarian but it may help. The key is to be gentle and not stress her. Also, she needs strict exercise restriction. So no walks, running, jumping, stairs or getting on the furniture. Do not walk her on a neck lead, only use a harness. Best of luck.

This can be the result of a bulging intervertebral disc in his neck, which is a neurological problem. This can be serious problem as dogs can become very painful and sometimes paralyzed if the disc ruptures. I recommend a veterinary exam and medication to reduce the neck inflammation and they will also probably give muscle relaxers to improve the head and neck movement. They may also recommend X-rays. In the meantime you should not use a collar as pulling on the neck may make this worse. I recommend using a harness for walks. Placing a hot compress on the neck and giving Plato a gentle neck and shoulder massage may reduce the muscle spasms and improve the head and neck movement. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Plato.

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!

It sounds like Bella may be in pain. If she doesn't want to go upstairs, I suspect she may have pain in her back, hips, or hind legs. Rest her tonight, and have her seen by a vet in the morning. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. If she is in pain, thee vet can prescribe her safe pain medication.

This episodes could be due to spinal pain that can give intermittent signs when a nerve is ''impinged''. Typically dynamic intervertebral disc extrusion can cause this presentation. If it was just a soft tissue injury (strained muscle) usually with rest and some anti-inflammatories the signs can recede in about a week time. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Hope this answer was helpful, but 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

This is very suspicious for a lesion in the spinal cord, such as a prolapsed disk or a sprain or other trauma or condition that impacts the nerves exiting the vertebrae, She may also be suffering from meningitis or encephalitis, as this can cause nausea and vomiting and stiffness of the neck. Please take Charlotte to a veterinarian or Pet ER now. Blood tests will need to be done and possibly x rays. This is obviously a painful condition, so she will definitely need pain medicine .

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Oh poor Angel! She sounds very painful. Neck or back pain does really hurt when the dog moves. The lump just may be a muscle or an illusion on how she is holding her head due tot he pain. I treat neck pain with anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants and pain medictions. The dog needs to be strictly rested for several weeks, this means no running, jumping, playing with other dogs and leash walks only. Angle should be seen by your Vet for an exam and medications. I wish Angle a speedy recovery!