My dog has a stiff neck, can't turn head, and walks sideways. Why?

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.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Wobbler's syndrome is instability or compression of the spinal cord in the neck, leading to neck pain or lack of communication between the brain and the limbs, leading to an 'ataxic' or drunk looking gait/walking. From the image Pablo looks like he has something wrong or some pain, however I cannot tell from the image if it is Wobblers. I recommend a visit to your vet, or a consult with a neuro or surgical specialist. An MRI or CT is usually required for diagnosis. Best of luck with Pablo!

It sounds like Chuck potentially has some neck pain. This could be due to many different issues, but most common would be a slipped disc. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If he is really painful then he should be treated by and emergency clinic veterinarian tonight. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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!

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.

I would recommend having Dougal examined by a vet ASAP. These symptoms could be caused by muscle strain, or could be associated with a slipped disc or other serious musculoskeletal issue. The vet will do an exam and may need x-rays to look at the neck and spine. They can prescribe pain medications or other mediations based on what they think is going on.