Why is my dog walking with his head down and yelping in pain?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly neck or back pain. It could still be pain associated with a leg even if nothing seems wrong with them. I recommend that you have Chico evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics include radiographs. Treatment would be based on findings. At the very least they can prescribe pain control medications to make Chico feel better. In the meantime, reduce his activity as much as possible as that in itself can make a big difference. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello, sorry to hear about Rocky. It sounds like he could have back or neck pain. Other signs may include walking very gingerly, carrying his head low, avoiding stairs and not moving onto furniture, and yelping/crying when being picked up. You should rest Rocky until he can be seen by his veterinarian. This is done by keeping him restricted in his crate, not allowing him to jump or use stairs, carrying him to go to the bathroom but then bringing him back in and do not allow him to run or play outdoors. Use a harness in the meantime and avoid neck leashes. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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 contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Rock. Poor boy. It sounds like he is in a lot of pain, and it's quite concerning that now he's having trouble walking with his back legs. He could be arching back to relieve pressure off another area of his body that is painful. Tonight, rest him. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. Take him into the vet first thing in the morning. 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. Best of luck.

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.

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.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Roki. I would ask your veterinarian to take x-rays of his spine. There are certain changes such as collapsed disc spaces and calcification of intervertebral disc spaces that are consistent disc disease. A dog can be sore from an injection and have swelling in the injection site. This should resolve within 24 hours. I hope this information helps!