My Yorkie whimpers after jumping. Is he hurt? Should I delay dental?

Poor Max! Max could have a soft tissue injury such as a sprain or muscle strain, or it's also possible he could have fractured something. Max should be seen by a vet to determine the source of the injury. For now, keep Max as quiet and calm as possible. Don't let him jump on/off furniture, and keep his walking to a minimum. If he's not using that leg normally within the next day or two, he needs to be seen by the vet. Do *NOT* give him anything for pain. There are no human pain meds that are safe and effective for dogs, and anything you give him could conflict with a more effective medication that the vet prescribes. Hope this helps and he feels better soon!

Chronic pain in a three year old Yorkie should definitely be investigated more closely by your primary care vet. Back issues are quite common in small breed dogs, usually related to disk disease in the spinal column. This can be verified with an x-ray. Your vet will also be able to perform a thorough orthopedic exam to try and see if the pain is arising from elsewhere. Pain and be treated with various medications, including anti-inflammatories, opioids, and muscle relaxants. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for dogs in these cases is rest them. This means no more jumping, no more running, and no more rough housing for a couple of weeks to allow for any healing that might be needed. I realize this might be frustrating for both Lou and you, but it potentially might be for the best. Let me know if I was helpful and if there is anything else I can do for you.

Ideally, I would take him on in. If he is painful enough that he's trying to bite you, getting him in sooner rather than later will get him some relief. If he is still eating and drinking, and he's able to walk comfortably, its reasonable to wait a few days and see if it gets better, and I understand holding off it that makes more sense in your situation, but if its not a financial strain or logistically really difficult, I would go ahead a take him in rather than waiting. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

By your description, he may have hip, knee or low back pain. You will need to have him physically examined by your veterinarian to definitively diagnose the underlying cause This may require x-rays. Given current events, you may need to drop him off at the clinic, then wait for your veterinarian to call you to discuss exam findings and treatment options. Pain medication can be dispensed if indicated. Do not medicate him without the advice of your veterinarian. Many OTC medications can be toxic or are easily overdosed.

Poor Hank! It sounds like he really hurt himself when he fell down the stairs, and he could have torn a ligament. It sounds like he has been in a pain for a long time if this limping has been ongoing for two months, and he really needs to see a vet. Two months is a lot of time for a dog to be in pain, and the cause of the pain needs to be diagnosed so it can be treated. I would even consider taking him into a vet today because he sounds so painful. If you can't find an open vet, take him into one first thing in the morning. Best of luck!

I’m so sorry to hear Cuchi has injures himself. The best thing you can do at this time is restrict activity for 4-6 weeks. The best would be cage rest, carrying outside only to do his business and back to the crate. No jumping, running around, etc. Because we don’t have x-rays I would not massage the area because we don’t know if there is a fracture trying to heal or not. However even If it is just a sprain, rest, rest, rest is the best thing you can do. Hope this helps and CuchI gets better soon.

Best case scenario, Tizer has a soft tissue injury/muscle sprain for which activity restriction for a week and a dog safe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Rimadyl (carprofen) usually resolves the issue. As a side note, never give a dog Tylenol (acetominophin) or Advil (ibuprofen) because they are toxic to dogs. A far worse scenario, and these usually present as non-weight bearing lameness in a hind leg, Tizer tore or partially tore a crucial ligament (a sedated exam +/- x-rays are usually required to diagnose this. Other less likely possibilities include a bulging intervertebral disc or bone fracture. If he’s still eating, drinking normally, able to pee and poop normally, able to walk without limping and only seems painful when when he gets up, you can either wait until tomorrow or go today and get him pain meds sooner. Good luck!