Why is my dog whining, lethargic, and avoiding stairs? Is he in pain?

Hello, The first thing that comes to my mind is chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain. Dogs with pain in these areas often hesitate to use stairs or jump on and off furniture. They may also want to lay around more and be generally less active. Pain in dogs can be similar to humans in that in can be caused by things like arthritis, disc disease, or a pinched nerve. It can also flare up and be worse at some times than at others, which may be why he vocalizes at some times and not at others. Anti-inflammatory drugs (a common one is carprofen) and nerve pain drugs (a common one is gabapentin) are commonly used to treat these conditions. I would recommend taking Gage into see a vet and be evaluated for chronic pain. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Gage! I would worry that Gage has hurt his back or neck. This is how they tend to act. They also don’t jump up in furniture like normal and avoid the stairs. They cry when touched, picked up or move. I would take him in to your vet today before the holiday for an exam. I treat neck and back pain with anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants and pain medications. I wish Gage a speedy recovery!

I suppose it could be pain - some dogs just tend to be stoic at the vet hospital and will not react painfully. The fact that Ace doesn't want to jump and avoids being picked up makes me wonder if he might have some back pain. There are of course many other diseases that could cause lethargy with normal lab work - tick borne disease and splenic disease are two possibilities. You may want to recheck with your vet and see if they would recommend more tests, or you could ask about a trial of pain medication to see if Ace improves.

If only Milo could talk! This type of behavior could be related to something like anxiety or to pain/discomfort. I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian who will check for evidence of pain on the physical exam. Many times this type of sudden pain is related to intervertebral disc disease, discospondylitis, upper abdominal pain or a pinched nerve. They may also check a urine sample or the anal glands as well. Since he can't talk, it's best to play it safe. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello. These are pretty vague signs, but could be an indication of some pain, such as an inflamed intervertebral disc, or impending infection. If these symptoms persist or progress into loss of appetite, lethargy, excessive panting or tremors, please see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. It sounds like Boo is in a lot of pain. It is impossible to tell where the pain is coming from without examining him but what you are describing is a very painful dog. I would get him to a vet ASAP. He could have a sore or broken bone or could have a sore gut. Your vet will do a full exam and then suggest different options. Good luck with Boo.

Hello! That crouched stance is usually a sign of either back or abdominal pain, which can also cause decreased behavior. I would recommend having him get a physical exam from a veterinarian. If they are able to localize simple arthritis pain, they may be able to give him some anti-inflammatory or pain medications. If they are worried about a serious back problem or abdominal pain, they will likely recommend x-rays to look at his intestinal tract and spine and possibly bloodwork to check his major organ functions. Then, they can make additional testing or treatment recommendations based on what they find. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!