Why won't my dog jump on the couch or lap? Is she in pain?

Poor Chloe! It sounds like she may be painful somewhere. I often see dogs with back or neck pain that act this way, because doing stairs or jumping is painful for them. It's also possible that she may have injured herself somehow, or has some type of orthopedic problem that makes these activities uncomfortable. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam. He/she may be able to determine what the problem is by palpating her neck, back, and legs, and may also recommend x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem.

It sounds like your dog has a problem with her back as that is a common sign of back pain. Dogs are usually reluctant to jump because it causes pain. Your vet can check her for back pain and then prescribe medications to help. She may need an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, and/or pain medications to help. Also, it would be a good idea to restrict her activity for a few weeks, no running, jumping, etc. Hope she feels better soon!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diamond is adorable! It does sound like she is somewhat painful as she is hesitant to do normal activities. This can be caused by arthritis - pretty much any joint can be affected as well as the spine. Your vet can perform a thorough orthopedic exam and x-rays to isolate the signs to a particular part of the body. Certain conditions such as Lyme disease and autoimmune disease also cause generalized joint pain and can be ruled out with bloodwork. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have about Diamond!

Ammu definitely sounds like she might be in pain on some part of her body. While you might not be able to appreciate any pain on palpation of her legs and hips at home, a more well-trained set of hands might be able to isolate a small area that could be injured. Even if you have not seen a traumatic event occur, it is still quite possible that a young Beagle could have somehow caused herself an injury while romping around. Other causes of difficultly rising or getting around could be a systemic infection, neurologic problem, or inflammatory condition. Any of these would require a diagnostic work up by a veterinarian to determine what therapies should be instituted.

Hello, Maggie looks like she is a real cutie. Not wanting to jump is a very clear indication of either back or abdominal pain. Since her BMs are normal, I would guess her back is bothering her a bit. Rest & antiinflammatories are the best cure for this type of thing. You can apply a little warmth to her back for about 10 minutes 2-3 times a day but speak with your veterinarian about some pain medication. She is, after all, getting to be a senior citizen. I would also encourage you t consider x-rays of her abdomen & back just to make sure nothing is being missed. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It might be that her back or neck is sore. Try to prevent her from jumping, running, or playing tug of war/roughhousing for a few days. If it’s not getting better in the next 2-3 days, take him in to the vet. If he’s getting worse, or develops other symptoms, don’t wait to take him in. Please don’t give him any human over the counter pain medications. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! While back pain may definitely be the cause of this, other conditions can cause Honey to be less active or painful. For instance, conditions such as pancreatitis can cause abdominal pain, and thus reduced activity. I recommend having Honey seen by a vet, who can perform bloodwork and x-rays to determine what is causing these signs. Blodwork would be able to rule out any malfunctioning organs or infections, while x-rays can rule out abdominal masses and vertebral fractures or herniated discs. I hope all is well with Honey!