Why won't my dog turn his neck? Is it a pinched nerve or crick?

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.

An immediate check up is required as these signs seems to be compatible with a neurological problem. Intervertebral disc extrusion/protrusion in the cervical area can cause commonly nerve/spinal cord and meninges (around spinal cord) compression. The compression may be dynamic, showing up signs when moving the neck in certain postures. X rays and more specific and advanced imaging procedures may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. At Peques's age neck pain is usually caused by intervertebral disc problem or chronic arthritis / spondylitis. X-ray/CT scan is helpful to identify what is the problem and to decide what is the best treatment. If Peques is still showing signs of pain and crating is not a viable option, getting a second pain killer will be probably the best course of action. Your local vet will be able to prescribe him an anti-inflammatory medication or a different pain killer for a trial to see if they can keep him pain free.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to neck pain for example. He may not be eating due to pain. I would recommend you consider taking him to your veterinarian so they can check for this. They can then treat accordingly. In the meantime, try to rest him and avoid touching his neck. Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. I'm sorry that Cheti is not feeling well. I suggest you take him to your vet for an examination. It sounds like he may have hurt his neck and/or back. Even if nothing seemed to have happened while outside he may have just turned his head wrong and pinched a nerve. The other thing that happens sometimes is that dogs start to get arthritis in their spine as they age and that may be acting up. Here is a link to an article about neck/back pain in dogs that may help you: https://www.petplace.com/article/dogs/pet-health/neck-and-back-pain-in-dogs/ There is really no way for me to diagnose him over the internet, however. That is why a vet exam is important. He is obviously in pain and at the very least your vet can prescribe some pain medications for him. Hope this helps. Best wishes and I hope Cheti will be back to his normal self soon!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Balto is super handsome! Yes, I think that Balto is painful. If they have a sore neck they can have a root signature (pinched nerve) and also limp. Not wanting to do steps and jump up is common with neck or back pain. If ticks are common in your area Lyme disease is also possible. I recommend that you have Balto looked at by your Vet. They can take his temperature and do a good orthopedic exam. We can also run lyme tests in house with in 10 mins. Since he is painful I would have him examined today. I treat neck or back issues with an anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxant and additional pain medications (tramadol or gabapentin). I hope this helps and I wish Balto a speedy recovery!

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!