Why does my dog yelp, avoid stairs, and seem depressed? Is it his hip?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Ben. He sounds painful with his struggling to move and crying. He could have arthritis, back pain or a muscle strain. If he was particularly playful yesterday or this morning, he may have over done it and be sore now. Back pain is more common in small breed dogs. It is demonstrated by a reluctance to do stairs, jump on furniture or even the inability to properly use a limb. Arthritis tends to be more common in larger dogs. It is usually a gradual slowing down or stiffness, but can be exeracerbated by hard play. Ben will need to see his veterinarian to determine the source of his pain. In the meantime, keep him quiet and do not give any over-the-counter pain medications. I hope this information helps!

Poor Ban Ban sounds like he is in a lot of pain! It could be he has a problem with his hips, but I worry that he has a problem with his back. Unfortunately, there is nothing holistic to help with this. He is in pain, and he needs pain medication from the vet. Also, he has to see the vet to get safe pain medication as many human pain medications are toxic to dogs and can be fatal to dogs. He needs an x-ray of his back and hips to determine if there are any skeletal changes causing his pain, and his vet can discuss pain medications and further treatments. There may be things you can do at home, such as swimming (great exercise that is low impact on the joints), but it is super important to get him to the vet so he isn't in pain any longer. Please give his vet a call now to make him an appointment. I hope this helps!

Poor Jax. He may have tweak his hips or back. As long as he is eating and drinking you could try to rest him for a few days to see if he improves. If he worsens or not improving, I would see your vet for an exam and possible X-rays. Your vet may want to make sure there is nothing broken and make sure his spine looks ok. Also your vet will be able to give him some pain meds to keep him comfortable. I would not give any human pain meds as most are toxic to dogs. I hope this helps.

Poor Archer! If this has been going on for longer than a day or two, I would recommend taking him to the vet for an exam as soon as you can. Unfortunately, there are no human over-the-counter pain medications that are safe for dogs, so you will need to get a prescription from your vet for something safe and effective that you can give him. Your vet can do a thorough orthopedic exam and may also take x-rays to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate medication to treat it.

Sorry to here that Kemo is having some troubles. There are many things that can cause pain in dogs. Some of them include trauma, degenerative diseases, inflammatory conditions, spinal issues, cancers, clotting disorders, and some others that are less common. In a small breed dog of about six years, my top two differentials would be some sort of traumatic event (that could have happened when you were not around) or an issue with the back. Many times when dogs are lifted and they yelp, it is a spinal problem causing some pretty severe discomfort. If you have ever had back pain yourself, you know just how uncomfortable this can be. Based on the severity and progression of the problems, I would say that Kemo definitely needs a visit to the vet sometime soon. They will be able to perform a thorough physical, and based on the findings, determine if x-rays are warranted. They will be able to target what part of the body requires x-rays. There are many medications available to treat inflammatory conditions and trauma, as well as pain associated with the back and spine. I hope you are able to work through things with your vet to resolve Kemo's pain.

Poor Zuko! It could be he has a problem with his hips, spine, or ligaments in his back legs causing him difficulty getting up . He's showing you he's in pain with this behavior, and this needs to be checked out by a vet. I'd take him into a vet on Monday. The vet can prescribe pain medication as needed. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Poor Lincoln! He could be suffering from a problem with his hips or his cranial cruciate ligaments in his knees. These problems are common in medium to large breed dogs. He does sound painful if he's whimpering when trying to stand up. I would have Lincoln seen by a vet in the morning for a physical exam, lameness exam, and x-rays. With these tests, the vet can diagnose what is causing his pain and can discuss treatment options with you. That may include surgery, especially if he has ruptured his cruciate ligaments. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet prescribe pain medications as needed for him tomorrow. Rest him tonight, don't allow him to just on anything. Take him out to toilet on a lead only, bringing him right back in when he's done.