Why is my dog yelping when picked up and eating grass? Is he in pain?

Poor Joey. The two possibilities here are that it hurts or that he scares him when you pick him up. I'd lean towards pain from your description, but keep fear in mind since your vet didn't find any pain. One area pain can "hide" during a physical exam is in the spine or neck - vet's don't always check this area carefully. I would recommend a recheck visit, since it's still going on with no changes to see if anything is different on physical exam this time, and ask if doing a trial of pain meds for around 5 days would be appropriate. If pain meds don't help, experiment with never picking him up to see if that makes him happier. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Blue! Common causes of pain when small dogs are picked up are: neck and back pain for forelimb pain. If this is new and he is also jumping up less, shivering or tremoring and not using the stairs I would take him in to the Vet this week for an exam as that indicates pain. Other reasons for crying when picked up is arthritis or being scared or surprised. So try to go slowly and gently if he is otherwise acting normal. Good luck!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Napoleon. Poor boy. It could be that he has pain in his back causing him to yelp when you pick him up or touch his stomach. I recommend resting him for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take him out to toilet on a leash, and bring him right back in when he's done. If he still appears painful after this time, then I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. He may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. 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!

Sweet puppy! If he is yelping then I would be concerned about him being in pain. He looks like it may be neck or back pain. Make sure he is still eating and drinking. If he is in a lot of pain, he may not. There are no human meds you can give as most are toxic to dogs. I would recommend to have your vet examine him and see exactly where he may be pain and prescribe him some pain medications that are safe for him. I hope this helps!

Jojo could be just a little more anxious right now since there is so much going on in the household. On the other hand, he could be hurting somewhere like his neck/back. I would rest him and see if he continues to act painful. When you go to pick him up, make sure you don't startle him as this can also cause them to yelp. If he continues to act painful, I would have your vet take a look at him. Your vet will be able to do a thorough orthopedic and spinal exam to localize the pain. Your vet will also be able to do x-rays if needed. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lacey. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain. It can present as yelping. Her veterinarian will carefully examine her to determine if she is painful. If so, x-rays may be needed. In the meantime, keep her quiet and carry her as much as possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Pain when being picked up can be related to many things including pulling the hair, pain in the upper abdominal region (like from the pancreas or liver) or something wrong in the spine or shoulders. The first step is start with a physical exam by her veterinarian. Diagnostics will be determined based upon examine findings. I hope this helps.