Why did my dog yelp and scream when picked up? Is she hurt?

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 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!

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!

It could be that Sadie is experiencing pain in her hips or spine leading her to yelp when you pick her up. I would have her seen by a vet for this today. The vet can diagnose what is causing her pain so she can be treated. The vet can also prescribe her pain medications as needed. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.

Poor Lucy! Yelping related to being picked up or otherwise physically handled usually indicates that the dog is painful somewhere. Lucy may have arthritis, back or neck pain, or may have injured herself somehow. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam. Your veterinarian knows how to do a thorough orthopedic exam to help determine where she may be painful, and may recommend x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem. It's likely that she would benefit from some type of pain medication (either short or long-term, depending on the problem) which your veterinarian can prescribe for her.

It could be a muscular injury or sprain. I would leave the area alone and monitor for the next few hours, if she seems to be in discomfort best to have her checked over so can get some pain relief . If she is already in quite a bit of pain best to have her checked over sooner rather than later.

Yelping when being moved, especially being picked up, is often a sign of neck or spinal pain in middle-aged and older dogs. I think it's likely that the raised round spot isn't related, but I would make an appointment with your vet as soon as you can to get both checked out. Many small dogs suffer from disk problems in the spine, and will benefit from anti-inflammatory pain relievers and rest. The bump should also be checked to ensure it's not something serious, like a cancerous growth.