My dog yelps when picked up. Is it neck, back, or chest pain?

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 Alice! Sorry she's having a rough time. Based on your description, it sounds like she is painful; sometimes back or neck pain will cause these symptoms. Please take her to your vet today for an exam. Please do not give any over the counter human pain medications are there are no safe options for you to give at home. Your vet will be able to help identify the most likely cause of the problem after doing a physical exam, and can recommend appropriate treatment. I hope she feels better soon! Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Although bumps on the back could be cysts or related to infection, I am more concerned that Lilly is yelping related to something else that it painful. It could certainly be neck pain from an old injury or possibly lumbar disc pain. Back and neck issues can cause referred pain which means that other areas of the body can experience pain even when it is the back or neck with the primary issue. I recommend you have Lilly examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine if the lumps are the primary concern or if neck or back pain is the cause of what you are seeing.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Besides this being behavioral, this could also be due to a medical issue such as a display of pain of some sort. I recommend that if this persists, you have him evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for this possibility and treat him accordingly. This may require taking x-rays. Good luck and have a great day!

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.

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.