Why does my old dog yelp when touched, but seems fine later?

Poor Baby! It definitely sounds like she's painful somewhere. In my experience, the most common cause of yelping or yipping when touched or petted is back pain, often due to a herniated disc - this is a fairly common problem in dogs. She could also be painful due to some other injury to her legs or back. I would recommend having her examined by a vet as soon as you are able to - he/she can do a thorough exam to help localize the source of the pain, and may also do x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem.

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Lazy! She does sound very painful! She likely has hurt her back, hips or tail. The fact she cries out when you touch her there and when trying to get up indicates back end pain. Some dogs with anal gland issues or Lyme disease can show similar symptoms. I would have her seen today by your Vet before the weekend. They will very likely on physical exam be able to tell where she hurts. They can then prescribe the correct and safest medications for her condition. I hope this helps and I wish Lazy a speedy recovery!

At 15 years old she could definitely have a medical issue going on. I suspect she may have some arthritis in her spine and hips/back legs which is why she is seeming sensitive on her back and limping on the hind limbs. I suggest you take her to your vet for an exam and to get some medication to help with the arthritis (if that is what is going on). We cannot diagnose over the internet of course I cannot tell you 100% for sure what is going on without examining her myself. That is why you need your local vet to help you figure out what is going on and how best to treat her. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear Molly isn't feeling well. Unfortunately we are unable to give advice for medication without seeing Molly. I would contact your veterinarian to see if they can give you more assistance. I recommend making an appointment for her so they can find the source of her pain and get her the correct treatment. They may need to take x-rays to rule out a fracture. In the meantime, I would rest her in a kennel so she doesn't continue to injure herself. You could also try a warm compress on the area, but since it has been going on for so long, I would take her to a vet. Good luck and kisses to Molly!

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.

If poor Lulu is in that much pain I would recommend seeing an emergency veterinarian. She may have back, neck or abdominal pain. With severe pain it is common for animals to anticipate pain and react even before they are touched. A vet would hopefully be able to localize pain based on a physical examination and make recommendations about testing as well as prescribe safe pain medication if needed.