Why is my puppy crying in pain when I press his chest or sternum?

Poor Pipi!! I wonder if he may have injured his ribs or even injured his spine around his chest area. Poodles can have fine ribs, so if he fell he may have fractured one. Jumping on or off furniture or stairs can also strain the muscles that run along the spine (epaxial muscles) causing a very sore back. It is also important to check there are no injuries to his skin - an insect bite or sting may cause sudden pain. Given the severity of his crying, I would suggest you take him to the nearest emergency vet for an exam, so that they can identify the location and cause of his pain. Please do not give Pipi any human pain medicines, as many can be toxic to dogs even in small amounts. I hope he recovers very soon.

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!

I would be very concerned about this level of pain and would recommend an exam by a veterinarian. It could be neurological, a disc problem, a strain in the bones or muscles of the neck or possibly an infection somewhere in that area. The vet may recommend x-rays to get a diagnosis. Please do not give any human pain medication as these can cause serious side effects in animals. It is best to get pain medication that has been prescribed by your veterinarian that is safe for dogs. I hope this helps and that Miky feels better soon!

Poor Wairer. If it was the first time used the harness or if he was tugged more than usual during the bike ride, he could have discomfort (either skin or muscle) from the harness. Excessive exercise could also cause muscle soreness. If Wairer is breathing abnormally/differently than usual, is reluctant to eat, lethargic, or is limping, than I would take him back to the emergency clinic or your regular veterinarian for another exam. Otherwise, monitor him for changes and continue with his pain medications. If he's still having this new reaction to being touched on the chest in a few days, then I would recommended a visit with his regular veterinarian for an exam and possibly x-rays of his chest. Good luck! Let me know if this was helpful advice or setup a consultation if you need further help.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor little Bella! Pain or discomfort on the right side of the chest could be seen with things like a rib fracture or muscle pain in that region. I recommend that you have Bella evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to check for these possibilities and treat accordingly. At the very least they can start her on pain control medications to try to make her feel better. Good luck!

I'm sorry to hear you puppy is having trouble. I would suspect he has shoulder, elbow, or even neck pain from your description of him yelping after picking up near his shoulders. Puppies this young can have some congenital deformity that result in instability and pain, panosteitis (bone inflammation), growth plate problems, or could have potentially had a soft tissue injury or bone displacement (luxation) in that area. I would recommend you take him to your vet for an evaluation, possible x-rays, and to get anti-inflammatory pain medication for him.

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!