Is my senior chihuahua in pain? Shaking, arched back, won't move.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Peanut. I recommend that he sees a veterinarian today. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain which can be excruciatingly painful. He will be carefully examined to determine if this is the case or if he has another problem. Based on these results and any diagnostic testing, treatment recommendations can be made. In the meantime, do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lucy. She needs to see her veterinarian today. I am concerned that she may experiencing neck or back pain. It is common in small breed dogs and can be excruciatingly painful. It starts as a reluctance to walk or move, the dog will avoid stairs and is hesitant to jump on furniture. It is common for the appetite to be decreased and the dog to pant and shake. It can progress to weakness or even paralysis of a limb. So it is best to address it as soon as possible if this is the cause of her symptoms. In the meantime, keep her very quiet and carry her when she needs to move. I hope this information helps you and Lucy. Good luck!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is likely due to some degree of pain or discomfort. I highly recommend that you have Sassy evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They would be able to investigate what could be the source pain and treat accordingly. At the very least, they could prescribe pain control medications. Good luck!

Poor Phoebe! Shaking like this is a common sign of pain in dogs, especially when there is no other obvious reason (such as fear or cold) for her to be doing this. Many dogs who have back pain due to a herniated disc or other problem act very much like this, so this would be my first suspicion based on your description. She could also be uncomfortable due to abdominal pain, or some other injury that is not visible from the outside. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam today if possible - he/she can do x-rays or other testing if needed to help determine the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment.

Chihuahuas commonly get neck and back pain from bulging intervertebral discs. They are painful and don't want to move. That sounds like what Darcir experiencing. You should keep her quiet, carry her outdoors to go to the bathroom and no other exercise. Absolutely no jumping. Massaging her back to relieve the muscle spasms will help. This is a serious problem as they can become paralyzed. I recommend taking Darcir to your veterinarian for an exam, X-rays, pain medication and muscle relaxers. They will get a diagnosis and then they can treat her properly. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Darcir.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Maya. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian. Neck and back pain are common in small breed dogs. This is very painful and can cause shaking, panting and a reluctance to jump. Her veterinarian can detect this on her exam or another problem if that may be the case. In the meantime, keep her quiet. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lulu. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. It does not sound like she is not feeling well. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain which can be excruciatingly painful. It causes dogs to shake, pant, and not want to move. Most will hesitate to jump on furniture or be reluctant to do stairs. If this is the case, x-rays can be taken of the spine. Based on these results, medications are prescribed. In the meantime, keep her quiet and carry her if possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. I hope this information helps!