About Neck Pain in Dogs

Just like other animals, your dog can have pain in his neck. Neck pain in dogs is often hard to diagnose, and it can be even more difficult to fix. Understanding your dog's neck pain, its causes, and its solutions can help you provide your dog with proper care and help him live the best life possible.

  1. Symptoms

    • You can tell if your dog has neck pain in the way that he turns his head. If he is not moving his head as he usually does, his neck might be hurting. If he makes a yelp or another noise when he moves his head from one side to the other or is walking with his head held stiffly and staring straight ahead, he might be having neck pain.

    Causes from Injury

    • The greatest cause of neck pain in dogs is injury. If your dog is playing too roughly with other dogs or other animals, he might get a whip-lash type injury and hurt his neck. He also might have an injury that has come from straining to catch a ball or a toy. Your dog might be injured in a car accident or another type of accident, in just the same way that a person can.

    Causes from Illness

    • A high fever or another type of illness can also cause neck pain in your dog. This happens because the veins in the neck swell with fever or infection. If your dog is having an illness that is causing him to have a fever, he might also be experiencing neck pain. You will know this by the way that he moves his neck, and by the other fever symptoms, like lethargy and tremors.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Prevent your dog from getting injured in the first place. Keep him from roughhousing too much with other dogs and always kennel him in the car.

      If your dog has neck pain and other signs of illness, your dog might need antibiotics to kill an infection, so it is imperative that you take your dog to the vet right away. It could be a sign of a serious problem with your dog's health.

    Warning

    • Dog neck pain can be hard to diagnose. You might assume that your dog has a neck injury because of the way he is acting; however, it can be stiffness that is associated with seizure or other health problems. Therefore, if you notice that your dog is acting strangely and you fear for his health, it is important to take your dog to the vet right away.