Dog is experiencing neck pain. Immediate vet visit?

August 8, 2024 9:51 AM

My medium-sized dog is experiencing neck pain. Do I need to go to the vet immediately, or monitor it and see if she improves over the next few days?

This morning my dog started displaying the following signs of neck pain:

• head lowered
• arched back
• walking slowly
• yelped once when I pet her neck

She slept in a different bed than usual last night, so I'm wondering if what she is experiencing is similar to the handful of times I've woken with a "crick in my neck" that made it difficult for me to turn my head for a day or two because I slept weirdly.

Alternate theory: Two days ago I took her somewhere in the car and then back home, so she stepped down from the back seat to the sidewalk twice. I know that can cause back problems in some dogs. Yesterday she was in good shape, and it's clearly neck pain rather than back pain, so I doubt it's related. But maybe injuries like that can show up in a delayed fashion?

She ate breakfast and barked at something when I let her outside (a positive sign of normalcy and higher energy), and currently seems to want to lay around and rest all day.

Does this need an immediate trip to the vet, or is it something to let her rest and recover from, and go to the vet if it doesn't improve or gets worse?

Are there any positions I should monitor? For example, right now she is resting with her head dangling off a cushion at a downward angle. Is that fine, or should I ensure she rests with her head flat and in-line with her body?

Any insight would be helpful. I want to avoid a vet trip if it's not necessary, since it will be at least $500. But if it's warranted, then of course to the vet we go.

posted by Number Used Once to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

As a middle option what I would do is call my vet, explain the symptoms, and see if I can pick up a couple doses of rimadyl. Then go in if my boy wasn't feeling better in a day or 2.
posted by phunniemee at 9:55 AM on August 8 [3 favorites]

IANA Vet, but I'd give it a few days. My pupper has had some neck issues in the past that resolve in a few days. Though the arched back is a bit more severe than what I've seen. Maybe give her some Benadryl (if it makes her sleepy) to help encourage rest.
posted by hydra77 at 10:15 AM on August 8

I'd also recommend talking to a vet - if your vet is tricky to get ahold of, Chewy has a free vet chat feature. I've used that in the past for situations where I wasn't sure if I should take my dog in right away. That or something similar might help reassure you about waiting, and they may also be able to write a prescription for rimadyl or something else while you wait. I suspect they will tell you to wait and monitor things.
posted by earth by april at 10:24 AM on August 8 [4 favorites]

Woah, is that amount normal for a regular vet visit? You've made sure it's not your vet in particular that's charging so much, right?

I think I'd wait, but monitor closely. I wouldn't leave her home alone, probably even have her stay in sight around the house. I'm mostly worried about the arched back and lowered head, which can be symptoms of gastrointestinal distress caused by ingesting something harmful or by a blockage.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but I've never seen or heard of a dog waking up with neck pain. Dogs sleep much less deeply than we do, and they cycle through sleep phases more often. They change position a lot too, compared to the average human. My dogs sleep on the floor all the time (even though one is older), and it doesn't seem to hurt them. If I tried that, it wouldn't work well.

Anyway. I always have doggy pain meds around, and I'd probably hand out a small dose of those if I suspected joint pain. Maybe that's an option? Pick up something anti-inflammatory from your vet's office, and you'll hopefully only have to pay for the medicine? If she improves, you're good. If not, I'd probably try to see a vet tomorrow.

Maybe your vet will insist on seeing the dog, I don't know. But it's worth a try. You could also try a hot water bottle or an ice pack applied to the spot that made her yelp. Or some gentle massaging, which might also help in diagnosing the location of her pain. When my older guy is feeling sore, we sometimes use an electric back massager on him, and he loooves that.

Speedy recovery!
posted by toucan at 4:17 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

Animals are good at masking pain and are terrible at telling us what specifically hurts. I'd take her to the vet asap to rule out any other causes as all those symptoms you listed could show up for a myriad of issues.
posted by platinum at 5:39 PM on August 8 [2 favorites]

$500 isn’t out of whack for an issue like this, you get the office exam, maybe canine major blood profile, meds, maybe x-rays. If you need x-rays and blood, this can go over $500. Wait and see is a perfectly valid strategy for a dog that is mobile and not lethargic.
posted by shock muppet at 6:51 PM on August 8 [1 favorite]

I would also wait and see. The big signs I look for in my dog are lack of appetite and general lethargy--if he doesn't take a treat or perk up when I mention a walk (and especially if I grab the leash from its spot by the door), that's where I start to get concerned.
posted by knotty knots at 10:53 PM on August 8

Response by poster: Quick update...

I have a vet visit scheduled for Monday that as of this morning, it looks like I'll be canceling. She is holding her head normally again, asked to get up on the sofa, and just generally seems much improved in her body language and movement.
posted by Number Used Once at 9:33 AM on August 9 [5 favorites]