My dog has a stiff neck, can't turn head, and walks sideways. Why?

Question

My dog seems to have stiff neck. He cannot turn his head to the left side and is walking sideways. Doesn’t seem to be in pain bc he isn’t trembling or whining/yelping. But tried to turn his head to left side and he didn’t like that. Tried to feel for lesions or bumps around the neck, nothing superficial. He’s been outdoors for a good part of the day today. Please advise. Thank you! Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 10 lbs

Dr. Davis · Accepted Answer

This can be the result of a bulging intervertebral disc in his neck, which is a neurological problem. This can be serious problem as dogs can become very painful and sometimes paralyzed if the disc ruptures. I recommend a veterinary exam and medication to reduce the neck inflammation and they will also probably give muscle relaxers to improve the head and neck movement. They may also recommend X-rays. In the meantime you should not use a collar as pulling on the neck may make this worse. I recommend using a harness for walks. Placing a hot compress on the neck and giving Plato a gentle neck and shoulder massage may reduce the muscle spasms and improve the head and neck movement. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Plato.

My dog has a stiff neck, can't turn head, and walks sideways. Why?

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