Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

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

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | neutered | 1 year and 1 month old | 40 lbs

13 month old puppy crying out in pain when i gently press down on the top of the sternum where the collarbones meet. No pain or lameness otherwise. Had no idea this was even an issue until i happened to have been touching it and he started crying. More i press the more he screams. Sounds like he may just be bruised and he is being a baby about it. Do you agree?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 4th, 2018

I'm sorry Task is in pain! It's certainly not normal that he's crying out in pain when you touch the top of his sternum, and it's concerning he's screaming when you press more. I wouldn't say he's being a baby about it, it sounds like to me he is in true pain. I would stop pressing on that area, and have him seen by a vet tomorrow. The vet can diagnose what is causing the pain and how best to treat it. The vet can also prescribe pain medication if needed. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog will scream when I touch the area around his left ribs, behind his front leg.
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
All of a sudden my dog started yelping when you would pick him up at lightly push him. I'm pretty sure the chest area.
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! 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!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
He is not letting us touch his neck area and cries when we accidently touch his neck. Doesnt let us tie his neck band. And seems very upset and sad most of the time and it feels as if he is trying to tell something.
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!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog was taken on a bike ride by my boyfriend and hes paws were bleeding. Took him to the emergency vet and gave us pain killers. A few days later if my boyfriend touches his chest he will scream. But doesnt scream when i touch his chest. Should i
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Recently I've noticed that my darling pooch is very sensitive to touch on the right side of her chest and I'm really worried about her. She has diarrhoea and I gave her white boneless and skinless chicken breast and white rice for her diarrhoea. It'
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! 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!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My pitbull pup about 3 months is hunched over he doesnt want to nump ad high as he normally does. I picked him up from behind his shoulders and he yelped. What can possibly be wrong?
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We received four puppies today and unfortunately after eating, this puppy has not been able to stop crying. And it sounds like he’s in a lot of pain.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! He is adorable! This may be normal as he is quite young and sometimes they can be very vocal. However, it would be ideal to have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. This would be a good idea anyway to get all the pups on a preventative care plan but even more importantly as your pup may be in discomfort. That can be seen with abdominal pain or discomfort of some sort. If they do think that there is something abnormal on their examination, they would be able to treat accordingly. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I've asked before, but I have a picture attached this time my puppy has been hunching over like this. Any reason why? I picked him up, and he yelped.
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!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My Boston terrier yelps in pain when I'm sitting with him under the covers. The times it happened I was barely touching him, and I've gently tested for sensitivity, but he hasn't shown any sign of pain otherwise. It started this morning. What's wrong
Oh no, poor Zangus! It could be that he injured himself causing him to yelp in pain. Given that tomorrow is Friday and I'm not sure if your vet is open on Saturday, I would rest him tonight and take him into the vet tomorrow for an exam. The vet can do a physical exam, lameness exam, and possibly x-rays to diagnose what is causing him pain so he can be treated. If he isn't acting this way in the morning, then I would monitor him for the next couple of days; should he appear painful again, then take him into the vet. Please do not give him any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet can prescribe Zangus pain medications as needed.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi! I have a 9 week old Labrador who suddenly started to whimper/yelp at random as if he were in pain. I took him to the vet and they tested for parvo, came out negative. He was sent home with Deramaxx. But now that we’re out, the yelling continues a
Hello and welcome to Boop by Petco. I am sorry that Beau isn't feeling well. Crying intermittently with no external injuries can be caused by a number of factors. If he is reluctant to walk or limping, then either a soft tissue injury in a joint/fracture/ or torn ligament is possible, however this you would expect to see some limping. Puppies can also get 'growing pains' and conditions of their joints, which affect all of their joints equally, so they are just reluctant to move. This can be incredibly painful and requires strong pain medication. The other common cause of crying out can be gastric pain. This can be caused by Beau getting into something he shouldn't have (bones, garbage, raw food, socks, underwear, etc) and his abdomen being very sorry. Usually with this you will see a reluctance to eat, possibly vomiting/diarrhea, and sometimes pain when you push on his abdomen. If this is the case I strongly suggest to stop the Deramaxx (hard on the gut, especially so young),
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog Treats & Chews Dog Health & Wellness Dog Asthma Medication Dog Anxiety Medication Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Dog Blood Pressure Medication Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Prednisone Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds TropiClean Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Amlodipine Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Vetality Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Natural Dog Company Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Tomlyn Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Novox Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Dogswell Dog Pain Medicine & Relief PetAlive Dog Pain Medicine & Relief Well & Good Dog Pain Medicine & Relief
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored