Why can't my older Doberman lift his head and seems to be in pain?

It's very likely that this is a [painful condition](https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-most-painful-conditions-in-dogs), as evidenced by the fact that he doesn't want to hold his head up. It could be due to a sprained muscle, a pinched nerve, or something more serious involving the vertebrae in the neck. Most of the time these situations do not resolve on their own, and I find that my patients need pain medications and potentially muscle relaxers, as well as strict cage rest for at least 2 weeks. In addition, you'll want your vet to do a thorough exam to rule out [Intervertebral Disc Disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/intervertebral-disc-disease/) (IVDD) that can occur if there is pressure being put on the spinal cord by a disk. Until you can get an appointment with your vet today or tomorrow, I would get [a harness](https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/category/dog/dog-collars-leashes-and-harnesses/dog-harnesses) instead of a collar so as not to put any additional p

It sounds like Chuck potentially has some neck pain. This could be due to many different issues, but most common would be a slipped disc. I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. If he is really painful then he should be treated by and emergency clinic veterinarian tonight. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Have her physically examined by your veterinarian. An orthopedic exam and x-rays may provide a diagnosis. Arthritis, joint disease or disc disease may be potential causes. In the meantime, restrict activity to just leash walks for elimination. Consider using a harness instead of a collar to prevent stress on her neck.

it sounds like she either hurt one of her front legs (and by lowering her head it puts less weight and pressure on the affected leg) or she has a slipped disk injury (cervical slipped disks can affect the head and the limbs at once). If you can't take her to an emergency center or out of hours services let her rest and minimize her movement as much as you can until you can get her to your vet.

A head tilt can be a sign of various things such as ear infection, vestibular syndrome (a little bit like a stroke but not as serious), neck pain or a brain issue. Have a look at her eyes if they are moving oddly it is likely vestibular or a brain issue. If not ear infection or neck pain is more likely. It would be best to get her checked out as for each of these things she will likely need some pain relief or treatment.

Hi there and thanks for posting. it is hard to say what exactly is the cause without examining Dutch first, but if he is not on any pain medication for the arthritis, he may just be very painful. However, there could also be another issue as well such as fracture, torn ligament, or neurological condition. I would advise getting Dutch into see his veterinarian very soon for an assessment and some pain medications. I hope this helps and best wishes to you and Dutch!

Unfortunately no efficient home remedies a part from complete rest are available. If you feed him try to lift up the bowl. I would strongly recommend a check up to determine the underlying cause of the pain/discomfort more specifically and treat appropriately.

There can be a number of diseases that cause weakness and/or pain. The first thing that should be done is to figure out whether he is truly in so much pain that he can't stand, or if he has a neurologic problem (i.e., paralysis) that's making it difficult for him to move his legs, or if he has a disease (like something caused by a tick bite) that is making him anemic (low numbers of red blood cells) and making him weak. Your dog needs to be examined by a vet who is capable of differentiating all of these problems, and figuring out what the appropriate therapy is, because the treatment depends on determining exactly what the problem is.

Sorry to here that Kemo is having some troubles. There are many things that can cause pain in dogs. Some of them include trauma, degenerative diseases, inflammatory conditions, spinal issues, cancers, clotting disorders, and some others that are less common. In a small breed dog of about six years, my top two differentials would be some sort of traumatic event (that could have happened when you were not around) or an issue with the back. Many times when dogs are lifted and they yelp, it is a spinal problem causing some pretty severe discomfort. If you have ever had back pain yourself, you know just how uncomfortable this can be. Based on the severity and progression of the problems, I would say that Kemo definitely needs a visit to the vet sometime soon. They will be able to perform a thorough physical, and based on the findings, determine if x-rays are warranted. They will be able to target what part of the body requires x-rays. There are many medications available to treat in

Oh no, poor Matilda! Unfortunately Dachshunds are very prone to spinal problems, and she could be in pain from his spine causing her symptoms. I would not give her pain medications from her last visit, as they may not be appropriate to give in this case. I would have her seen by a vet immediately for a physical exam and x-rays. The vet can diagnose what is causing her pain so she can be treated.