Why does my senior dog have neck and shoulder pain after long walks?

Question

Hi, I have a 9 year old shepherd/hound mix who is having random spurts of pain. He is still super playful and can walk on a leash. I have massaged him and tested him to find the pain, and the only way to simulate it is by pushing his nose left or right to his shoulder blades. Now that the weather is nicer he has been getting longer more frequent walks, could it be muscle or shoulder damage?...or worse?

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

It could be arthritis. Arthritis is common in older dogs. I would take him into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose if he is suffering from arthritis, and can give him some pain meds for it. Rimadyl (an NSAID) is a good drug to give to help with the symptoms of arthritis. I also recommend giving him glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate supplements. They provide the necessary nutrients for cartilage repair and function. Use of them helps relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis, and you can use it in conjunction with Rimadyl to help maximize relief from his symptoms. I hope this helps!

Why does my senior dog have neck and shoulder pain after long walks?

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