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Why does my chihuahua's neck hurt on and off, even with meds?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua (Long Coat) | Male | unneutered | 6.6 lbs

Hi, my 8yo chihuahua is yelping in pain all of the sudden, his neck would go really stiff and he would scream in pain if he moved his neck. i tried going to the vet, the vet told me it's not a disc injury and gave him some pain med twice. but his pain always comes back after he's off med and the pain comes and goes every few hours.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Published on June 30th, 2019

Extreme pain localized in the cervical area is often related either to intervertebral disc injury or to a cervical nerve compression (which can give intermittent signs). An orthopaedic and neurological examination can easily and rapidly rule out these differentials. Congenital Atlanto axial subluxation can as well cause extreme pain so it would be to rule it out immediately. If the signs persist despite the treatment , I would recommend another check up, possibly from a different veterinary clinic.

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    Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

    Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

    Published on

    Poor pup! If this is still going on, then I would recommend taking him back to the vet for a recheck. It's possible that he may need referral to a specialist for more advanced testing to help diagnose the problem. If this isn't feasible, then at the very least he may need to stay on pain medication long-term to keep his symptoms under control. Your veterinarian should be able to discuss these options with you to help you decide on the best course of action.

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