Why is my Boston Terrier's neck warm? Is it serious or contagious?

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.

Hello. The lump is in the area of a lymph node, but it could also be a salivary gland enlargement or even a simple abscess. Any new or unusual lumps or bumps need to be thoroughly evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. I would call your veterinarian at your earliest convenience to have this looked at. Your veterinarian will probably insert a needle to draw out a sample of cells to be examined under a microscope. Hopefully, nothing significant will be found, but you do not want to chance waiting to see what happens. Best of luck to you & Gus & thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Poor girl. It sounds like she has a bit of a muscle sprain in her neck. You can try a warm compress for 5 mins on the area to see if this can loosen things up a bit. An epsom salt warm water soak can also help some. If this does not seem to give her comfort where she can rest, then its best to take her to the vet for some prescription pain medication that is safe for dogs. I hope that your furry friend Bella feels better soon! Best wishes and take care.

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!

That could potentially be an hot spot, technically called superficial exudative dermatitis. It is basically a skin infection caused by bacteria normally resident on the skin. Antibiotics and antiinflammatory medications are usually needed. I would recommend a check up.

This presentation could be due to a trauma or localized spot of skin infection (likely to be caused by bacteria). A check up, appropriate disinfection and possibly antibiotics (oral, topical or in a shampoo formulation) are needed to solve the problem. Disinfection may be started at home with very diluted hibiscrub or betadine or salted water baths. Buster collar may be useful as well to avoid any scratching (if any).

If Olive is having a problem with both back legs, I would suspect she has an issue with her back or hips. Rest her tonight. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to potty on a leash, and bring her right back in when she's done. First thing in the morning, take her into her vet. Do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given. The vet can prescribe safe pain medications for her. I hope this helps.