My dog suddenly avoids stairs, jumping, and is quiet. Is she okay?

It seems she is hiring somewhere. At her age arthritis can be starting but I would suspect a back injury or a soft tissue strain or sprain. The best thing is actually cage rest. No running or jumping, no playing even if she feels better after a few days. She needs rest for at least 2 weeks. I would advise getting her seen by your vet as they have medicine to help make her more comfortable and can localize he spot that is hurting to help you prevent it again in the future

Poor Chloe! It sounds like she may be painful somewhere. I often see dogs with back or neck pain that act this way, because doing stairs or jumping is painful for them. It's also possible that she may have injured herself somehow, or has some type of orthopedic problem that makes these activities uncomfortable. I would recommend taking her to the vet for an exam. He/she may be able to determine what the problem is by palpating her neck, back, and legs, and may also recommend x-rays or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem.

To me this sounds like Echo is likely in some degree of pain. A change in activity is often a sign of pain. Most dogs don't actively whine or complain when they are uncomfortable or painful. If back or neck pain is present a dog won't always limp. This article discusses other signs of pain: https://www.petcoach.co/article/top-5-signs-your-pet-is-in-pain/ I'd recommend taking Echo to see a veterinarian to be examined. Please remember there are no safe over the counter pain medications for dogs so you will need to have medication prescribed by a veterinarian. Until you can get to your veterinarian I'd suggest making sure Echo stays rested - don't allow running, jumping, or stair use. Thanks for using PetCoach and I hope Echo's issue resolves quickly!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Suzy. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian. I worry that she is actually quite painful. Small breed dogs are prone to neck and/or back pain which can be quite excruciating for them. Based your description of her sleeping more than normal, not wanting to do stairs and not running as much, this is a possibility. The veterinarian will examine her and determine if she is in fact painful. If so, x-rays may be taken. Based on these results, treatment can be started to help her feel better. In the meantime, keep her quiet and carry her as much as possible. Do not give any over-the-counter pain medications as these can be toxic to dogs. They can also interfere with veterinary medications that may be needed for her. I hope this information helps!

Restrict activity for the next 24 hours. Monitor for lethargy, swelling, bruising or increasing lameness. If the lameness persists beyond 24 hours, have her physically examined by your veterinarian. X-rays may be indicated after the exam.

If there is any chance your dog has a back issue you need to insure she does not climb, jump, or go down stairs at all for a few weeks. This is not a common issue in large breed dogs. She certainly sounds painful however and I would make sure she has some pain medication available like tramadol or gabapentin in addition to the steroids (pred).

Poor Angel Baby! She could have injured herself such as with a ligament strain or tear causing her to have trouble jumping. I recommend resting er for the next 48 hours. No running, jumping, or playing. Take her out to toilet on a lead only, and bring her right back in when she's done. If she still appears painful after this time, then I would take her into the vet for an exam. The vet can diagnose where the pain is coming from, and can dictate a treatment plan for it. She may also benefit from some pain medications, which the vet can prescribe. Please do not give her any human pain medications, as many are toxic to dogs and can be fatal if given.