Dog back pain may come about for a wide variety of reasons. While it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of your pet's back pain as a result of his behavior, it is still good to be able to recognize these signs so that you can then take your pet in to the vet's office for a full examination and reading. Dog back pain is commonly caused by muscle and bone injuries, growths and tumors, degenerative diseases and many other potential reasons as well, so treating your pet's condition is dependent upon a prompt and thorough analysis of his symptoms.
Difficulty Standing Up or Lying Down
Dogs with back pain will oftentimes have a particularly difficult time standing up or lying down. You may notice that your pet seems to move gingerly when he is preparing to sit or lie down, or that it seems to take him longer than normal to get up from a sitting or a lying position. If this is the case, and your pet doesn't already have medical conditions that you know about, it may be a result of chronic or acute back pain.
Unusual Gait
Your dog's way of walking is also likely to be affected by back pain. If the pain is generalized and spread throughout much of your pet's back, it's very likely that he will be unable to walk with a normal gait. Look for signs of difficulty moving his legs and other changes to the ways in which he walks, all of which could be potential warning signs that there is something the matter with his back.
Pain to the Touch
If you suspect that your pet has a back problem and you try to touch his back, there's a chance that he'll react negatively. In many cases, dogs will experience pain at your palpation or at your general touch. If this is the case for your pet, he may run away, slink off so that you cannot touch him, or even exhibit unusually aggressive behavior. It's not uncommon for otherwise very mild mannered dogs to try to bite their owners or cause other problems when touched as they are experiencing pain. Your pet will be unaware of the distinction between the pain that he's feeling and your touch; he may respond as if you were the one to cause his pain.
Howling or Crying
When your dog is experiencing pain, he generally doesn't have a good means of conveying that feeling to you. Some dogs will be more vocal than others, however. It's not unheard of for a dog that is experiencing back pain to begin to howl or cry at different times. Pay particular attention for these sounds at night, when it's generally colder and your pet's pain may be exaggerated.
If you notice any of these symptoms, plan to take your dog in to the vet immediately for a quick examination.