Help! My Dog Yelps When Picked Up – What are the Reasons?
Consider this: you get an adorable small pup for your family. The entire house is around him, waiting to pick it up and cuddle with it for hours. But your new family member ‘yelps’ every time someone picks it up.
So, you decided to ignore it first. But when the problem continued – and the yelping intensified – you typed out ‘dog yelps when picked up’ and prayed that the internet would come to your rescue.
And here we are! We are not exaggerating when we say that dogs’ yelping could result from various things. Here, we’ll help you understand what those factors are.
Reasons Why Your Dog Yelps
This problem of dogs’ ‘yelping’ when picked is more common than you may think. And it is not limited to newly adopted pups. Your older dogs may also show signs of discomfort when they are picked up. We have listed down the reasons for this behavior and some tips that you may follow to tackle the problem.
You May Have Startled It
Do you have the habit of sneaking up to your dog when it is sleeping? It may startle your dog and scare them. Or, if your dog wasn’t paying attention to you, and you sneak up to it and hold it, it will whimper – which is understandable; we won’t like to be interrupted all of a sudden if we are lost in our thoughts or sleeping. Large dogs will react even more aggressively as they generally don’t like being picked up. Also, the fear of heights will come into play as well.
Another reason is that puppies that were mishandled are also likely to yelp when picked up. It is because they cannot understand that their owners are picking them up out of love. However, with time, pups build a relationship of trust and respect with their owners and stop yelping.
Another common reason for this behavior could be your furry friend’s recent fall. Have you or anyone you know dropped the pooch while picking them up? That seemingly small accident might have instilled fear in them.
To ensure that your dog doesn’t get afraid when you pick them up, you should use a few tips. First, you should call out its name and use other loving sounds to get its attention. Then, once it starts noticing you, pick them up gently.
Skin Infections
Some injuries also cause discomfort to pets. So, when you pick them up, they cry in pain as your hands touch their injuries/wounds. Dogs who have any kind of skin infection or damaged tissues are more likely to let out a hapless cry whenever someone holds them. In particular, bruising in the chest region causes great discomfort to your dog.
Similarly, cysts or blisters also hurt dogs quite often, especially when they are accidentally pressed. Make sure that you have watched out for these injuries. If you observe such behavior, analyze if your dog has had any accidents. Check for injuries and tend to them by applying icepack on the affected areas.
Broken Ribs
Does your dog go outside to play? Some dogs roam around the street and get into fights with other dogs, injuring themselves. Even if your dog remains indoor, there are chances that it fell from an elevated place and broke its ribs.
Some dogs cry out loud when lifted if they have broken ribs. Gently rub your fingers in the chest region to rule this condition out. Another sign to look for is the constant cries of your dog. Broken ribs lead to difficulty breathing. If your dog doesn’t show these signs, it may be ruled out.
Muscle Problems
Even though older dogs are more prone to developing muscular and joint problems, your pups and younger dogs may develop this condition. To detect any kind of joint pains in your pet, see if they are yelping while climbing stairs, lying down, and jumping. Cries during these routine activities do indicate that your pet isn’t medically fit and requires medical attention.
In some dogs, muscle problems are genetic. For example, German Shepherds are more prone to developing hip dysplasia. The best solution is to get it checked by a vet.
Muscle Cramps
Dogs are called a man’s best friend for a reason – they do have similar medical conditions! Have you ever had an excruciatingly painful muscle cramp? Do you know that our furry pets are also capable of developing one? Dogs can get muscle spasms and cramps, which may cause them to cry when they are being lifted.
Signs that indicate that your dog may be suffering from the problem are slow movement, limping, and tremors. Again, this condition is treatable and would require some pain-relieving creams. Dogs who are subjected to strict exercise regimes are prone to developing this. Therefore, it is advisable to have reasonable amounts of breaks between exercises to allow the dog to rest a bit.
Mishandling
We know that you love your dog and that you will be the last person to cause any pain to your dog, but your (mis)handling may be responsible for your dog’s distress. The first thing to do is to hold them down and pick them up carefully. If it doesn’t yelp, you know whom to blame.
Bonus Reason
Yes, we know what you might be thinking – that if your dog yelps, it means there is a dog emergency. But this isn’t always the case. Here is a positive reason for your dog’s yelping:
Out of Excitement
Yes! Dogs may show their excitement through yelping. So, you are good there. If it is waging its tail, showing its tail, and has its eyes wide open, it means that it is appreciating your gesture. In that case, you don’t have to worry about your pet.
A Visit to the Vet
There are both harmful and harmless factors that may result in a dog’s yelping when they’re being picked up. If you are able to detect the root cause and you’re able to manage it with the help of the tips mentioned above, you’re good to go. However, if your dog continues with its behavior and you’re unable to figure out the actual reason for it, you should consult a vet.
Your pet’s doctor will have a thorough evaluation of your furry family member and see if they are medically fit or not. If there are some serious medical conditions that are resulting in your pet’s painful cries, they will recommend the required medications.
Almost all pets have a tendency to fall ill. However, such conditions are easily manageable if diagnosed early and if pet parents follow the treatment plan to the letter.
Signs that Show that Your Dog is in Pain
How will you tell that your dog’s distress calls are the result of a medical condition? Here are some signs that can help you decide:
Difficulties in Breathing
Dogs breathe heavily when their pain is too much to handle. It tells you that something is wrong with your pet and that it needs medical attention.
Loss of Appetite
One of the common signs in an unwell dog is the loss of appetite. If your dog isn’t eating anything or is eating less than it used to, you should get them checked by a vet.
Discharge from the Eyes
Another visible giveaway of a dog’s illness is the redness in its eyes or the discharge from its eyes. If you see this, take your vet to the dog immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My dog has just received its shot. He yelps whenever I pick it up. Is it normal?
Ans: Just like humans, every dog reacts to vaccines differently. Your pet’s reaction to the vaccine can be a bit worrisome – but that’s normal. Small pups do feel a bit of pain when they have received their shots, and they may whimper a little when you pick them up.
Q: Can I use CBD oil for my dog with arthritis?
Ans: Yes. It is safe for pets and can help alleviate symptoms to a great extent. For some pet owners, seeing their pups in pain can be excruciating. Senior dogs, especially, stop being active because of the pain they feel in their bodies. Most of the time, pain medications end up creating other issues, compelling pet owners to decide on whether they should continue the drugs or not. In such cases, CBD oil can be helpful. Several pet parents have happily expressed that CBD oil has been extremely effective in treating neuropathic pain.
Q: Will my dog become aggressive if it yelps because of my picking?
Ans: You wouldn’t want to let your pet know that you are deliberately causing them pain. If they yelp a few times, leave them as is. If you keep holding them and they continue to whimper in pain, they will see you as a threat and will develop negative feelings towards you. So, you will have to be a little careful with that.
The Final Word
Pet parents are responsible for their pets’ health. For a majority of them, this responsibility is a bit intimidating. And there is a reason for that: dogs demand your attention and a lot of time, so it becomes quite difficult to look after them, especially when you don’t have prior knowledge of a dog’s behavior.
But you don’t need to worry. The first thing you must do is learn a dog’s behavior as it will help you meet your pets’ needs. And as you will learn, you will see that cracking their behavior is quite easy.
