Dogs Suffer from Sore Necks too!

Neck pain in dogs can be very difficult to diagnose. It is possible that your canine friend may have been suffering for a while. In this article, we’ll look at how you can troubleshoot this important problem and help you make your dog comfortable and fix the problem. But more than that, in order to exclude the more serious and life-threatening conditions you’ll need to get a handle on the characteristics of those disease states and conditions… so you can take the right action in a timely manner.

Let’s get started!

• Has your dog become restless?
• Has he or she stopped eating?
• Has your dog maybe even stopped moving altogether?

IN A HURRY? Skip to our best choice of Dog Neck Braces!

It could be due to neck discomfort. The good news is that given proper treatment and support, things can turn around very quickly for your dog and you’ll see normal behaviors again.

Sometimes, the answer is as simple: sometimes all you need to do is fit a good quality neck brace designed specifically for dogs. 

When in doubt, take your fur baby to a vet! When you have a good relationship with your vet, together you can surmount problems quickly, diagnose and treat, and find the right solution for the pain. Your vet will help determine if pain medication is also indicated. 

Neck pain in dogs… the good and the bad

You may think a sore neck is not really too much of a problem, but did you know that cervical disc disease if left untreated for too long is in danger of causing irreversible spinal cord injury in your dog? The rule of thumb is this: Neck problems need to be attended to by a vet. Don’t leave anything to chance.

Your dog has an excellent chance of recovery if you know what to look for. Just know that there are many conditions that require treatment—but those treatments can be very different depending on the cause. Get a professional opinion as soon as you see any warning signs. This article has some comprehensive details for you to assess.

The Source of the Problem (Anatomy, Diseases, and Conditions)

Dogs are vertebrates, just like humans. A dog’s neck is an array of vertebrae (bones), muscles, and ligaments. The vertebrae are separated by thin cartilage plates called discs. Neck problems in dogs usually arise due to biting wounds, sudden falls, and sporting injuries.  So, the most common cause of neck injury in dogs is the dislocation of the spinal cord. But, beware, there are other more sinister problems.

The problems that may occur to cause neck pain are very wide-ranging. There’s a lot that could be going on.

Broadly speaking:

• Neck injuries can cause a lot of pain and discomfort for a dog. The neck injury in dogs can also cause abnormalities in their gait (the way they walk).
• There could be a physical reason (such as injury to soft and or hard tissues).
• Maybe an infection (which could be localized or systemic).
• Your dog could be suffering from a neurological disease or a serious systemic condition.

The following is a more comprehensive and specific selection of abnormalities that can cause neck injury in dogs.

• Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
• Cervical Spondylopathy
• Atlanto-Axial Malformation or Instability
• Cranial Occipital Malformation Syndrome (COMS)
• Osteoarthritis and Discospondylitis
• Cervical instability and Cervical disc lesions
• And other neurological issues and hernias
• Physical trauma
• Soft tissue injury
• Meningitis
• Inner ear disease
• Cancer (tumor)
• Wobbler syndrome

Typical signs your dog has neck pain

(Symptoms are different from signs! Symptoms are what you experience. Signs are what others observe. So strictly speaking, you are looking for ‘signs’ that your dog is suffering as they may not be able to show you what is wrong.)

Look for these signs in your dog:

• Your dog’s neck is rigid
• You may notice spasms in the neck muscles
• Head is down (not lifted)
• If the head is down, sometimes the back arches up. This can help redistribute weight away from the neck. In any case, they do not look happy or comfortable.
• Unable to move their head (even to claim a treat)
• Reluctant to move the head in any direction
• Pain, whining, yelping, when the neck is touched or surrounding areas, or when the dog is moved
• Loss of appetite, unwillingness to eat or drink from a bowl on the floor
• Unwilling to drink
• Unwilling to jump on or off furniture, up or down stairs
• Unusual movement, slow or careful walking

Soft tissue injury

Soft tissue injuries can stem from obvious and not-so-obvious causes. They are characterized by pain, inflammation, and neck or body stiffness.

Observation is key

Ask yourself questions about things that may have changed, or have been out of the ordinary. Has your dog recently been attacked by another animal? Have they been in a car accident? Is it possible that exertion from activities or training has taken its toll?

What would you do if your neck were sore?

Think about what you would do if your own neck was sore (or any other joint for that matter). The same can apply to your dog. Rest. Ice to reduce inflammation, pain medication and gentle movement (through physical therapy).

It’s always a good start to apply basic strategies and keep a close eye on the situation. Make your dog comfortable and seek help because sometimes a mild condition can mask a worse problem. It’s advisable to visit the vet for professional advice. At the very minimum, you want to hear you’ve done the right thing and there’s nothing to worry about. And you want to be in a position to catch small problems before they become serious. Because neck pain and stiffness are signs of things like meningitis, you want to be thorough in your approach.

Four (4) conditions you need to know about, if you think your dog has neck pain

Otitis media (inner ear disease)

Secretory otitis media is where fluid builds up inside the inner or middle ear and can cause neck pain in dogs.

While its underlying cause is unknown, the symptoms result from mucus build-up in the middle ear. Brachycephalic breeds (who typically have shorter skull bones, and may have a pushed-in appearance) are most frequently afflicted by this kind of inner ear illness (such as Cavalier King Charles or boxer breeds).

The myringotomy procedure:

• A tiny hole is made in the eardrum.
• Mucus is extracted from the tympanic bulla.
• To ensure mucus is properly removed, the middle ear is further cleansed with saline solution.

IVDD (intervertebral disc disease in the neck, Cervical IVDD)

This affliction is most common in particular breeds: Dachshunds, French Bulldogs, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, and Beagles.

You’ve probably heard reference to human conditions such as:

• Slipped disc
• Bulging disc
• Herniated disc, and
• Ruptured disc

Dogs are vertebrates, just like humans, and they can also suffer (similar) problems with their intervertebral discs. In your dog, disc pressure on the spinal cord causes mild discomfort to severe and debilitation pain, right up to permanent paralysis.

The neck is right under the brain. It’s an important HIGHWAY for health that must be looked after. Any unresolved neck issues can cause:

• weakness
• pain
• inability to move not just the neck, but be evidenced by a lifting of the front limb, and even the inability to move all of the limbs.

Your vet would assess any condition of IVDD by assigning a ‘grade’ from 1 – 5, where 1 is the mildest (with neck pain but nothing more sinister) and where 5 is a completely paralyzed dog unable to feel its toes. Clearly, you want to see a vet as soon as you are aware your dog has neck pain.

Luckily Grade 5 is not very common with Cervical (neck) IVDD. It is more common with mid-back disc problems.

Treatment of IVDD: pain meds, surgery, physical therapy

Meningitis

The brain is surrounded by a protective layer of connective tissue called the meninges. Meningitis is either a viral or bacterial infection or inflammation of the meninges. Infection is not the only cause, (certain types of cancer may underly the condition), but it is the main one.

If your dog:

• has a fever
• is vomiting
• is very lethargic and can’t seem to rouse, and
• his neck is painful and stiff

then rush him to a vet or emergency clinic.

Medications usually include corticosteroids and depending on the source of infection, antibiotics.

Atlantoaxial instability (AA subluxation)

The atlantoaxial joint is comprised of the top 2 vertebrae in the neck (referred to as C1 and C2). It gives the neck its rotational mobility. It is therefore located just below the skull. Sometimes the joint can dislocate and become unstable. While it is a problem often caused by trauma, there are certain dog breeds that are congenitally more susceptible to this particular type of subluxation. Those dogs tend to be smaller breeds such as Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranians and Toy Poodles.

Treatment depends on the severity and duration of the condition.

If it’s of short duration, the effects of imposed rest (even in a cage) are tested. The dog will have to wear a rigid neck brace (or splint) for between one and two months.

Where there is excessive pain, and significant difficulty in mobility and normal movements, surgery is recommended which aims to stop movement between the 2 vertebrae.

OK, so now you know the kinds of things you need to be on the lookout for. Pain, lethargy, change in gait, mood, appetite (and more) are just several of the signs you need to understand so that you can determine the severity… and get the right treatment for your dog.

Neck braces for all neck conditions

Neck braces are indicated in, and may significantly be of, great use to you and your dog for any of the conditions on this page. Let’s take a look at their types, uses, and then even some well-loved, highly reviewed examples.

Tips for preventing neck injuries in dogs

Where indicated, you can act preventively and limit the types of activities that may constitute ‘overdoing’ things. You obviously would not stop your dog from doing the following things in all situations! 

• Use a Neck Brace
• Limit excessive activity… Don’t let your dog jump high, onto furniture or other heights
• Carry your dog while going up and down stairs
• Use an elevated bowl to feed your dog and prevent undue or unnecessary neck movement
• Maintain lean body weight to reduce stress and pressure on the neck

Best Neck Braces for Dogs

Dog neck braces, recovery and protection collars

Neck braces for dogs are marketed for either as being helpful to prevent the animal from obsessive licking or from biting themselves (say, post-operatively), or, to support their neck, provide stability for different conditions… or both. If you’ve read our article above, we’ve listed most of the causes that would have you buy a neck brace. Those conditions range from mild to severe and even life-threatening. Generally, the different dog neck braces reviewed here could cater to both applications.

The waiver here might be if your dog’s condition was considered more serious, you would choose the brace with the most robust support coupled with ease of use. You can appreciate that the products that are pitched for that purpose might conceivably provide more targeted support.

Neck braces for neck support

There are very few dog braces on the market specifically designed for NECK use. What this means is that we’ve only been able to curate a handful of braces for you to consider (at least at time of writing!). Where the data is available, features are rated very similarly across the brands: It seems that they get high marks for being sturdy and durable, and medium marks for comfort and value for money.

Neck braces versus Elizabethan collars

You may have heard of Elizabethan Collars or e-collars, or what some people call the ‘cone of shame’. These are the most effective at limiting your dog’s access to just about their entire body, including front legs, ears and face (which can be reached by using the hind legs). The neck braces on this page are an alternative to e-collars and provide other benefits of neck stabilization and support. The braces on this page are more useful to prevent your dog accessing their hind areas.

Sometimes you need both a neck brace and an e-collar

So, none of the dog neck braces below stop your dog from interfering with (licking, biting) wounds, injuries, post-op sites on front legs, feet or face and ears. For that you might need those e-collars. If you need the neck support and access prevention, you may have to use both at the same kind.

How we choose what to review

We’ve been recommending braces to thousands of people for quite some time now. When it comes to braces for humans, it seems there is a far greater proportion of higher star-ratings. On the rest of our www.bracesbox.com website, we have a far higher standard for product inclusion for reviews, but we do not have sufficient choice with this category. This is why with dog neck braces, we see 24 – 38% of ratings are 1 – 2 stars. That’s a heck of a lot.
So, are manufacturer’s less concerned about comfort in our four-legged friends than in humans? It seems so. Human braces seem to be constructed from better, more breathable materials. And as a result, they can be worn for longer periods.

Check out these reviews

There is no need for your dog to be in pain. On this page, you will find a selection of recommended neck collars considered to be among the best for your dog. So, let’s have a look at them.

What ALL Dog Neck Braces will be used for…

Let’s be clear. You’re potentially going to look at a lot of products that will have very similar features and benefits. You’re going to consider what others say, and like it or not, you will be influenced by the wording on their listings.

All dog neck braces will likely:

• be extremely helpful to treat various medical conditions including Osteoarthritis, Wobbler Syndrome, Discospondylitis, and Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
• help conditions of muscle fatigue
• improve neurological conditions (see those listed above in the article)
• reduce pain
• reduce inflammation
• assist in post-operative rehabilitation
  • whether or not the procedure involves the neck. The brace can help manage obsessive wound cleaning and licking
• create stability in the neck
• allow supported movement
• redistribute forces, alleviate pressure on the vertebrae and supporting tissues
• have posture corrective effects
• correct neck-joint alignment

The differences in neck braces are important

…and that’s what we’ll tell you.

Each product we review is based on criteria that make them stand out from other items. So, we will NOT comment on the obvious features and benefits that ALL dog neck braces embody. We will call out the differences so you can make an informed decision. 

We’ll tell you what we like, what we don’t like, what the reviews say, what the materials are, and the benefits and features (where they differ).

The first brace off the block (!) is…

1. BUVUB Dog Protective Collar Neck Brace for After Surgery

Here’s an example with few reviews and ratings:

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What you need to know

A well-fitting brace will reduce anxiety, pain and discomfort. This one stops your dog biting and licking healing wounds, rashes and injuries as he won’t be able to crane neck backwards to lick wounds, surgical sutures, infected skin areas (on his back, hind legs, and tail area). Provides neck support and stabilizes an injured neck (or spinal column). At the same time your dog has the freedom to walk, run or lie down, sleep, as well as have unhindered vision, and eat and drink.

To choose your size

Recommendations:

Order the larger size if your dog is in between sizes

2. KVP Bite Free

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What you need to know

Another collar with a reasonable number of ratings and reviews. As with other dog neck braces on this page, this one is designed to stop your dog’s head and muzzle reaching beyond the neck, and still allow regular activity such as walking, lying, sleeping, eating and drinking in comfort.

To choose your size

Measure the circumference of your dog’s neck.

There are 7 sizes from which to choose.

For larger dogs, it’s best to go up to the higher choice of collar width.

3. Alfie Pet – Halsey Cervical Support Brace Collar

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Just as brace support is supposed to, you can use this collar when you need to give your dog added stability and support, or if you need to manage them post-surgery and stop licking and chewing.

This collar is very similar to the collar that we’ve reviewed below. While they are very similar, the size you choose by calculating the circumference is slightly different for the 2 brands. Our suggestion is that you take your measurement as carefully as you can and, as per the description recommendations, choose between the 2 brands to get the best possible fit.

Look, this particular brace has very few ratings and reviews at the moment. Almost ¾ of the ratings are from 3 – 5 stars. It’s fair to say that proper size selection is essential for ANY brace you buy for any purpose whether it’s for you or your pet. So, if what you choose fits well, you will always have a far greater chance of success. Don’t guess the size. Get your tape measure out.

To choose your size

Measure the circumference of your dog’s neck.

• XX-Small: 9 – 11 inches (collar is 3 inches high)
• X-Small: 12 – 14 inches (collar is 4.5 inches high)
• Small: 16 – 18 inches
• Medium: 18 – 21 inches
• Large: 20 – 24 inches
• X-Large: 24 – 28 inches

4. WXF brand’s Pet Cervical Collar Neck Brace for Dog

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What you need to know

This Cervical Brace seems to be the same as Alfie product, but we cannot be sure. It has similar information. However, this product only has 4 size choices (Small through to X-Large).

There are so few products in this category we thought it was best to include both… just in case.

We advise you, that if you choose either of these products, you should follow the directions to measure your pup’s neck circumference as accurately as possible. While the products appear to be similar, the size recommendations are different. You’ll either trust their information from each product, or perhaps you’ll choose a different product. It’s important we disclose this aberration so you can make the best decision for your dog.

This product is marketed more for pain relief, for protection while healing from injury, surgery or other conditions, and it offers support for dogs with arthritis.

There are only 6 ratings with an average of 3.3 stars, and as there are only ratings and not reviews, it’s hard to know what people like and do not like.

To choose your size

Measure the circumference of your dog’s neck. Note these are different circumferences for similar sizes of the similar ALFIE product above

• Small: 18 – 20 inches
• Medium: 20 – 22 inches
• Large: 22 – 26 inches
• X-Large: 27 – 30 inches
• Choose the larger, if your dog is between sizes

5. BiteNot Collar, 3.5″W X 16″L

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Yay! A collar that has more than a handful of ratings. In fact, it rates 3.7 stars from 829 ratings. It rates well for being sturdy and durable, but not so well for comfort or value for money.

What you need to know

• When your dog is wearing the right size it’s the perfect balance between comfort, ease of activity and sleep and inability to obsess over licking or cleaning wounds.
• Unlike other neck braces, this collar has a harness strap to ensure it stays in place.
• 1 in four ratings has either been given 1- OR 2-stars.

To choose your size

• many different size options
• maximum protection comes from a collar that stretches from base of ear to top of shoulder

What’s the bottom line? What should you choose?

Each of the collars, in most cases, could be used for any neck bracing purpose, whether protection, recovery or spinal support. Choosing the right size is going to be your most important factor. And taking the width of the device into account should always be considered. So, get your tape measure out.