Dog Yelps When Picked Up from Under the Chest – Top 3 Reasons Why

Here are a few common reasons that may explain a dog that suddenly yelps whenever he or she is picked up from under the chest.

1. Dog has chest pain

The dog may yelp due to the pain felt from having pressure applied to his chest area. This could happen if the dog has a physical injury to his chest or interconnected parts like the neck and hips. Bruising, for example, may have occurred around the dog’s chest while he was playing and jumping around. The dog may flinch and show signs of soreness if you apply gentle pressure to the affected area.

2. Dog has a bacterial infection

Dogs may yelp when picked up from under the chest due to an infection in the chest area. Dogs can be exposed to a variety of respiratory infections like bacterial pneumonia. In such cases, dogs may show other concerning symptoms like coughing, lethargy, and difficulty in breathing.

3. Recalling a negative experience

Some dogs may yelp if they had a negative experience with being picked up from under the chest. The dogs may yelp or show signs of anxiety even before you actually touch their chest. This is more likely with shelter or rescue dogs that have gone through traumatic experiences.