My dog's neck swells up, hunching her back, trembling and holding her head low?

[Lucy_LuHM]

My dog's neck keeps swelling up. She hangs her head and tail very low, she hunches her back and just wants to lie down, completely stretched out. One minute she'll be fine and the next she's like this and stays like this for a couple of hours. We've also noticed that her heart beat becomes a lot more obvious in her chest and stomach, she also shivers and licks her lips a lot - and occasionally whimpers as well.

We took her to the vet on Wednesday and the vet took an x-ray of her chest, which nothing showed up on. The vet also took a blood test, which showed that she is dehydrated - but overall the vet is unsure about what it could be that's happening to her when this occurs, or what's causing it. Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

[ginger899]

I am sorry you waited many days for a reply. I have only just logged in.
I am sorry but I don't know for sure what might be wrong. You have done everything correctly....taken her to be checked....had bloodwork done.
What you describe are classic signs of pain. That hunched stance, shivering, etc. My guess is the pain is in her belly....

How are all her blood results otherwise? Normal for organ function?

What suggestions did the vet come up with for her dehydration? (if she will drink water -ok, but if not, she needs an IV of fluids urgently.)

Has she recently (or within the past week or two) had any injury?

Is she eating/drinking/eliminating normally?

Another diagnostic test would be an ultrasound, which sometimes can pick up things a normal X ray can't. Then there is an endoscopy which can tell if there is anything wrong with her actual stomach.
The ultrasound can be done with her awake. But an endoscopy would require sedation at least.

Another option of course, is to seek a second opinion if you are getting no answers.