In many cases our animals hide their pain. Showing back pain or whatever the situation is. The worst is when it’s internal, there’s nothing that they have to show us like limping or a small gesture of shaking their leg or something. I don’t know about cats, but dogs are very good at hiding any injuries. Trixie has many pains that have developed the last few years. She has severe arthritis in her spine. Her front paw no one knows what’s wrong with it. The vet cannot tell what’s wrong with it, but after limited ball playing she begins to limp on it. Yesterday it was true for both the front paws. Her back right leg looks fine, but there was something in the way she was walking on it or holding it that we went to the vet. They did the necessary exams and it turns out she has some sort of nerve damage. It’s not painful, but it causes her to, walk a little differently at times or hold the differently.
Rudy has a bad knee which when we adopted him, we saw him shake his leg. We had seen this before with our dog Allie who ended up having surgery and all the crazy Physical Therapy, etc. Rudy has the same thing as she had where the bone does not sit securely in the socket and slips out. It will cramp up on him. They have problems that we have seen that we have worked at.
Coco had stomach problems and that was a scary situation because she nearly died because we couldn’t tell that there was a problem
Your situation it’s not always easy to determine or tell if our animal is in pain. Some of us are closer to our animals. They are a part of us and we may pick up on things that they’re doing. They give us some medication. For others that have busy lives and children, and although they are close to their animals may not see an action indicating pain unless when taking them for a walk or running around the yard. It is more difficult if there is a problem.
I hope the article below is helpful to you and you find something of interest.
Enjoy the read. Please send me any comments or questions you may have.
Tricia, Rudy and Trixie
By Aja Senestraro, DVM. Reviewed by Kelly Gold, DVM
Updated Jun. 27, 2024
AMR Image/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
IN THIS ARTICLE
Signs a Dog Is in PainView 2 More +
No pet parent wants their dog to be in pain. But because dogs instinctively try to hide their pain and they can’t tell us when they are hurting, it’s up to us to recognize the subtle signs and to get them the help they need.
Many behaviors and physical changes can indicate that a dog is in pain. Learn how to recognize the signs of pain in dogs, what causes it, what you can do to help, and how to discuss your concerns with your vet.
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Signs a Dog Is in Pain
Dogs feel pain just like humans do, but they don’t always show it in the same ways.
A dog’s pain can become evident through physical symptoms, behavioral changes, and/or mobility issues. These might be subtle, so stay vigilant and never be afraid to ask your vet about anything that might signal that your dog is in pain.
Physical Symptoms
When a dog is experiencing pain, you might notice subtle physical signs or changes in their body language and how they carry themselves. Here are a few physical signs of pain in dogs:
- Tight or twitching muscles
- Shaking or trembling
- Arched back
- Holding their head below their shoulders
- Panting
Behavioral Changes
A dog in pain tends to behave differently than what’s usual for them. Just like us, dogs tend to be crankier when they are experiencing pain.
Here are a few behavioral signs that might indicate that your pet is experiencing pain:
- Not wanting to be touched
- Excessive licking
- Excessive vocalization (whimpering, yelping, crying, and howling)
- Restlessness
- Aggression
- Changes in sleeping habits
Mobility Issues
If a dog has sustained an injury or is dealing with arthritis, you may notice changes in their mobility. Here are common signs of pain in dogs that affect how dogs get around:
- Limping
- Walking slower or refusing to walk
- Reluctance to jump or use stairs
- Difficulties lying down or rising
Some of these signs and symptoms of pain in dogs can be seen with serious medical or behavioral problems, so always discuss changes in behavior or normal activity with your veterinarian.
What Causes Pain in Dogs?
There are two types of pain: acute and chronic. Something that just happened, like an injury or illness, causes acute pain. Things that have been going on longer, like arthritis or dental disease, cause chronic pain.
Anything that damages cells or creates inflammation can cause pain in dogs, including:
- Damage to bones or joints
- Soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, or bruising
- Back problems
- Dental disease
- Ear infections
- Skin infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Severe stomach upset
- Some kinds of cancer
- Surgeries
How To Help a Dog That’s in Pain
If you think your dog is suffering, know that there are a lot of different things you can do to help them feel better. Here are some steps you can take to help your dog cope with pain and work toward relief.
1. Make a Vet Appointment
First, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to figure out what the problem is. If your dog is in severe pain or has other symptoms, get them to a veterinarian immediately.
Your veterinarian will need to perform a physical exam and run some diagnostic tests. To pinpoint the problem, your vet may need to do X-rays, blood tests, or an ultrasound.
2. Stop or Modify Physical Activities
If your pet is only showing signs of pain during an activity, avoid it until you can talk to your veterinarian.
Your vet will be able to help you figure out how to best help your pet, whether it’s stopping that activity altogether or establishing modifications that will minimize pain.
Simple pain-reducing modifications to common activities can include:
- Taking shorter walks
- Using a ramp or steps to get into cars or onto furniture
- Raising food/water dishes to a more comfortable height
- Avoiding running or jumping
- Encouraging your dog to rest
For some instances of acute pain, these changes might be temporary. But for some chronic pain conditions, they may be long-term—or at least until other treatments have a chance to take full effect.
3. Record What You’re Seeing
We’ve all been through the scenario where we see certain signs at home, but by the time we get to the vet, everything looks fine.
That’s why it can be helpful to take pictures or a video of your pet when they are showing signs of pain or discomfort, which they’re more likely to do at home than when they are stressed out at the veterinary clinic. Write down when they occur and what your pet was doing at the time.
This helps your vet understand the scenarios in which your dog is experiencing pain as well as the types of symptoms and signs of pain they are displaying.
Having video and pictures of your dog can also help your vet make the proper modifications to your routine and recommend other treatment options to help minimize the pain.
4. Explore All of the Treatment Options
There are many veterinary treatments that can eliminate or reduce both acute and chronic pain. Talk with your veterinarian to understand what your dog’s treatment options are.
The most common treatments for pain include:
- Medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as Galliprant®
- Surgery
- Physical rehabilitation
- Laser therapy
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic treatment
- Regenerative medicine, such as stem cell therapy
- Massage
- Supplements and herbal therapies
- Ice or heat packs
Mentioned in this Article
Never give your dog human pain medications without talking to your veterinarian first. Not all human pain medications are safe for dogs, and some can cause serious harm.
5. Ask Questions
Here are some questions you might ask your vet:
- How will you manage my pet’s pain before, during, and after surgery?
- How will a specific treatment help my dog’s pain?
- Can a supplement for my dog help reduce pain?
- What modifications can I make at home to help them?
- What else we can do for their pain?
You can always contact another general practitioner vet, integrative vet, veterinary pain practitioner, or veterinary specialists like a behaviorist, surgeon, oncologist, or neurologist for a second opinion and additional treatment options.
6. Be Your Dog’s Advocate
Your dog depends on you to be their voice to get them the help they need. If you think your dog is showing any signs of pain, including any changes in routine, preferences, and behaviors, set up an appointment with your vet as soon as you can.
Even if the signs of pain resolve, you’ll want to keep the appointment to be sure whatever was causing the pain does not become a long-term problem.
If your pet is injured, sick, or showing multiple or severe signs of pain, don’t hesitate to take them to an emergency vet clinic to get their pain treated as soon as possible. You are your dog’s best health advocate.
WRITTEN BYAja Senestraro, DVM
Dr. Aja Senestraro is a holistic veterinarian based in Seattle, Washington. As the founder of Sea to Sky Holistic Vet she is privileged to…