How to Know if Your Dog is in Pain?

Dogs are well-known for hiding signs of pain, which is great for survival in the wild but not so good for owners who want to ensure their dog’s quality of life and well-being. You can be confident that if you have a good understanding of your dog’s personality and a keen eye for certain behaviors, you will notice subtle indicators of pain and be able to act on them appropriately. But how can we identify pain in our pets?

Shaking, flattened ears, low posture, aggression, grumpy temperament, panting or crying, excessive licking or scratching a specific area, reluctance to play, interact, or exercise, lameness or limping, stiffness after rest, and loss of appetite are all signs of a grumpy temperament.

Recognizing Your Dog’s Pain

Dogs feel pain the same way humans do, but they don’t always express it in the same ways. Physical symptoms, behavioral changes, and mobility issues can all indicate that your dog is in pain. These can be subtle, so be on the lookout and never be afraid to ask your vet about anything that may indicate that your dog is in pain.

Watch Out for Physical Signs and Symptoms

When a dog is in pain, you may notice subtle physical signs or changes in how they carry itself. The following are some physical signs of pain in dogs:

• Muscle twitching or tightness
• Trembling or shaking
• Curved back
• They are holding their heads below their shoulders.
• Panting

Changes in Behaviors

When a dog is in pain, it will behave differently than usual. Dogs, like humans, become irritable when they are in pain. Here are a few behavioral signs that your pet may be in pain:

• Refusing to be touched
• Licking excessively
• Excessive babbling
• Restlessness
• Aggression
• Sleeping patterns have shifted.
  

Struggling with Mobility

If your dog has been injured or suffers from arthritis, you may notice changes in its mobility. Here are some common signs of pain in dogs that affect their mobility:

• Limping
• Walking at a slower pace or refusing to walk
• Unwillingness to jump or use stairs
• Difficulties lying down or getting out of bed

Some of these signs of pain can be associated with severe medical or behavioral issues, so always consult your veterinarian about any changes in behavior or regular activity.

What Causes of Pain in Dogs?

Acute and chronic pain are the two types of pain. Acute pain is caused by something that happened recently, such as an injury or illness. Chronic pain is caused by long-term conditions such as arthritis or dental disease.

In dogs, anything that damages cells or causes inflammation can cause pain, including:

• Bone and joint damage
• Sprains, strains, and bruising are examples of soft tissue injuries.
• Back issues
• Disease of the teeth
• Infections of the ears, skin, and urinary tract
• Serious stomach upset
• Certain types of cancer
• Surgeries

How Can We Help Ease the Pain of Our Dogs?

You can give your dog pain relief medication to relieve mild and temporary pain. Over-the-counter medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, may be recommended by your veterinarian (NSAIDs). Natural oils and joint supplements are also options.

However, for severe or chronic pain, these pain relief options may be insufficient. Aside from medication, your dog may require other treatments such as physical therapy and surgery. It is best to consult your veterinarian about the best treatment option for your dog’s condition.

Below are some tips on helping your dog’s pain:

Take Your Dog to the Vet

First, make an appointment with your veterinarian to determine the source of the problem. If your dog is in severe pain or has other frightening symptoms, take them to the vet immediately.

Your veterinarian will require a physical exam and diagnostic tests. Your veterinarian may need to perform X-rays, blood tests, or an ultrasound to determine the source of the problem.

Stop or Modify Usual Activities

If your pet only shows signs of pain while participating in an activity, avoid it until you can consult with your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on how to help your pet best, whether that means stopping the activity entirely or making changes to reduce pain.

Simple modifications to everyday activities can include:

• Walking for shorter distances
• Making use of a ramp or steps
• Raising food and water dishes to a more convenient height

These changes may be temporary in some cases of acute pain, but in some chronic pain conditions, they may be long-term, or at least until other treatments take full effect.

Keeping Track on the Usual Symptoms and Signs You’re Seeing

We’ve all had the experience of noticing specific symptoms at home, but by the time we get to the vet, everything appears to be okay.

That’s why taking pictures or videos of your pet when they’re in pain or discomfort, which they’re more likely to do at home than when they’re stressed out at the veterinary clinic, can be beneficial. Note when they happened and what your pet was doing at the time.

This assists your veterinarian in understanding the scenarios in which your dog is in pain, as well as the types of symptoms and signs of pain they are exhibiting.

Exploring Other Treatment Options

There are numerous veterinary treatments available to eliminate or reduce acute and chronic pain. Consult your veterinarian to learn about your dog’s treatment options.

The following are the most common pain treatments:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, opioids, and other medications
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation of the physical body
• Laser treatment
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic therapy
• Stem cell therapy is an example of regenerative medicine.
• Massag
• Herbal supplements and therapies
• Heat or ice packs

Consult Your Veterinarian

Here are some questions to ask your veterinarian:

• How will you manage my pet’s pain before, during, and after surgery?
• How will a specific treatment alleviate their discomfort?
• Can a supplement help with pain relief?
• What changes can I make at home to assist them?
• What else can we do to relieve their suffering?

You can also seek a second opinion and additional treatment options from another general practitioner veterinarian, integrative veterinarian, veterinary pain practitioner, or veterinary specialists such as a behaviorist, surgeon, oncologist, or neurologist.