Signs of Pain in Dogs: Is My Dog In Pain? (Vet-Approved Advice)

Dogs feel pain like humans. But thanks to evolution, they have learned to hide signs of pain because this can make them vulnerable to other dogs. Some dogs make it clear to the owner that they are in pain, while others hide the pain skillfully. In most cases, dogs hide their pain as part of a natural coping strategy developed through evolution. Regardless, there are many ways to tell if your pet is in pain.

How to know if your dog is in pain?

Some breeds will tell you that something is wrong with them by their behavior. They will whine or bark. However, most dogs tolerate pain without showing that they are suffering. But there are subtle signs by which you can understand that they feel bad.

Physical Signs

1. Pay attention to lameness. One of the obvious physical signs of pain is limping. The animal begins to limp when it hurts to transfer the body’s weight to one of its paws. If one of the paws is damaged in a dog, he will likely try not to use it, leaning on the other three paws.
2. Watch for changes in the animal’s habitual postures. How does a dog hold its head or tail? Any deviation from the normal habitual posture (for example, a hanging or tucked tail in a dog that usually wags it actively) can be a sign of discomfort and pain. If the dog holds the paw in any other way than usual, this may also indicate pain. Because of the pain, the dog is often forced to arch its back or tense up its entire body when standing or moving.
3. Listen to the animal’s breathing. If your pup is in pain, his respiratory rate may accelerate, and his breathing may become heavy and shallow. If your dog is panting or short of breath (especially in cool or cold weather), chances are he is in pain.
4. Examine your pet’s eyes. A dog’s eyes can tell much about whether it’s in pain. If the animal’s eyes bother you, you may notice strabismus, redness, cloudiness, and discharge. The dog may often scratch and rub the place that bothers her. If your pet constantly rubs their eyes, this could be a sign of discomfort in that area. For example, squinting can be a sign of damage to the eye area, but in general, dogs often squint their eyes when worried about a pain somewhere. Dilated pupils can also be a sign that your pup is in pain.
5. You must also consider how often your pet has become necessary to relieve himself. And if there was an unpleasant surprise, likely, your pet did not reach the place where he usually relieves himself due to pain and discomfort. Due to soreness, the consistency of the stool can change significantly (this is also associated with increased stress levels). Constipation may occur.
6. The coat can very objectively inform about changes in the body. So, the appearance of dandruff all over the body can signal various problems: stress, chronic infection, metabolic disorders, bathing too often, and using the wrong detergent. If the coat is bristling, this may be a sign of inflammation and temperature. If you observe that the skin is hard and with a coating, this signals helminthiases, infections, and hypovitaminosis. In this or that case, you should contact your veterinarian.
7. Profuse salivation, bad breath. Dogs can experience the same dental problems as humans. Therefore, take care of maintaining dental hygiene on time. Treat your pet with healthy teeth cleaning treats. Show your pet to a veterinarian at least 2 times a year. Pathogenic bacteria cause inflammatory processes that can cause diseases of the internal organs. An unpleasant smell from the mouth can be a sign of gastritis or inflammation of the lymph nodes.
8. The appearance of a rash, irritation or neoplasm on the dog’s skin. Look closely at your dog. Especially in the warm season, when there is a high risk of catching a tick. Daily monitoring of the skin condition will allow you to immediately notice the first signs of allergies, skin diseases arising from parasites.
9. Change in body temperature, dry mucous membranes. These two signs are combined since often one of them is the cause of the other. Every dog ​​veterinary medicine cabinet should have a thermometer. If not, you can touch the ears or paws of the pet. They have many blood vessels. When the body temperature rises, they become noticeably hotter. Dry, bright red gums can also be a sign of fever. Please note that a dog may develop a fever immediately after intense physical activity – this is normal.
10. Any changes in health can also affect the smell emanating from the dog’s coat. There can be many reasons: diseases of the ears, inflammation of the skin folds, parasites, and diabetes. ^[1]

Behavioral signs

1. Pay attention to the tendency to bite. Due to pain and discomfort, the dog’s behavior can change dramatically. Even a friendly animal ​​can bite if in severe pain. Even if the dog has never bitten before, he may bite when you try to get close to him if something is very painful for him. In addition, the dog may bite if you touch the painful area or disturb it in any way. This behavior can be explained by the natural reflex of the animal: when the painful area is exposed, the animal tries to stop this impact. Therefore, the dog may bite you unconsciously, obeying the natural instinct. At first, you will most likely notice a warning sign (such as a growl). Before biting, the dog may flatten its ears and bare its teeth. This behavior can also be called a defense mechanism that the animal uses to prevent showing pain symptoms.
2. If your dog is in pain and discomfort, they may not eat well. If you notice a loss of appetite in a dog, this may indicate pain. A dog with a sore mouth may accidentally drop pieces of food.
3. Changes in sleep mode. A dog in pain will likely stop sticking to his normal daily routine. For example, a pet may sleep much more than usual, or it may be extremely difficult for her to fall asleep.
4. Listen for a dog barking (and any other sounds). Are there any changes in them? There may be howling, moaning, crying, yelping, and even growling among the unusual sounds that speak of pain. These sounds may be associated with certain pet movements (for example, they can be observed when standing up). By the way, this may serve as a clue to the cause of the animal’s pain. It is also worth paying attention to the sudden silence if your pet usually barks loudly and makes different sounds.
5. Pay attention to the detached behavior of the animal. Withdrawal behavior includes hiding and avoiding contact with people and other animals in every possible way – this sign clearly indicates that the dog is experiencing discomfort. The fact is that in this way, they will trie to avoid various painful situations. If your dog turns away or moves away from you in some way when you try to pet him, it is possible that something is hurting him. Pay attention to this feature of behavior if your dog is usually very friendly and disposes to strokes and caresses. If your dog is in pain, you may even notice some signs of depression.
6. Some dogs, during the period of illness, on the contrary, require increased attention to themselves, and do not try to avoid it. Therefore, it is worth taking into account both suspiciously distant behavior and too active behavior aimed at attracting attention.

READ MORE: Do Dogs Get Tired of Barking?

Mobility signs

1. If something hurts the animal, most likely, it will try to move less. Pay attention to oddities in the movements of the dog. For example, it may be difficult for them to stand up or lie down. She may move a little slower than usual and may refuse to do certain activities. If the dog protects a certain paw, and does not step on it, this may be a sign of: inflammation in the joint, dislocation, splinters, wounds, or irritation upon contact with reagents. This behavior requires immediate medical attention.
2. If the dog began to walk more slowly, it is difficult to climb or descend the stairs, and it is difficult to get up after a long sleep – these are possible signs of joint damage, especially if the pet is already aged.
3. Don’t ignore how your dog goes to the toilet. If you know your pet’s normal defecation behavior, you can easily recognize if he has any health problems. If a dog is in pain, it is often possible to notice that, while urinating, they usually begin to adopt a different position. For example, a dog that usually raises one hind leg, moving it to the side, may not do this if something bothers him a lot. ^[2]

RELATED: Why Does My Dog Poop So Much?

What Can I Give My Dog For Pain Relief?

At home, it is extremely difficult to relieve the dog’s pain (and not harm it at the same time). However, to some extent, to alleviate the pet’s condition, you can apply ice to the area of ​​injury or massage it with ice cubes. It is better to use not tap water but frozen chlorhexidine. Stop or modify physical activities with your pet. Let your pet rest and be in peace.

And be sure to urgently take the pet to the veterinary clinic to be examined by a specialist! Discussing treatment options with your vet, do not attempt to treat your dog at home. Be aware that some anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications that work well for humans can be dangerous for animals, especially if taken in the wrong dosage.

If you treat the dog yourself, you can unwittingly greatly harm the pet.

The main mistakes owners make when trying to relieve the dog’s pain on their own:

• Giving medicine designed for people. Many medicines that help people are extremely deadly for dogs!
• Give pain medication that the veterinarian prescribed in earlier stages of the disease or for other diseases when new symptoms appear.
• Don’t seek veterinary help when your pup is in pain.

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Conclusion

The health and well-being of the dog depends only on the attentive attitude of the owner. Pay attention to changes. Get your vaccinations up to date. Take care of taking drugs against internal and external parasites. Visit a veterinarian. By following these simple rules, you will improve the life and health of your pet!

Article Sources:

1. Senestraro, Aja, DVM. “How To Tell If a Dog Is in Pain and What You Can Do To Help.” PetMD, 7 Nov. 2019, petmd.com/dog/care/evr_dg_managing_pain_in_dogs.
2. Johnstone, Gemma. “The Subtleties and Seriousness of Chronic Pain in Dogs.” AKC, akc.org/expert-advice/health/the-subtleties-and-seriousness-of-chronic-pain-in-dogs/.