For dog lovers, their pets are nothing less than their family members. Therefore, seeing them suffer can feel very disturbing. Dogs, in this aspect, have an incredible ability to hide pain. Thanks to their survival instincts inherited from their wild ancestors, they feel that showing weakness would make them appear vulnerable. Of course, this quality helped their ancestors to survive in the wild, but it can make life challenging for modern dog owners. By the time the owners realize the symptoms, a dog may have been suffering for weeks or even months.
Thus, it becomes imperative to understand the silent signs of pain. Undoubtedly, it can also be defined as one of the most critical responsibilities of pet ownership. Let us explore the hidden signals that may indicate the dog is experiencing pain and what the owner should do when they notice the same.
Hiding pain is a common characteristic of dogs
Unlike humans, dogs cannot tell us exactly what hurts. To make matters more complicated, they do not always display pain in the ways the owners expect. Many owners think that when the dog is in pain, it will whine, cry, or be reluctant to move. Interestingly, many dogs can do the exact opposite. They carry on with their daily activities while adapting to discomfort. Some breeds are exceptional in this aspect. Working breeds, sporting dogs, and certain large breeds are masters at pushing through discomfort without showing any signs. So, the onus is on the owners, and they should pay attention to the subtle shifts in behavior and routine.
Changes in activity levels
One of the preliminary indicators of pain is a change in activity. A normal energetic dog may all of a sudden seem less interested about walks, games, or any outdoor activities. They might want to sleep more, or appear reluctant to engage in activities they usually love to do. This shouldn’t be confused with the fact that they are growing older. Several factors, like pain from arthritis, muscle strain, injury, or underlying illness, can reduce the dog’s desire to move. Even younger dogs can develop canine arthritis. So, look out for the following signs:
- Reduced interest in walks.
- Less enthusiasm during playtime.
- Increased duration of sleep time.
- Hesitation when climbing stairs.
- No longer jumps onto furniture.
Since the abovementioned changes develop gradually, owners can overlook them, and the problem only becomes complicated.
Changes in walking patterns
Limping is the obvious sign everyone recognizes, but pain can also affect movement in more subtle ways. So, a dog may walk slower than usual, take shorter strides, shift weight away from a painful limb, move stiffly after resting, and even struggle while trying to stand up. To make matters confusing, some dogs may even appear normal once they are up and moving in a few minutes. These are the signs that owners should notice in the morning or after a long nap.
Unusual sleeping habits
As mentioned before, pain can dramatically affect a dog’s sleep pattern. The signs to watch out for are as follows:
Changing sleeping locations frequently
- Having trouble settling down.
- Sleep more than usual.
- Sleep less than usual.
- Seeking softer surfaces to cushion sore joints.
- Seeking isolation in quiet areas where they won’t be disturbed.
All these signs indicate that it is worth paying attention to their health.
Changes in appetite
Dogs often lose interest in food when they are nursing a pain. The sore can make eating uncomfortable, particularly if the mouth, teeth, neck, or digestive system is involved. By observing them closely, owners can surely find one or many of these signs:
- Eating more slowly.
- Leaving food unfinished.
- Skipping meals.
- Reduced enthusiasm during meal time.
Generally, dogs love food, and even minor changes in appetite demand immediate attention. A dog that was once used to race toward the food bowl now seems to be hardly interested, which is a sure signal that the dog is suffering.
Behavioral changes
Like humans, pain can influence mood as strongly. A normal, cheerful dog can soon become irritable, withdrawn, anxious, depressed, and less social. Some of them even stop greeting family members at the door, or they might lose interest in interacting with family members altogether. Thus, a sudden change in temperament is often one of the most crucial warning signs that an individual is suffering from pain.
Increased aggression or sensitivity
Again, one of the commonly misunderstood signs of pain is aggression. When a dog is in pain, they may want to react defensively to protect the painful area. So, a dog that has never shown aggression before might all of a sudden display these signs:
- Starts growling when touched.
- Snap unexpectedly.
- Trying to avoid physical contact.
- Become defensive during grooming.
The above signs do not indicate the dog has become bad or aggressive by nature; they are simply trying to prevent additional discomfort.
Excessive licking or chewing
When in pain, dogs frequently focus on those painful spots. Repeated licking, chewing, or nibbling can indicate signs of joint pain, skin irritation, injury, arthritis, and internal discomfort. Sometimes, owners mistake the abovementioned signs as symptoms of boredom or allergies. This shouldn’t be confused with normal licking, thus owners must understand the science behind dogs licking everything.
Changes in posture
Pain can make dogs vulnerable which in turn can affect how it moves. The signs to look out for are:
- Hunched backs.
- Tucked tails.
- Lowered head position.
- Stiff body posture.
- Abnormal sitting positions.
Heavy panting without doing any strenuous activities
Panting isn’t related to heat or physical activity; pain can trigger increased panting because discomfort can activate the body’s stress response. So, exercise caution if you find your dog panting indoors, panting while resting, panting even in cool weather, or panting excessively at night. Unexplained panting should never be taken lightly.
Changes in bathroom habits
Pain can also change urination and bowel movements. Therefore, a dog experiencing pain can take longer to squat, have difficulty getting into position, experience accidents indoors, hesitate before eliminating, and can even refuse to go for a loo break. Joint pain, back pain, and abdominal discomfort can all interfere with normal bathroom routines.
Changes in facial expressions
Owners can also detect whether their dogs are dealing with pain if they observe the subtle facial changes. A painful dog will show tense facial muscles, squinted eyes, flattened ears, a worried expression, and furrowed brows. Vets often assess these facial cues when evaluating discomfort. Owners who spend considerable time with their dogs can usually spot these changes and act accordingly.
Avoiding favorite activities
One of the strongest indicators of pain is when the dog loses interest in activities it previously enjoyed. It can include fetch games, running, swimming, hiking, and playing with other pets. A dog would not necessarily stop these activities completely, but they will participate for shorter periods and seem less enthusiastic.
When to consult a Vet?
Owners should understand, any persistent signs of pain should not be left alone and the dog should be taken to an experienced Vet. One should schedule an appointment without fail if the dog has:
- Ongoing mobility issues
- Significant behavior changes
- Loss of appetite.
- Unexplained panting,
- Increased aggression for no specific reason.
- Persistent licking and changes in posture.
Remember, the earlier you intervene, the better it is for the dog to prevent the pain from worsening further.
Helping a dog in pain
Owners should never attempt to diagnose or treat their dog’s pain on their own. The biggest mistake is administering human medication in such situations, which can be dangerous and even fatal for the dogs. To help them out of their painful situations, owners should monitor symptoms carefully, record behavioral changes, limit their daily activities, and provide them with a comfortable resting area.
So, as you can see, pain in dogs isn’t always loud. Thus, it is all about paying attention to the subtle symptoms and taking adequate measures to help the pet overcome their ongoing condition. If detected early and taken to a Vet, the problem can be cured permanently.