Is Your Dog in Pain?
It’s easy to miss signs that our dog is in pain, and they can’t use words to let us know. Learn what signs tell you that your dog may be uncomfortable or in pain.
Jolanta Benal, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
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Is Your Dog in Pain?
My dog Juniper just had some major dentistry done, when it turned out his two upper carnassial teeth – those big square ones near the back of the jaw – were cracked, and one had an abscess underneath. The first I knew he was in pain was when he yelped while chewing a bone. To my dismay, after the teeth were pulled I realized that he must have been uncomfortable for quite a while. He had been keeping his mouth closed on our walks. I know perfectly well this is a sign of tension in a dog, yet I didn’t really register it. After he had dentistry, his whole face changed: He walked with his mouth soft and slightly open, and he looked “smiley” again.
In my defense, Juniper’s discomfort and pain probably came on gradually, and that’s why they slipped past me. This week: how to spot clues, even subtle ones, that your dog is uncomfortable or in pain, so he doesn’t have to soldier on when he needs veterinary care and pain relief.
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Do Dogs Hide Pain?
We often hear that animals hide pain to protect themselves from attack. This certainly makes sense for a prey animal like a rabbit or a deer. And many of us have noticed that when one animal in a multiple-animal household gets sick, the others sometimes gang up on it. So, unlike many statements that are repeated over and over again on the Internet, this one actually makes sense. And if our dogs’ evolutionary history disposes them to conceal pain (and other symptoms of illness), then we have to be extra alert so we can take the best care of them.
Yelping, Flinching, and Sudden Aggression
If your dog yelps or flinches when a particular spot is touched, that’s an obvious sign. Aggression is another strong hint: if your friendly old dog one day snaps at you when you touch his hip, it’s not because he suddenly developed a mean streak. Speaking of geriatrics, you often hear people speak affectionately of their “grumpy old dog.” Grumpy Old Dog may well be grumpy because he’s in pain a lot of the time, so get him to the vet. Indeed, this applies to any adult dog who suddenly gets irritable.
See also Health and Behavior in Older Dogs
Even Eager Players Can Be in Pain
Limping is another clear signal that something’s wrong, and don’t be fooled by your ball-crazy dog’s continuing desire to play Fetch. Just think about how many human athletes choose to keep playing even when the wiser course would be to rest an injury. It is, or should be, the coach’s job to override the player’s eagerness, and likewise it’s our job to use our good sense and our awareness of consequences to keep our dogs from making their physical problems worse.
Watch Out for Changes in Overall Behavior
Changes in your dog’s overall demeanor should also send up warning flags. A dog in pain may be restless, unable to settle down and relax. She may be unusually clingy – or she may withdraw, avoiding social contact. She may even hide. A Dogalini who usually loves to play but recently started to refuse Zippy’s overtures (or yours!) needs to see her vet. Is your dog pokey about getting up and reluctant to go for walks or take a set of stairs? Head for the vet.
By the way, if you’re thinking “Wait! She just said that a dog in pain may still want to play his favorite games!” you’re absolutely right. Some kinds of pain are easier to ignore than others, and the effects of chronic pain may change over time, especially if the pain is increasing. But also, your dog is an individual. His friend down the block may be in similar pain from a similar cause, yet behave differently.
Trembling and Hunching
Two other big-picture signs of pain to look for are trembling and hunching. Dogs may tremble because they’re cold or afraid, rather than in pain. Not that cold or fear is something you should ignore! Also, there are plenty of non-painful medical reasons why a dog may tremble. If your shaking dog’s not cold or scared: call the vet. As for hunching or crouching, it’s a clue to abdominal pain. Call the vet fast.
General Signs of Tension May Mean Pain
What’s up with your dog’s mouth and face? I’ve already mentioned how Juniper held his mouth closed much of the time before having his dentistry. And is your dog’s face tense overall? Look out for panting when the weather’s not hot or when Dogalini hasn’t just had some aerobic exercise. Dogs sometimes drool when they’re nauseated or in pain. They may lick or chew at a sore or itchy body part. And, of course, a dog who’s sick or hurting may not eat. If you have your doubts about how your dog’s feeling, though, don’t wait for him to refuse food before you call your vet. For many sick dogs, the point when they lose their appetite is late in the game.
You’ll notice that many of those face-related hints of discomfort and pain overlap with signals of social stress. Isn’t it annoying that dogs can’t talk? Context can help you here. If your dog’s mouth and face get tight only when she sees the barky dog down the block, or only when children are nearby, it’s a good bet you’re looking at social unease. A tense unhappy face when she’s in a situation you know she normally enjoys – that suggests something else is going on.
The Good News: There’s Plenty of Pain Relief Out There
For better or worse, many of the clues that a dog is hurting are subtle ones, or easily missed if they come on gradually. The best advice I can give you is to pay close attention to how your dog carries herself when she’s healthy and happy, and to err on the side of caution. If you have a funny feeling that something might be off, check it out. Better you should feel a little dopey when it turns out to be nothing, than to feel sick with guilt and grief if you ignore your perceptions and learn that something that would have been easily fixable two weeks ago or a month ago has turned into a serious problem meanwhile. Plus, the very good news is that pain management for animals has come a long way. Even if your dog has an illness that can’t be cured, the odds are high that her discomfort can be relieved.
For reviewing this material, I’d like to thank E’Lise Christensen Bell, DVM, DACVB, and a licensed veterinary technician who wants to remain anonymous. Any mistakes are mine, and please remember that veterinary advice comes from your veterinarian, not from anything you read online or hear in a podcast. That’s all for this week …
About the Author
Jolanta holds professional certifications in both training and behavior counseling and belongs to the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She also volunteered with Pet Help Partners, a program of the Humane Society of the United States that works to prevent pet relinquishment. Her approach is generally behaviorist (Pavlovian, Skinnerian and post-Skinnerian learning theory) with a big helping of ethology (animal behavior as observed in non-experimental settings).