How To Tell If Your Dog Is In Pain & What You Can Do To Help

Restlessness Or Changes In Sleep Habits ... A dog in pain can feel restless and exhibit an inability to get comfortable and lie still. Pacing, repeatedly ... (PictureCredit:Shutterstock)Somedogswillletyouknowwhenthey’reinpaininobviousways,butothersactmorestoic.Dogsaregenerallythoughttohaveahighertoleranceforpainthanhumans,andsomedogswilltrytohidetheirpainasanaturalsurvivalinstinct.Manyofthesignsthatadogisinpainaresubtle,soit’seasiertorecognizethemifyouknowwhat’snormalwithyourpet.Beingawareofyourdog’snormalactivitiesandbehaviorwillhelpyourecognizechangesthatmightindicatepain.Hereafewsignsthatyourdogmightbefeelingpainandwhatyoushoulddoaboutit.LimpingOneofthemoststraightforwardsymptomsofpainislimping.Thiscanbeasignofinjury,sorepaw,orevenareactiontothepainassociatedwitharthritis.Ifyourdogisreluctanttogoupstairs,isslowtogetupinthemorning,orwalksstiffly,itmaybearthritispain,especiallyifyourdogisolder.Manydogssufferfromarthritis,buttherearewaystohelpeasethepain.Askyourvetaboutmedicationsandothertreatments.Mobilityissuesandchangesinposturearealsoindicatorsofaproblemthatneedsmedicalattention.VocalizationTheclosestthingtospeakingforadogiswhiningandwhimpering,andadogwhocriesoutinpainistryingtotellyouthatsomethinghurtsbad.Carefullyexaminingyourdog’sbodymayhelpyoudiscoverwherethepainis.Adogwho’susuallyvocalmaybecomequietwhenthey’reinpain,whichiswhyit’simportanttobefamiliarwithyourdog’snormalbehavior.Changesinhowoftenyourdogbarks,whines,ormakesothervocalizationscandefinitelybeasignthatsomethingiswrong.StomachAcheOrLossOfAppetiteIt’snotalwayseasytorecognizetummytroublesinadog,butherearesomesigns:ExcessivedroolingNauseaVomitingConstipationDiarrheaIfadogishurting,they’relesslikelytoeatnormally.Watchforlossofappetitethatmightindicatepainfromastomachailment,oraldiscomfort,orotherconditions.Ifitlastsmorethanaday,avisittothevetisinorder.Panting(PictureCredit:GerardBrown/GettyImages)Excessivepanting,especiallywhenaccompaniedbytrembling,canbeasignalthatyourdogisinpain.Whilepantingisfairlynormalfordogs,youshouldtakenoticeiftheypantatoddtimesorfornoreason.Ifyounoticeyourdogpantinginthemiddleofthenightorinanairconditionedroom,checkforotherindicationsofpain.Paincancausechangesinbreathing,includinganirregularrespiratoryrate.RestlessnessOrChangesInSleepHabitsAdoginpaincanfeelrestlessandexhibitaninabilitytogetcomfortableandliestill.Pacing,repeatedlyreadjustingposition,orgettingupanddownfrequentlyareallcausesforconcern.Sleeppatternscanbeaffectedaswell.Adoginpainmightsleepmorethanusualorcouldhavedifficultysleeping.Again,familiarizingyourselfwithyourdog’snormalbehaviorswillhelpyoudetermineifsomethingisoutoftheordinary.ChangesInBehaviorAndTemperament(PictureCredit:BradRickerby/GettyImages)Paincanchangeadog’sbehaviorand,justlikeahuman,adogcanactgrouchywheninpain.Somedogsbecomemoreaggressiveandmayevenbite,especiallywhentouchedinanareathathurts.It’stheanimal’snaturalinstincttoprotectthemselvestopreventfurtherpain.Avoidancebehaviors,likeshyingawayfromcontactwithpeopleandotherpets,arecommonwhenadogisinpain.Ifyourdognormallyenjoysbeingtouchedandissuddenlymakingmovestoavoidyourtouch,painmaybetheculprit.Thisissometimescoupledwithdepression,lethargy,andmentaldullness.Otherdogsmayseekmoreattentionandactneedywheninpain.Anyradicalorsuddenbehaviorchangesareaclearindicationthatyourdogneedsmedicalattentionfromavet.WhatToDoIfYouSuspectYourDogIsInPainIt’simportanttokeepyourdogfromsufferingandtokeepminorproblemsfrombecomingmajorones.Begentle,anddon’tmakethepainworsewhileyou’reattemptingtolocatethecause.Donotmedicateyourdogyourself.Humanmedicationsforpainandinflammationaredangerousandcanbetoxicforananimal,especiallyinthewrongdosageorwhencombinedwithothermedications.Therearemanyreasonstheanimalcouldbeinpain,andsomeofthemmightindicateamoreseriousissue.Chronicpaintriggerslikearthritiscanbemanagedwellwithyourvet’shelp.Ifyoususpectthatyourdogisinpain,don’thesitatetogetprofessionalhelpfromyourveterinarianrightaway.Theycanformadiagnosisandprescribetherighttreatment.Thisisalmostalwaysabetteroptionthantryingtotreatpaininyourdog,yourself.Ifyoutrytodoso,youcouldendupdoingmoreharmtoyourdogthangood.Sogettothevet!Haveyouseenanyofthesesignswhenyourdogwasinpain?Howdidyoutreatyourpup?Letusknowinthecommentsbelow!RelatedArticles:PainManagementWithDogsPainInAnimals:WhatTheyAren’tTellingYouDogArthritisTreatmentsSharethisarticleonfacebookSHARESharethisarticleontwitterTWEETMonitoringStringmonitoring_string="c1299fe10ba49eb54f197dd4f735fcdc"