Nine warning signs that could mean your dog is in pain

Restlessness is an indicator of pain in dogs. If your dog is pacing back and forth repeatedly, difficulty getting comfortable, or is ... NeedHelp?HelloAreyouworriedaboutyourPet?We’reheretohelp…VideoVetConsultationVideochatwithavetinminutesBookaVideoConsultationPetEmergencyClinicVisitaClinicinyourlocalareatodayFindanemergencyvetHomeBlogNinewarningsignsthatcouldmeanyourdogisinpainHowtotellifadogisinpain?HowdoIknowifmydogisinpain?Oftenourdogssufferinsilence.Becausedogscan’tspeak,itcansometimesbedifficulttospotwhenthey’repain,whetheritbeasaresultofinjuryoranunderlyingissue.However,thereareanumberofsigns,somemoreobviousthanothers,whichcanindicatepainindogs.Pleasedonotattempttotreatyourdog’spainyourself.Manyhumanmedications—andthoseprescribedforotherpets—canbeverydangerousfordogs.Isyourdogsufferingseriousorlong-lastingpain?Findyournearestclinicforimmediatetreatment.EnterCity,Town,orPostcodeFindmynearestclinicWanttovideochatwithavetprofessional?GetpersonalisedexpertadviceandpeaceofmindBookanappointment1.AntisocialoraggressivebehaviourDogsmightstoprunningtogreetyouatthedoor,trytoavoidcontact,orevenbecomeaggressive.Ifyourdogishidingawayorappearstobeunusuallyantisocial,itcouldbeanindicationthatthey’reinpain.Anynoticeablechangeinbehaviourcanbecauseforconcern.2.Changesineating,drinking,andsleepinghabitsDogsthatareinpainoftensleepmore–theymaybetryingtoheal,oritmightevenbedifficultforthemtomovearoundandbeactive.Alossofappetiteandnoticeabledifferencesintheamountofwaterthey’redrinkingareoftencommonsymptoms.Difficultyeating,particularlydriedfoodorfirmchews,canindicatedentalpain.3.BeingmorevocalDogsthatareexperiencingpaintendtobemorevocal.Excessiveyelping,growling,snarling,andevenhowlingcouldbeyourdogtellingyouthatsomethingisn’tright.Areyouworriedaboutthepainyourdogisin?Findyournearestclinicforimmediatetreatment.EnterCity,Town,orPostcodeFindmynearestclinicWanttovideochatwithavetprofessional?GetpersonalisedexpertadviceandpeaceofmindBookanappointmentIsmydoginpain?Ifyourdogisinpaintheymay:ShowsignsofagitationCryout,yelporgrowlBesensitivetotouchorresentnormalhandlingBecomegrumpyandsnapatyouBequiet,lessactive,orhideLimporbereluctanttowalkBecomedepressedandstopeatingHaverapid,shallowbreathingandanincreasedheartrate4.ExcessivegroomingIfyourpetislickingtheirpawsconstantly,it’slikelythey’retryingtosoothethemselves.Whenadogishurt,itsfirstinstinctisoftentocleanandcareforthewoundbylickingit.Cutsaremoreobvious,however,sometimesthepaincanbeinternal.5.HeavypantingoralteredbreathingPantingisnormal.However,adogthatispantingheavilyeventhoughtheyhavenotbeenexercisingisawarningsign.Also,breathingthatismoreshallowmeansthatitcouldbepainfultotakeabreath.6.MobilityissuesStiffnessandlimpingaretwoofthemoreobvioussignsofpainindogsandarelikelyaresultofinjury,sorepaws,orevenarthritis.Yourdogmightbereluctanttoclimbstairsorisnoticeablyslowwhengettingup.Thiscanalsomanifestitselfasreducedinterestinexercise,ornotbeingasactiveasusual.7.SignsofagitationRestlessnessisanindicatorofpainindogs.Ifyourdogispacingbackandforthrepeatedly,difficultygettingcomfortable,orissleepingalotless,therecouldbeanunderlyingissue.8.ChangesintheirbodyandpostureSwellingofthepaws,legs,andfaceisasignofpainthatcouldbecausedbyinflammation,infectionorevencancer.Wheninpain,somedogshaveaveryrigidandhunchedstancewhileothersassumethe‘prayer’posturewiththeirfrontlegsonthegroundandtheirbottomintheair.Dogsoftentakethe‘prayer’positionwhentheyaresufferingfromabdominalpainasitallowsthemtostretchthisareaout.9.ShakingortremblingDon’tassumetremblingorshakingisjustyourdogfeelingcoldor,indeed,gettingold.Bothcanbeasignofpain—orasymptom ofsomethingmoreserioussuchaspoisoning,pancreatitis,orkidneydisease.Dogswhohaveswallowedlargeamountsofchocolate,mouldycompostorsugar-freesweetenerxylitol,forexample,oftensufferseveremuscletremors.Ismydoginpain?Ifyourdogisinpaintheymay:ShowsignsofagitationCryout,yelporgrowlBesensitivetotouchorresentnormalhandlingBecomegrumpyandsnapatyouBequiet,lessactive,orhideLimporbereluctanttowalkBecomedepressedandstopeatingHaverapid,shallowbreathingandanincreasedheartrateDoesyourdogneedurgentveterinarytreatment?Findyournearestclinicforimmediatetreatment.EnterCity,Town,orPostcodeFindmynearestclinicWanttovideochatwithavetprofessional?GetpersonalisedexpertadviceandpeaceofmindBookanappointmentDogswhoareinpainmaylimporshowsignsofstiffnessAlsoonthistopicDangersofparacetamol,ibuprofenandotherhumanpainkillerstodogsGoWhatcanIgivemydogforpain?8commonquestionsansweredGoTreatmentfordogsinpainThereareavarietyofmedicationsthatyoucanusetoprovidepainreliefforyourdog.Pleasespeaktoyourvetaboutthemostappropriate.However,anyunderlyingconditions—suchasabrokenbone—willneedtobetreatedandinsomecasesmayrequiresurgery.Willadoginpaineat?Justlikehumans,dogssufferingpainmaygoofftheirfood.Ifyourdog’sappetitesuddenlychangesoryounoticeanyformofinappetence,youshouldseekveterinaryadvice,asthiscouldbeasymptomofadangerousailment.Whatcanpetownersdotohelpdogsinpain?Whileyourdogisrecoveringlimitedmovementandphysicalactivityisrecommended.Soft,paddedbeddingandaquiet,comfortableenvironmentwillalsohelpspeedupyourdog’srecovery.Ensureyourdogreceivesthecorrectdoseofanymedicationsprescribedbyyourvet.Eachdogwillreactdifferentlytothetypeanddosagelevelofpainmedicationsoalwaysmonitoryourdog’sresponseandifyouhaveanyconcernscontactyourvet.SharethispostFacebookTwitterLinkedInGoogle+EmailAbouttheAuthorLauraisVetsNow’sprofessionalstandardsdirectorandisresponsiblefordrivingclinicalandprofessionalstandardsacrossourout-of-hoursclinics.AftergraduatinginveterinarymedicineandsurgeryfromtheUniversityofEdinburghin1999,sheworkedinsmallanimalpracticesuntil2007beforemovingintoemergencyandcriticalcare.Morerecently,LaurahasachievedanMScinadvancinghealthcarepractice.AbouttheArticleFirstPublished5thJune2017LastUpdated26thFebruary2021Worriedaboutyourpet?Videochatwithourvetsevendaysaweek,from8amto11pm.BooknowJoinforfreetodayandwe’llmakesureyouknowexactlywhattodoinapetemergency.We’llalsogiveyou£25offtreatmentatourclinicsandhospitals.SignupnowTaggedInDogsRelatedArticles10thJune2021CommonseasonalpoisonsandfooddangersfordogsandpuppiesDogs18thDecember2020Theultimateguidetodog’sChristmasdinnerDogsChristmasFoodPoison24thAugust202113ofthemostcommonpetandsmallanimalemergenciesDogsCatsRabbits2ndJuly2021EverythingdogandcatownersneedtoknowaboutnewcoronavirusDogsCatsCoronaviruscloselocationreview-starsearcharrow/rightneed-help/helpsocial/emailsocial/facebook-boxedsocial/facebooksocial/google-plussocial/instagramsocial/linkedinsocial/pinterestsocial/twittervideo/playNinewarningsignsthatcouldmeanyourdogisinpainHowtotellifadogisinpainisdifficult.Readaboutthesignsandsymptomsofpainindogs,includingpanting,limpingandbehaviouralchanges.