How can you tell if your dog is in pain? Unfortunately, chronic pain in senior dogs has a way of flying under the radar for a while unless you know what to look for. To help decode what your dog is trying to tell you, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby describes the sometimes subtle changes in your dog that may indicate he or she is in pain. Plus, she explains what to do if you see signs of pain.
A few years ago, I saw Rosie, a senior Golden Retriever, for what her owner described as “just slowing down a little.” She still ate well and wagged her tail at the door. But she just wasn’t herself.
As I examined this sweet senior dog and talked more with her owner, a clear picture emerged.
Rosie was in pain. She had been for a while.
We started her on a pain management plan. Two weeks later, her owner called to tell me Rosie had started greeting her at the door again, something she had stopped doing so gradually that her owner hadn’t even noticed.
I’ve thought about that call many times since. Because what happened with Rosie happens all the time.
Why is it so easy to miss pain in senior dogs?
Dogs are extremely good at hiding pain. And as dog parents, we are extremely good at interpreting their less-active lives as “just getting older.” That can be a dangerous combination.
In the wild, pain can be a weakness that makes an animal vulnerable, so they’re hardwired to hide their pain. That instinct doesn’t disappear just because your dog sleeps on a memory foam bed and gets treats after dinner. Dogs are designed to compensate, adapt, and carry on, often until they simply can’t anymore.
There’s also the “just getting older” trap. Many of the common symptoms of pain or discomfort in senior dogs, like moving more slowly, sleeping more, and being less interested in play, are things we’ve been told to expect as dogs age. And while some slowing down is normal, pain or discomfort should never be accepted as an inevitable part of aging.
Types of pain in dogs
When talking about recognizing pain, there are two distinct types of pain worth understanding:
- Acute pain: This type of pain is typically associated with a specific injury or illness and has a clear onset. It tends to be more obvious.
- Chronic pain: The kind of pain that develops gradually and occurs most commonly in senior dogs with conditions like arthritis. It has no clear endpoint. Without pain management, it tends to worsen over time and significantly diminish quality of life.
It’s chronic pain that gets missed most often because it sneaks up so slowly that both dogs and pet owners adapt to it without realizing it was ever there.
How can you tell if your dog is in pain?
Understanding the signs of pain in dogs, especially the subtle ones, is one of the most important things you can do for your senior dog’s quality of life. If you are trying to figure out whether your dog could be in pain, it helps to evaluate your dog’s movement, energy, recovery time, behavior, mood, habits, body language, and vocalizations.
Changes in movement as a sign of pain in dogs
Mobility issues are one of the clearest signs that a dog may be experiencing pain. Your dog limping certainly points to pain. But there are many subtle pain indicators that may show up long before your dog actually starts limping.
Dogs who are in pain may demonstrate some of the following movement-related symptoms:
- A shortened stride: Even if your dog isn’t limping noticeably, shorter-than-usual steps can indicate pain in the shoulders or hips. The quality of movement matters as much as the ability to move.
- Stiffness after rest: Some dogs take a long time to “get going” after lying down and then loosen up after moving around. This “warmup pattern” is a hallmark of joint pain and osteoarthritis in dogs.
- Hesitation before movement: Does your dog pause before climbing stairs, jumping into the car, or getting onto the couch? That pause is often your dog bracing for something that may hurt.
- Difficulty with familiar tasks: Watch for your dog avoiding things that used to be easy, such as navigating slippery floors, following you from room to room, or putting the front paws up on a counter, etc.
Changes in energy and recovery time may point to pain
If your dog is in pain, physical activities that he or she used to handle with ease may now require noticeably more effort. And your senior dog may also need a longer recovery time after being active.
Keep an eye out for these common signs that look like “slowing down” but are really indicators of pain:
Reduced stamina on walks
Moving more slowly or wanting to turn back earlier than usual can reveal the effort it takes to move when experiencing muscle or joint pain.
Longer recovery time after activity
If your dog used to come in from a walk ready to play, but now needs a long nap to recover, that’s worth paying attention to. Many seniors naturally sleep more than their younger selves. But consistently needing extended rest after a normal daily activity like a walk is often a sign of pain.
Having good days and bad days
Many dogs with chronic pain from conditions like arthritis don’t have consistent, obvious signs. Instead, they seem to have “good days” and “bad days” on the activity, mobility, and recovery front. If you’re noticing more frequent or more pronounced “bad days,” that pattern is important.
Painful dogs may experience alterations in mood or behavior
Pain or discomfort affects emotional well-being, too. Thus, behavioral changes can be some of the earliest signals that your dog is in pain.
- Irritability or uncharacteristic aggression: A dog who snaps when touched, or who is less tolerant than usual of children or other pets, may be reacting to pain rather than having a personality change. There are other medical conditions that can cause these types of behavior change as well. In any case, it’s important to talk to your vet about new aggression immediately.
- Social withdrawal: Showing signs of wanting to be left alone, hiding, or simply being less engaged with family life can indicate that a dog doesn’t feel well.
- Clinginess: Conversely, dogs who were previously very independent and now seem to follow you around like a shadow are sometimes doing so because they’re in pain.
- Restlessness and difficulty settling: A dog who keeps repositioning, can’t find a comfortable spot, or seems unable to settle may be trying to find a position that doesn’t aggravate a painful part of his or her body.
- Changes in sleep position or location: Aching joints can make dogs feel uncomfortable in sleeping positions they used to love. A dog who suddenly starts sleeping differently, or in a new location, may be self-accommodating for discomfort.
- Less interest in play or normal routines: When a dog who has always greeted you enthusiastically stops doing so, or loses interest in a favorite game, it’s worth asking whether chronic pain is dampening his or her joy.
Changes in daily habits may indicate your dog is in pain
Sometimes signs of pain, such as changes in a dog’s normal routine, don’t even look like something that dog parents would typically associate with pain at all. Instead, these changes often get chalked up to the dog “just getting older.” Some habit changes to keep an eye out for include:
Decreased interest in food
Not wanting to eat or being selective about what the dog will eat can indicate pain or discomfort of many kinds. Some potential causes include dental pain, abdominal pain, back or neck pain, muscle pain, or joint pain.
As an example, dogs who switch from eating kibble to preferring soft food may be telling you their mouths hurt.
Excessive grooming
Excessive grooming, like licking or chewing a specific area of the body repeatedly, is a common self-soothing behavior. It triggers the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals (endorphins). If your dog is persistently focusing on one spot, pain or discomfort in that area is likely.
Dogs who spend too much time licking one area due to pain may also develop a thick, hairless plaque of tissue at that spot called a lick granuloma in dogs. Even if you don’t catch your dog doing a lot of licking, the start of a lick granuloma may point to pain.
Accidents in the house
A housetrained dog who suddenly starts having accidents may be in too much pain to move to the usual bathroom spot quickly enough. Or he or she may be experiencing abdominal pain or urinary discomfort that makes it hard to “hold it.”
Panting at rest
Excessive panting that isn’t explained by warm ambient temperatures or exercise can be a sign of significant pain. This is especially true if your dog is shaking or trembling at the same time.
Vocalizing can be a sign of severe pain
It’s a common misconception that dogs in pain will always cry out. Most dogs, especially with chronic pain, will suffer in silence until the pain becomes severe. So don’t rely on vocalization to tell you if your dog is in pain.
If your dog does vocalize, such as whimpering, groaning, or yelping, this is an important sign you should not ignore.
Painful dogs may exhibit specific body language
Especially with more significant pain, the way your dog is holding himself or herself may change. Some potential signs include:
- Tense or twitching muscles, particularly in the neck or back, which can indicate neck pain or back pain.
- Changes in posture, such as an arched back, a lowered head, or a tucked tail.
- Facial expression changes, including flattened ears, tense facial muscles, and darting eyes.
When trying to tell if your dog is in pain, look for patterns
One of the most important things to understand about recognizing signs that a dog is in pain is that you’re not looking for a single dramatic sign. If you wait for something dramatic and obvious, chances are your dog will suffer much longer than he or she should.
Instead, you’re looking for patterns or clusters of small changes that, when you put them together, point out your dog’s hidden pain.
A dog who is slightly stiffer, a bit quieter, marginally less interested in taking walks, or starts sleeping in a new spot may not raise any obvious red flags. None of those things alone are alarming, and any one of them could be attributed to age. But all of those things together? That’s pain.
You know your dog well, which helps you see pain indicators
This is why you are the first line of defense for your dog. You know your dog best, and you spend every day with him or her. On the other hand, your veterinarian only spends a few minutes with your dog at a time. And the stress or excitement of the vet hospital can distract your dog and produce adrenaline that masks pain.
While your vet plays a huge role in helping manage the pain, you have the responsibility of noticing the changes. You know what’s normal for your dog, so trust that what you are seeing at home is real and significant.
What should you do if you think your dog is in pain?
If you’ve noticed any of the above signs of pain in dogs, here’s what to do:
1. Document what you’re seeing
Write down the changes you are noticing. This can help give your veterinarian a clearer picture of what’s going on at home. Make note of when signs appear, under what circumstances, and any other relevant information.
2. Record videos
Short videos of your dog showing the behaviors you’re concerned about are surprisingly helpful to your vet. If your dog is struggling to get up in the morning, walking more stiffly, or hesitating to go up the stairs, getting to actually see those things on video will give your vet more information than even the most thorough description can.
3. Make an appointment with your vet to discuss and manage your dog’s pain
Even if the signs of pain seem subtle or intermittent, they deserve a conversation with your vet. He or she can talk with you about what you are seeing and perform a thorough physical exam to identify the source of the pain or discomfort. Then your vet can help you decide which pain management options are most likely to be helpful.
Veterinarians now have a plethora of ways to treat pain in dogs. These may include:
- Pain medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS) such as carprofen for dogs, or other pain medications like gabapentin for dogs or amantadine for dogs can all be useful for improving your dog’s comfort.
- Joint supplements: If osteoarthritis is the culprit, your vet might recommend joint supplements for dogs such as Dr. Buzby’s Encore Mobility™ hip and joint supplement to help support the joints and decrease inflammation.
- Integrative care modalities: Natural pain relief for dogs may include acupuncture for dogs, laser therapy for dogs, dog chiropractic care, etc.
- Working with a veterinary specialist: There are veterinarians who specialize in rehabilitation and/or pain relief. Your vet can refer you to one if your dog isn’t responding to common therapies.
- Activity modification: Switching to lower-impact activities such as swimming or decreasing the length of walks can help your dog start to enjoy activity again.
- Mobility aids: Using mobility aids like Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips® dog nail grips can provide traction to help your dog move and play more confidently.
- Surgery: Sometimes a total hip replacement for dogs, FHO surgery for dogs, or another procedure can provide some pain relief.
4. Continue to periodically assess your dog for signs of pain
After starting a pain management plan, it will be important to continue to watch your dog carefully for pain indicators. The first plan may or may not be quite right. And even if it is, chronic pain generally worsens over time, so what is working now might need some tweaking in the future.
By recording your observations and staying in contact with your vet, you can continue to help your dog stay comfortable long term.
Don’t wait for your dog’s pain to get worse or more obvious
Chronic pain is progressive. The sooner you identify and address it, the more tools you will have available and the more likely you are to give your dog meaningful relief. Plus, being proactive about noticing and addressing pain means it may have less impact on your dog’s overall well-being.
You are your dog’s best pain detection system
How can you tell if your dog is in pain? Not always by their cries, but almost always by their patterns. Senior dogs are adaptive and stoic. They will rarely tell you directly that something hurts. But if you know the subtle signs to look for, you may discover that they are telling you about their pain all the time.
Pay attention and trust yourself. You know your dog better than anyone. If you see something, say something to your vet, so he or she can partner with you to help decrease your dog’s pain.
How do you tell when your dog is in pain?
Please share your observations below.
