Pet owners often wish their dog or cat could “tell” them what’s wrong or what hurts, so they could help or understand. But, while our pets can’t use verbal language, they communicate pain and illness in many subtle ways that are often overlooked. Rather than wasting time wishing pets could match our linguistic skills, Golden Years Veterinary Services will help you learn how to interpret their language.

Pain in pets—subtle for a reason

Dogs and cats have a natural instinct to hide discomfort, pain, and weakness because, in the wild, these characteristics would make them vulnerable to attack or bullying from a stronger predator. Now, our pets are no longer roaming the great outdoors, but this evolutionary trait still exists in the modern living room—making recognizing that their pet needs help a challenge for owners. For what it’s worth, if dogs and cats could speak to us in words, they likely still wouldn’t tell us how they feel.

However, pets can’t hide everything—and pain eventually expresses itself through the body. By observing their pet’s posture and behavior during their day-to-day routine, pet owners can learn to read between the lines, and recognize the following pain and discomfort signs in pets.

#1: Your pet is avoiding something

Animals want to avoid pain as much as we do, and your pet is no exception. Dogs and cats will actively alter their daily routine, behavior, or their path through your home to avoid discomfort, pain, or fear. Some common avoidance behaviors include:

  • Stairs
  • Jumping up or down
  • Slick floors
  • Petting or physical contact
  • The litter box — cats may eliminate nearby

#2: Your pet’s posture or movement has changed

Although limping is an obvious pain indication, non-weight bearing lameness (i.e., completely carrying the leg) is more often associated with severe or acute (i.e., sudden) injury. Dogs and cats with chronic (i.e., long-term) pain will simply alter their posture or gait to shift weight away from the pain and onto the other limbs, which requires less effort and balance than true limping.

Painful senior pets will express physical pain with changes in the following behaviors:

  • Slow to rise, or to transition from sitting to lying down
  • Leaning to one side, or backward, while standing
  • Arching or rounding their back
  • Bunny hopping (i.e., moving both hind limbs together)
  • Uncharacteristically low or tucked tail
  • Unusual posture when urinating or defecating

#3: Your pet is grooming excessively

Painful pets may try to soothe aches and pains by over-grooming. This can resemble an obsessive-compulsive behavior, because hair loss or skin irritation may result from their constant licking or chewing. 

Pain-related overgrooming is most common around joints, but can occur anywhere on the body. Left untreated, the behavior may lead to secondary skin issues, worsening discomfort, or obsessive-compulsive habits. 

#4: Your dog is frequently panting

Dogs pant during warm weather to cool themselves, but panting can also be a response to stress. Pain can trigger anxiety and cause dogs to pant during non-traditional times, such as resting, rising after sleeping, or in a cool or cold environment. Panting and increased respiratory effort can also suggest cardiovascular conditions, so schedule an appointment with Golden Years Veterinary Services if you see any changes in your pet’s breathing.

#5: Your pet seems restless

Painful pets have a hard time getting comfortable, and may frequently change resting positions or locations—especially during the night. Previously well-trained dogs may be unable to hold their position when given a “Sit” or “Down” command. Senior pets also frequently pace and circle, but these behaviors may be related to cognitive function (i.e., senility), which can be diagnosed after ruling out pain.

#6: Your pet’s personality has changed

Pain makes everyone a little grumpy—and pets are no exception. Unfortunately, many pain-related personality changes are dismissed as “old age,” forcing dogs and cats to live with their progressive discomfort. If your pet is no longer acting like the friend you’ve always known and loved, they may be hurting. Temperament-related changes include:

  • Increased sleeping
  • No longer seeking attention or affection
  • Loss of interest in favorite activities (e.g., walks, toys, treats)
  • Fearful or aggressive responses

What to do if your pet is in pain

If your pet is experiencing any pain signs, they may be telling you that something is wrong. Show them you hear them by scheduling an appointment with Golden Years Veterinary Services. Dr. Freed will perform a comprehensive physical exam, and ask key questions about the changes you’ve noticed. Based on your pet’s diagnosis, Dr. Freed will design a customized pain management plan that may include:

  • Pain medication
  • Supplements
  • Home modifications
  • Alternative therapies (e.g., massage, acupuncture)
  • Low-impact strengthening exercises

Do not try to treat your pet’s pain yourself, as many over-the-counter medications are toxic to pets, and others may limit our ability to use better medications.

Don’t let your pet’s pain go unnoticed. Use this information, and you may discover that while your pet may not use words, they speak volumes through their actions. Contact us or click here to request an appointment.