How to recognise silent pain signals in your dog

Dogs are hardwired to hide their pain. It’s in their code to disguise pain as it signals weakness and frailty, making them more vulnerable to predators. Humans, on the other hand, tend to vocalise pain in the hope that there’s a solution. This is precisely why many of us find it difficult to recognise that our dog is in pain — their signals can be silent and can go unnoticed because they’re not shouting about it.

As we know, there are many diseases and conditions that can cause pain, and certain pain signals will be specific to a particular disease. But, the important thing as pet owners is to notice and seek advice from the vet rather than try to diagnose ourselves. 

Here are some silent pain signals to look out for:

Loss of appetite

If your pooch is not keen on tucking into their favourite meals, it could be a sign that they’re in discomfort. Try not to panic, especially if you’ve recently switched their food brand or if there has been a sudden external change such as weather conditions. But if you notice a consistent disinterest (more than a couple of days) when their appetite was strong before, it might be time to ask your local vet to check them over.

Unwillingness to walk

Most dogs love getting out and about for their daily exercise, with a few exceptions of course. Another sign of pain can be the lack of desire to go out walking. Again, check the external conditions such as weather because this can obviously affect them. Movement may be exacerbating their pain, especially if it is osteoarthritis or another joint or spinal problem. Watch out for other mobility warning signs, like hesitating to get into the car, limping, trouble with steps, or weakness in the hind legs. 

Behavioural changes

Changes in your dog’s behaviour could be quite obvious, for example they might become more temperamental or snappy (as humans often do when they’re in pain). The changes might be more subtle though, like sleeping a bit more than usual, finding it difficult to get comfortable or asking for more (or less) affection. It’s important to notice these behavioural shifts, monitor any patterns and of course, raise it with a professional to find out if chronic pain could be the root cause.

Low mood

There can be so many reasons why your dog is depressed or has a low mood. It’s always important to ask yourself why that might be. Have you moved house recently? Is your dog being left alone more than usual? Is something not right with their diet? If there is no other obvious reason why your dog might be feeling blue, they could be in pain. Dogs can’t talk about their pain but a dog that’s suffering over a period of time will start feeling very unhappy with life. As with humans, it’ll start to manifest in their eyes, how they carry themselves, and how they relate to you.

Excessive licking

How do dogs heal themselves? By licking their wounds. Dogs with chronic pain such as arthritis or joint issues will try to make themselves better by licking. Of course it’s a normal part of a dog’s daily routine to give themselves a bath, but if you notice it becoming more than just a quick once over, it could signal that there’s inflammation somewhere in their body and it could be time for a trip to the vet.

Postural changes

Postural changes are key telltale signs for chronic pain conditions in the spine and joints as well as for some gastrointestinal discomfort or pain. An arched back and low tale can alert you to the fact that something is awry and needs some veterinary attention. Pay attention to how your dog is standing too — quite often, one leg may be splayed out to the side, signaling a joint issue on the opposite side of the body. The body will often compensate for the painful joint and the physical signs are there if you look closely. The area might even be sensitive to the touch and flinching is a clear signal to get your pup to the vet. 

Restlessness or pacing at night

Dogs spend much of their time asleep and if your furry companion is usually a sound sleeper but all of a sudden starts showing signs of restlessness, they could very well be in pain. We know ourselves that when we experience something like toothache, it’s very hard to sleep or even stay still. Just like us, dogs may choose to pace up and down rather than sit still and just deal with the pain. Although this is a silent signal, it’s one that you’ll quickly know about if your sleep is also getting disturbed so it could be your dog’s way of letting you know you need to take action.

Shaking

Conditions which cause severe pain in dogs such as distemper, arthritis or kidney problems can show up as trembling. As with all of the pain symptoms above, it is likely to be teamed with other symptoms which will give clues as to which disease your pup might be suffering from. Yes, shaking can be triggered by anxiety or temperature changes but it should be clear to you if there’s an external cause. If you suspect it could be a health-related symptom, and especially if it‘s accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, get to the vet. 

It’s important to note that each animal is different, and not all cases of painful conditions manifest with the same symptoms. In fact, many of these silent signals can be explained by a variety of diagnoses. Just as you would notice changes in your own body, it’s super important to be vigilant with your dog, who can’t express their pain. Most painful conditions have a solution and your dog doesn’t have to be in long term pain, so the sooner you pick up on their silent messages, the better all round.