9 SIGNS THAT YOUR DOG IS IN PAIN

If you think your dog is in pain, visit a veterinarian to determine the cause and the best treatment.

Sometimes our precious dogs are in pain but suffer in silence, and it can be difficult to spot that they’re in pain, whether due to an illness, disease or injury. Perhaps this is because dogs are evolutionary hard-wired, over thousands of years, to their ancestral beginnings as hunter-predators, where dogs who showed weakness were more at risk of attack from predators.

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR…

The following are signs that your dog could be in pain and that a vet visit is necessary. Please don’t attempt to treat your dog’s pain yourself, as many human medications – and those prescribed for other pets – can be extremely dangerous for dogs.

1. Antisocial or aggressive behaviour – Dogs might not greet you at the door, hide away, try to avoid contact, or even become aggressive. Any noticeable change in behaviour can be cause for concern.

2. Changes in eating, drinking, and sleeping habits – Dogs that are in pain often sleep more. A loss of appetite and noticeable differences in the amount of water they’re drinking are often common symptoms. Difficulty eating can indicate dental pain.

3. Being vocal – Excessive yelping, growling, snarling, and even howling could be your dog telling you that he or she is in pain.

4. Going limp or being reluctant to walk is a sign that something isn’t right. Stiffness and limping are two of the more obvious signs of pain in dogs and are likely a result of injury, sore paws, or even arthritis. Being sensitive to touch or resenting normal handling is another sign that a vet visit is due.

5. Excessive licking – When a dog is hurt, its first instinct is often to clean and care for the wound by licking it. Cuts are more obvious; however, sometimes the pain can be internal.

6. Heavy panting or altered breathing –A dog that’s panting heavily even though they haven’t been exercising is a warning sign. Also, breathing that’s more shallow means it could be painful to take a breath.

7. Body changes – Swelling of the paws, legs, and face is a sign of pain that could be caused by inflammation, infection or even cancer. When in pain, some dogs have a very rigid and hunched stance while others assume the “prayer” posture with their front legs on the ground and their bottom in the air.

8. Shaking or shivering – Trembling can be a sign of pain or a symptom of something more serious such as poisoning, pancreatitis, or kidney disease. Dogs who’ve swallowed large amounts of chocolate, mouldy compost, or the sugar-free sweetener xylitol, for example, often suffer severe muscle tremors.

9. Unwillingness to initiate play or other social interactions can also be a sign that your dog’s uncomfortable.

Your dog literally trusts you with his life, so if you think your dog’s in pain, the next thing is to get him to a vet to determine the cause and the best treatment.

Acknowledgements and Research – Reader’s Digest, Vets.now, PetMed