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How do I know if my dog is in pain?

Dogs now live longer than they ever have, and they also experience the physical deterioration and debilitation that goes along with aging. This physical deterioration includes the development of osteoarthritis, which involves painful inflammation of the joints.

Dogs have an instinct to hide or mask pain, making pain difficult to diagnose. A dog’s human family members are in the best position to identify subtle changes in behavior that may signal pain. Look for the following changes in your dog, which signal the need to visit your veterinarian.

Vocalizing

• Groaning or grunting when he stands up or lies down
• Whining or whimpering as he tries to get comfortable

Changes in Activities of Daily Living

• Pacing or restlessness (may indicate your dog can’t get comfortable lying down)
• Repeatedly getting up and lying down (may indicate your dog can’t find a comfortable position)
• Less energy or decreased endurance for previously enjoyable activities, like walks, chasing a ball, or swimming
• Reluctance to get up, once lying down
• Reluctance to go up or down stairs or to jump onto a bed or furniture
• Difficulty getting into the car
• Trembling in the legs, particularly the rear legs
• Difficulty walking on slick floor surfaces.

Changes in Daily Habits

• Social changes: Dogs in pain may withdraw from their usual family interactions and may become less engaged in their surroundings
• Decreased eating and/or drinking
• Changes in sleeping patterns: Some dogs in pain sleep more, while others sleep less
• Changes in elimination: Some dogs in pain have lapses in house training because it is uncomfortable to get up to go outside and/or painful to get into a position to urinate or defecate. They may hold in urine or stool for so long that they have accidents.

Self-Mutilation

• Licking obsessively at areas of the body that are painful
• Chewing at painful areas, removing hair and damaging the skin

Changes in Facial Expressions

• Excessive panting, even when resting
• A facial expression that could be described as a grimace
• A vacant stare (staring into space)
• Partially closed eyelids and the appearance of being half asleep (possibly due to lack of sleep because of difficulty getting comfortable)

Uncharacteristic Aggression

• Growling when people or other pets in the household approach
• Lashing out if handled
• Avoiding or resenting being brushed or combed
• Adopting a defensive posture at all times, even when lounging around the house
• Watching everything carefully to avoid painful encounters

Abnormal Postures

• Standing with front legs back under the chest to take some weight off painful hips or rear legs
• Sitting with rear legs splayed to the left or right, instead of being tucked underneath as is normal
• Using the front legs “pull” to a standing position, rather than pushing up with the rear legs
• Preferring to sit rather than to stand, and to lie down rather than to sit, when stopping during a walk

Watch your dog closely, as any of these changes may indicate pain and should be brought to your veterinarian’s attention. The sooner pain is recognized and managed, the better you will maintain your dog’s quality of life and their enjoyment of daily living activities.

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