The International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management (IVAPM) has proclaimed September as Animal Pain Awareness Month. Let's chat about signs that your dog is in pain!
Our pets can suffer from acute or chronic pain just like their guardians do.
You know how crabby you can get with that backache, or on day 3 of a headache that just won't go away?
"Don't bug me, keep the noise down, no hugs!"
Similarly, your dog in pain is really no different. They just don't have the words to express how they feel or the thumbs to open up that pain reliever bottle.
Dog Pain comes in many forms: surgical pain, arthritis and cancer related pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, dental issues, ear infections, pain from accident or injuries, and more.
In this 4 part series I’m going to talk about our dogs in pain or discomfort in relation to the equipment that we use to walk, train, and care for our best friends.
Make sure you keep an eye open for weekly posts!
But first, let’s first identify common Signs of Pain in Dogs
- Decreased Activity
- Avoiding Touch, Avoiding Equipment
- Not interested in Food or Treats
- Excessive Licking or Chewing
- Trembling or Shaking, “Off-loading” Weight from One Foot
- Physical Changes in Movement, Sitting, Laying Down, Getting Up
- Behavior Changes
- Fear, Anxiety, Attention Seeking, Destructiveness
- Aggression, Reactivity
- Sound Sensitivities
- Increase in Existing Problem Behaviors
Association between Dogs in Pain & their Behavior Issues
The study Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs published in 2020 by pet behaviorists indicated that around 23% of behavior cases were a direct result of pain. One behaviorist found that 82% of his clients behavior issues were as a result of pain.
Definitely more study is needed in this area!
Your dog in pain can be a primary driver of their behavior problems. Pain & discomfort can make their existing problem behaviors worse.
Pain can cause more aggressive behavior from a dog who thinks they need to defend themselves. Your dog may get irritable and snappy trying to avoid movements that cause them pain.
Even if you aren’t seeing an increase in behavior problems, maybe you’re seeing an increase in fear & anxiety. How about an unwillingness to participate in their regular activities, or an increase in sound sensitivities?
For instance, Rowan had much more anxiety about seeing off-leash dogs when he was going through his cancer treatments, even if the dogs weren't approaching us. Thankfully this was a temporary situation, but it made me much more aware of how he was feeling physically and mentally.
It can be especially challenging to identify pain or discomfort in newly adopted dogs.
Unfortunately not all animal shelters and rescues have the ability or resources to diagnose pain, especially when the dogs try so hard to hide it in such a strange and stressful environment.
You also don’t have a “history” of observing how your new dog moves or behaves. Recognizing an increase or decrease in behavior may be challenging to identify as a sign of pain in your new dog.
In addition, dogs in shelters and rescues are almost guaranteed to have some GI issues because of frequent changes in food and feeding schedule, hunger due to unwillingness to eat while stressed, and more.
On top of GI discomfort, there are a number of other stressors in the shelter and in their new adoptive home that may be difficult to identify the root cause.
What Fear, Anxiety, Stress, and Frustration look like in Shelter Dogs
Shelters like to recommend the 3-3-3 Rule, which is a great starting point. Please remember that every dog is an individual and this guideline may not allow sufficient time for every dog.
Patience is the Key!