Alongside physical signs of pain, our dogs behaviour can be a great indicator of potential pain. Below are some signs to look out for which may indicate a problem:

Is your dog more sensitive or vocal when touched?

Painful dogs may yelp, growl, or howl either when lying/sitting or when moving around. They may twitch or flinch when touched or shake and tremble which could be signs that they are sore.

Excessively grooming or not grooming at all.

When an area is sore sometimes dogs may lick the area excessively as they are irritated and are trying to soothe themselves. However older, arthritic dogs may find it hard to bend and reach certain areas and so may stop grooming areas or all together therefore causing changes in their coat. Both excessive and absent grooming can be indications that your dog may be experiencing pain.

Restlessness or difficulty sleeping.

Sometimes dogs may not be able to get comfortable and so will pace around the house or find it difficult to rest and sleep. They may start to rest in unusual places such as on the cold floor rather than in their bed and this could be because they are painful and so cannot get comfortable in their usual spots so head to find comfort where they can. 

As dogs get older owners often think they have a form of ‘dementia’ because they are pacing in the middle of the night or during the day when they are supposed to be resting but these behavioural signs could be due to pain and are often missed.

Becoming withdrawn or wanting to play less.

When dogs want to be alone or are less playful with you or their other animal friends, pain could be a factor to their behaviour. If they are feeling sore they may not want to play at all or play as rough as normal and may avoid people or other dogs to help protect themselves from experiencing more pain.

Signs of aggression

A high case of dog bites occur because dogs are in pain and we miss out on all their physical and behavioural signs. Aggressive signs which may indicate pain are growling, snarling, snapping or in the end, biting. If your dog is showing any new signs of aggression towards people or other animals, it is important to get them checked to ensure they are not painful. 

If you have any questions or think your dog may be experiencing some of these signs, then please do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Make sure to read part one of this blog to find out more information about physical signs that could be linked to pain.