What are the typical signs of pain in dogs? General behaviour: Shaking, flattened ears, low posture, aggression, grumpy temperament, panting or crying, excessive licking or scratching a specific area, reluctant to play, interact or exercise, lameness (limping), stiffness after rest, loss of appetite.
Stress signs to look for include whale eye (when dogs reveal the whites of their eyes), tucked ears, tucked tail, raised hackles, lip-licking, yawning, and panting. Your dog might also avoid eye contact or look away.
Signs Your Dog May be in Pain
Facial Expression: grimaces, vacant or glazed stare, wide-eyed, enlarged pupils, flattened ears, pants excessively when at rest. Posture: hunched with hindquarters raised and front end lying down on the ground, lays on its side.
If your dog is suddenly less energetic, seems depressed, becomes restless, or becomes clingy or aloof, they could be experiencing pain or discomfort. Uncharacteristic aggression — Dogs experiencing pain may anticipate that interactions with humans will cause or exacerbate pain, and they may respond defensively.
But because they instinctively try to hide their pain and they can't tell us when they are hurting, it's up to us to recognize the subtle signs and to get them the help they need. Many behaviors and physical changes can indicate that a dog is in pain.
Walks become shorter, or their gait changes during the walks. Sometimes there are behavior changes, like being irritable when being touched or approached. Certainly, limping and crying are signs of pain as well, however these tend to come much later and when the pain is severe.
Some dogs tremor when in pain, while other dogs pant – or they might paw at their eyes, or rub sore ears on the ground. Watch out for any restlessness or reluctance when they're trying to lie down, as this can mean something is hurting.
Physical Signs of Pain
Crying out, whining, or whimpering. Panting or rapid breathing. Increased heart rate. Trembling or shaking.
Why is my dog putting his paws on me? In addition to a way to say "I love you," your dog might paw at you if it needs something like food or a potty break. Anxious dogs might also paw at you for comfort or to request some space. Other dogs may paw at you to signify they need some activity time.
An insecure dog may start barking or running away, displaying some of the body languages we have already discussed. They may even approach the stranger, but still display insecure body language (head lowered, tail tucked, hackles raised, etc.).
Dogs comfort us in a variety of ways
Physical contact. We're familiar with the sweet “dog lean” or head nudge. Distraction. Some dogs will put a toy in your lap, or look to the door to ask for some time outside.
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. Your dog might be reluctant to climb stairs or is noticeably slow when getting up. This can also manifest itself as reduced interest in exercise, or not being as active as usual.
Wincing, Whining or Crying
All three of these actions indicate an injury or some kind of pain your dog is experiencing. If you start to pet your dog and they shy away from your hand or whine, you know there is something wrong. Your pet might need x-rays and a full examination to determine the cause.
It is a dog's instinct to hide or mask its pain, making pain difficult to diagnose. No one is in a better position to identify the subtle changes in behavior that may signal pain than human family members.
Within their doggy-to-doggy world, this is the universal sign for “Let's play”. This is true for dogs of all ages, sizes, breeds and social rankings. Dogs will also tend to grin as a playful expression. If a fellow dog is not familiar with this position, they may receive the gesture as a sign of aggression.
Small dogs are considered senior citizens of the canine community when they reach 11-12 years of age. Their medium-sized friends become seniors at 10 years of age. Their larger-sized colleagues are seniors at 8 years of age. And, finally, their giant-breed counterparts are seniors at 7 years old.
Pain from arthritis, mobility issues, or dental disease can cause behavioral changes so can underlying medical conditions such as neurologic disease, metabolic disease, endocrine disease, cancer, or immune-mediated disease.
Dogs can become anxious when they are in pain and panting can be a sign of anxiety. Trembling can indicate pain somewhere. Lip smacking may be an indication of pain. Again, this could indicate a tooth problem, but it could also be the gums or tongue.
Some dogs remain stoically quiet when they're hurting but others, especially young dogs who have not experienced physical discomfort, may whimper and cry when they're feeling pain. Your presence may provide comfort and lead them to stop whining.
Pain can also cause your dog to act scared and shake. Pain in their back, neck or abdomen can be especially scary for them as can pain that limits their mobility. Joint and muscle pain, such as degenerative joint disease or arthritis can cause your dog to shake and act as though they are fearful.
Movements and body postures, as well as nonverbal vocalizations (sighing, groaning) are also powerful indicators of pain states. Body language expressive of pain may include posturing, bracing, grimacing, rubbing, gasping, or withdrawal from normal activity.