Telltale Signs Of Pain In Pets That You Shouldn’t Ignore

As a veterinarian providing in-home pet euthanasia, I see pets in pain every day. Dogs and cats are notoriously good at hiding their pain, and it hurts my heart to see these signs so clearly when they seem invisible to others. So I want to share this knowledge with as many people as I can, so others can learn to recognize these signs of pain in pets too, and save them from prolonged suffering. 

This article covers several ways to detect when your pet is in pain and needs more help than you can give. You’ll find out about behavioral and emotional changes you might notice, physical signs of pain, and sounds they might make that can indicate suffering.

Hints That Your Pet Is In Pain

Our four-legged friends can’t talk about what they’re feeling, so we have to learn to recognize the subtle signals they do give us. It’s not always obvious. Some signs are visible, some you can hear, and others may just seem like they’re not acting their usual selves. 

Signs of pain in pets can be divided into 3 main categories:

• Physical problems

• Vocalizations or sounds

• Changes in behavior

  
  

We’ll visit each of these areas in more depth. Let’s deal with the physical aspects first, as they are probably the most obvious of all the pain signs.

Physical Signs Of Pain In Pets

There are many physical signs that your pet is in pain, and we’ll cover those here. Most are easily recognizable in humans, so we must apply those same assumptions to our best friends too. 

For example, if you see someone limping, having difficulty breathing, or not eating, we instinctively know they’re not well. In that way, our pets are no different. We can’t assume they’re ok if they’re showing signs that we know mean fellow humans are unwell.

Here are some definitive signs of physical distress and that your pet is in pain:

• Breathing: Difficulty breathing (such as rasping breath as if they’re struggling or having to work hard to take in air), excessive panting, fast or labored breathing, even when resting.

  
  

• Stiffness or limping: Difficulty walking, struggling to stand up after resting, or favoring one leg. Struggling with stairs, difficulty with jumping or inability to jump, or generally moving more slowly and deliberately than usual.

  
  

• Posture changes: Hunched back (as if they’re trying to hold themselves in one position), unusual positions of their legs, or head held low (struggling to straighten up). 

  
  

• Grooming to excess or not at all: Repetitive licking, chewing, or scratching at a specific area or body part.

  
  

• Facial expressions: Tense clenched jaw, flattened ears, narrowed or glazed-over eyes. 

  
  

• Appetite: Refusing to eat, or a decrease in appetite.

  
  

• Sleeping: Sleeping more, having trouble getting comfortable, or appearing restless or unable to get comfortable.

  
  

• Toilet accidents in the house: Can be due to pain, difficulty climbing into a litter box, or difficulty getting outside. 

  
  

Except for maybe grooming and toilet habits, the above-mentioned signs of pain in pets can just as well apply to us as humans, so we should learn to recognize these distress signals in our own pets. If we’re not acting out, they’re not acting out either.

And thinking about the next set of signs of pain in pets, vocalizations, don’t we do this too when something hurts?

Sounds Pets Make When They're In Pain

If we step on something our youngster left out, roll our ankle in the street, or just stand up from a chair and something tweaks, don’t we tend to gasp or yell at a sharp pain, or groan and mumble under our breath at a lingering ache?

Well, pets are the same. They make noises when they’re in pain. No, their sounds may not be like the ones we make when we're hurt, but we must listen to them, read their sounds alongside their visible physical symptoms, and put two and two together.

Here are a few ways you can recognize sounds (or lack of sounds) of pain in your dog or cat:

• Sounds of pain: Yelping, groaning, whining, whimpering, or howling, particularly when you move or touch them.

  
  

• Becoming quiet: Some pets may grow unusually quiet when they’re in pain, just like we sometimes suffer in silence. 

So, putting together the visible signs and the sounds of pain your pet might make, you have some idea that something’s not right with them.

Now, we’ll add in the 3rd level of pain signs, behavioral and emotional.

Emotional And Behavioral Pain Signals In Pets

Kids might squirm in their seats or get irritable if they’re in pain or sick. You can often tell by their mood that something’s just not right. Well, apply those same symptoms to your pet, and you have the final puzzle piece.

Pets don’t know what’s happening to them; they just know something’s wrong, but they don’t want to make it obvious.

Here are some sneaky behaviors and emotional changes telling you that your pet might be in pain:

• Mood changes: Irritability, aggression (unusual growling or snapping), becoming scared or anxious. If we don’t feel right, sometimes we become stressed about it, especially if we don’t know what’s going on - pets are just the same.

  
  

• Restlessness: Along with mood changes, they might pace back and forth, try to find a comfortable position, or repeatedly stand up and lie down for no apparent reason. 

  
  

• Changes in daily habits: Notice any changes in eating, drinking, and bathroom habits, whether linked to timing, quantities, or otherwise.

  
  

• Becoming withdrawn: Hiding or avoiding interactions, becoming less social, or seeking more attention than usual. If we’re in pain, we might want to be alone too, or maybe we just want the comfort of knowing someone is around to help. Look out for these subtle signals.

  
  

So, now you know the basics of recognizing signs of pain in pets. But if you see any of these signs, particularly if several are happening together, what should you do?

What To Do…If Your Pet Is In Pain

If you see some of these signs we’ve discussed in this article showing up in your pet, here’s what to do.

• Do not self-diagnose, self-treat your pet, or just shrug it off as old age.

  
  

• Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. They are the experts who can diagnose and treat your pet, or advise you on what to do.

  
  

• Even if signs of pain seem to disappear, it’s important to talk with a veterinarian to make sure any underlying issue is discovered, treated, and doesn't become a long-term problem. 

So, now that you can recognize the signs of pain in pets in three different ways, please use this knowledge with your pets and others, and PLEASE share these signs of pain with anyone who owns pets.

It makes me so sad to see pets who are in obvious pain when I arrive at their home for euthanasia, and the owners just didn’t know how to read their pain signs. 

Don’t let your pet suffer in silence. 

Know the signs. 

Share the signs. 

And call 720-203-7341 or contact me if you need me. I’m Dr. Amy.