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Recognizing Pain in Pets

Picture of Lap of Love


Many years ago, it was believed that animals did not feel pain, at least in the same way that people do. Now, most veterinarians and other scientists agree that animals experience pain in much the same way as humans do. Unfortunately, as our animal companions near the end of their lives, pain (or some level of discomfort) is a relatively frequent complication. Although animals may sometimes exhibit obvious signs of pain such as crying or moaning, subtle signs are much more common. You, as your pet’s companion and caregiver, are in the best position to recognize the signs of pain or discomfort in your friend. Some people find that their bond with an animal is so strong that they can sense discomfort in their companion. Do not discount this feeling. Fortunately, recent work in both the human and animal fields has produced a wide variety of new medications and other approaches that can effectively minimize or eliminate pain. No animal should have to live (or die) in pain!

Pain in Dogs
The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University offers a free, widely-used, canine pain scale to help assess acute pain in dogs. Visit CSU’s website and select the Canine Pain Scale.

Listed below (Adapted from the International Veterinary Association of Pain Management) are some things that you might see in a pet with pain or discomfort. Remember, though, that some of these things can be seen when your pet is simply anxious or is in poor health.

Signs of pain in dogs

A dog’s behavior and interactions can be unique to the type of pain he is experiencing. A dog’s reaction to pain is dependent upon its personality and the degree of pain it is experiencing. The characteristics listed below do not include everything that you may see, but the list gives you a general idea of what to look for if you think a dog in in pain. Some of these characteristics (marked with an asterisk *) are also things you will see when a dog is anxious or nervous or in poor health. Remember that there is no substitute for being familiar with an individual dog in order to recognize how he shows pain.

Posture

  • Hunched back
  • Guarding (protecting) the painful area
  • “Praying” position (front legs and head on floor, hindquarters in the air)
  • Sitting or laying abnormally
  • Attempting to rest in an abnormal position or place
  • Head hanging down*

Movement

  • Stiff
  • Bearing no or partial weight on affected limb
  • Any degree of limp
  • Thrashing
  • Restless*
  • Trembling or shaking*
  • Weak tail wag or low carriage of tail*
  • Limited or no movement when awake*
  • Slow to rise*

Vocalization

  • Screaming
  • Whining
  • Crying
  • Barking or growling*
  • Lack of vocalization (no greeting bark or noise)*

Behavior

  • Agitated*
  • Poor or no grooming*
  • Decreased or absent appetite*
  • Dull*
  • Inappropriate urination or defecation, or not moving away from it*
  • Acts out of character (gentle dogs may bite or become aggressive)*
  • Licking wound or surgical site*

Adapted From: http://www.ivapm.org/site/view/121680_Dogs.pml, International Veterinary Academy of Pain
Management

Pain in Cats
The Feline Grimace Scale provides further reading and photos on feline-specific signs of pain. The Feline Grimace Scale has a very helpful app that can be downloaded to smart phones for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Signs of pain in cats

Posture

  • Abnormal or hunched posture
  • Flat lying ear position
  • A lowered or bowed head position
  • Lying flat on their stomach
  • Heavy eyelids/involuntary closure

Movement

  • Walking with a funny gait
  • Frequent shifting of weight across limbs

Vocalization

  • Hissing/growling when approached or touched 

Behavior

  • Decrease or absence in grooming OR excessive grooming (esp. of a specific body region)
  • Decreased or non-existent appetite
  • Hiding/seeking solitude OR seeking extra attention/contact
  • Restlessness and an inability to settle or sleep for prolonged periods