Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Notice the changes in your pet's appearance
• Part 2 of 2: Notice Behavior Changes
• Tips
• Warnings

Dogs feel pain in the same way as humans, but through evolution, they have learned to hide the signs of pain, because this can make them vulnerable to other dogs - their rivals. Some dogs make it clear to the owner that they are in pain, while others hide the pain so skillfully that it can be very difficult to get to the bottom of the truth. In most cases, dogs try to hide the pain - this is part of a natural survival strategy developed during the process of evolution. Regardless, there are many ways to know if your pet is really in pain. The sooner you can figure this out, the faster you will help your pet. Trust me, just a few tips can help solve the problem early on, before it escalates into a real disaster.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Notice the changes in your pet's appearance

1. 1 Pay attention to lameness. One of the obvious signs of pain is limping. The dog begins to limp when it hurts to transfer body weight to one of its paws.
   • If a dog has one of its paws injured, it will most likely try not to load it, resting on the other three paws.
   • In addition, if the animal is in pain, it will most likely try to move less.
2. 2 Notice other oddities in the dog's movements. For example, it may be difficult for a dog to stand or lie down. She may move a little slower than usual and may refuse to do some activities.
   • Another sign of pain and discomfort is indecision, for example if the dog hesitates before going up or down stairs, running or jumping.
3. 3 Watch for changes in the animal's habitual posture. Consider how the dog is holding its head or tail. Any deviation from the normal habitual posture (for example, a drooping or tucked tail in a dog that usually wags it actively) can be a sign of discomfort and pain.
   • If the dog is holding its paw in a different way than usual, this may also indicate soreness.
   • Because of the pain, the dog is often forced to arch its back or exert its entire body when it is just standing or moving.
4. 4 Listen to the animal's breathing. If the dog is in pain, the respiratory rhythm may accelerate, and the breathing itself may become heavy and shallow.
   • If your dog is breathing heavily or is short of breath (especially in cool or cold weather), chances are that something is hurting.
5. 5 Examine your pet's eyes. A dog's eyes can tell a lot about whether or not he is in pain. If your pet has eye problems, you may notice squint, redness, cloudiness, and discharge.
   • The dog may often scratch and rub the area of ​​concern. If your pet is constantly rubbing its eyes, it could be a sign of discomfort in this area.
   • In addition, the condition of the eyes can be a clue to the condition of other parts of the body. For example, squinting can be a sign of damage to the eye area, but in general, dogs often squint their eyes when they are concerned about pain anywhere.
   • Dilated pupils can also be a sign that the dog is in pain.

Part 2 of 2: Notice Behavior Changes

1. 1 Pay attention to the tendency to bite. Pain and discomfort can cause a dog's behavior to change dramatically. Even a friendly dog ​​can bite if it is in severe pain.
   • Even if the dog has never bitten before, it can bite when trying to get close to it, if something hurts very badly.
   • In addition, the dog may bite if you touch or disturb the painful area in any way. This behavior can be explained by the natural reflex of the animal: when the painful area is exposed, the animal tries to stop this exposure. Therefore, the dog can bite you unconsciously, obeying a natural instinct.
   • At first, you will most likely notice a warning sign (such as a growl).Before biting, the dog may flatten his ears and bared his teeth. This behavior can also be called a defense mechanism that the animal uses to prevent pain.
2. 2 Pay attention to how the dog eats. A dog that is in pain and discomfort may not eat well. If you notice a deterioration in appetite in your dog, this may indicate pain.
   • A dog with a sore mouth may accidentally drop pieces of food.
3. 3 Watch for signs of anxiety. If the dog is in pain, its behavior will be restless, it will be difficult for it to calm down and relax. Usually, the animal shows that it is uncomfortable, constantly wandering around the room, now and then changing its position or often getting up and lying down again.
4. 4 Try to notice changes in your sleep patterns. A dog that is in pain is more likely to stop adhering to its normal daily routine. For example, she may sleep much more than usual, or it may be extremely difficult for her to fall asleep.
5. 5 Listen for the dog's barking (and any other sounds). Are there any changes in them? Unusual sounds associated with pain include howling, moaning, crying, barking, and even growling.
   • These sounds can be associated with certain movements of the pet (for example, they can be observed when standing up). By the way, this can serve as a hint as to what may be the cause of the pain of the animal.
   • It is also worth paying attention to the sudden silence if your pet usually barks loudly and makes different sounds.
6. 6 Pay attention to the detached behavior of the animal. Detached behavior includes the habit of hiding and avoiding contact with people and other animals in every possible way - this sign clearly indicates that the dog is experiencing discomfort. The fact is that in this way the dog tries to avoid various painful situations.
   • If your dog turns away or somehow pulls away from you when you try to pet him, it is possible that something is hurting him. Pay attention to this behavior if your dog is usually very friendly and disposed to stroking and petting.
   • This behavior can be accompanied by a closed state of the animal and its lack of communication.
   • If your dog is in pain, you may even notice some signs of depression and mental retardation.
   • Keep in mind the fact that some dogs, on the contrary, require increased attention to themselves during the period of illness, rather than trying to avoid it. Therefore, it is worth considering both suspiciously detached behavior and overly active behavior aimed at attracting attention.
7. 7 Do not ignore the way your dog goes to the toilet. Knowing the normal behavior of your pet in the coping process can help you easily recognize that it has any health problems.
   • If your dog is in pain, it is often possible to notice that the dog begins to adhere to a different posture when relieving himself. For example, a dog that usually raises one hind leg, moving it to the side, may not do this if something is very worried about him.
   • In addition, you should also pay attention to how often your pet needs to relieve itself. And if an unpleasant surprise occurs, there is a possibility that because of the pain and discomfort, your pet simply did not reach the place where it usually relieves.
   • Stool consistency can change significantly due to soreness (this is also associated with increased stress levels). Constipation may occur.

Tips

• Be careful not to make the pain worse. Sometimes you need to find the source of the pain in order to understand what the cause is. But in the case of a dog, the only sure and safe way to do this is to just lightly feel the painful area. You may have already noticed that when examining an animal, the veterinarian palpates the painful area, but keep in mind that veterinarians can palpate so as not to harm the animal.Without the necessary knowledge and training, you risk harming your pet by trying to make a diagnosis!
• Your goal doesn't have to be to find the source of the pain. First, you need to understand if the animal is actually in pain. Once you figure this out, contact your veterinarian and consider further treatment.
• Many of the signs that an animal is in pain are actually very subtle. And they are much easier to recognize if you know what your pet's normal behavior and activity looks like.

Warnings

• Do not try to treat your dog yourself at home without consulting your veterinarian. Be aware that some anti-inflammatory and pain relievers that are effective in humans can be harmful to dogs, especially if taken in the wrong dosage.
• Some of the signs listed above may indicate that the dog is in pain, but some of them may indicate more serious problems. If you notice that the signs listed above have been observed for a long period of time (longer than 24-48 hours), be sure to contact your veterinarian.
• If you have any suspicion that your pet is experiencing pain and discomfort, but you are not sure about it, make an appointment with your veterinarian anyway.