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How do I know if my dog is in pain?

How do I know if my dog is in pain?

Even if they don't all express it in the same way, even if they show few signs, all dogs, regardless of age, feel pain with an intensity and distress comparable to that of humans. .

How to recognize pain in dogs?

warning symptoms

Complaints, weeping, screaming and moaning:

In dogs, noisy manifestations, easily associated with pain, are not often observed. The intensity of the cries also depends on the breed and temperament of the dog: small dogs often express their pain better than large stoic dogs (like hunting dogs), who can suffer in silence.

Complaints and cries are rather associated with acute and intense pain (accident on the public highway, fracture, for example), but they are much rarer in chronic diseases (osteoarthritis).

Behavioral changes:

It is a much more common sign of pain, but also more difficult to detect.

In some cases, the pain can cause your dog to isolate himself, hide, refuse contact, or tolerate his fellow dogs badly. He looks downcast and tired. He may also experience sleep disturbances.

The loss of appetite for his usual food can also be the consequence of pain or illness that prevents him from moving around or eating his fill.

On the contrary, he may also be more restless than usual, frequently seeking a more comfortable position.

A change in attitude or mood can be a sign not to be overlooked.
For instance:
  • a usually cheerful dog on a walk who refuses to get up,
  • an affectionate dog who becomes sulky or seems tired and hides,
  • a dog that bites for no apparent reason when you try to grab or pet it.
Very specific signs:

Certain attitudes, sometimes misunderstood, are very characteristic of the pain your dog experiences:
  • The position of the prior (rear lifted, front legs flat on the ground) generally reflects abdominal pain (stomach ache),
  • A frozen position, head down, can signal neck pain (such as torticollis),
  • The tail carried low can reveal a difficulty in moving,
  • Intense licking or scratching of an area of the body can also indicate pain,
  • Rapid breathing can be an expression of pain, but also of fever, breathing or cardiac difficulty.

What to do with your dog's pain?

Some mistakes should be avoided so as not to aggravate the situation:
  • During a violent accident, and if he is in a lot of pain, your dog may not be able to bear being touched and will try to bite you. In this case, do not put yourself in danger and do not hesitate to muzzle him. Only handle it with extreme caution, and only if necessary, especially if you suspect fractures (fall from a floor, accident with a car).
  • Your anxiety increases theirs: it is essential to remain calm and speak softly. Try not to panic. It is better to spend a few minutes calming down, analyzing the situation, rather than making mistakes in panic.
  • Do not give your dog any medication. Paracetamol, ibuprofen like other molecules can be toxic. Do not listen to advice other than that of a veterinarian
  • If your pet has had surgery, or if he has back pain, it is tempting to think that as long as he is in "a little" pain, he is not doing anything stupid, and that the pain constitutes a "safeguard" . It is a mistake. Chronic pain can lead to self-mutilation, depression, refusal to eat. It is harmful, in any case, and must be treated. There is never any benefit in letting an animal suffer.
  • To think that dogs do not express anything, do not feel pain "like us" is a mistake. Numerous studies have shown that their pain, physical and psychological, exists in dogs and causes great distress.


Do not neglect the pain of an animal, ask your veterinarian for advice.
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