4 Sneaky Signs Your Dog Is in Pain

As a dog owner, you know dogs are expressive animals. They experience joy, sadness, fear and pain — just like us. But when it comes to pain, dogs can be difficult to read. They won't necessarily cry out, walk with a limp or show any immediately obvious signs of discomfort. 

Let's go over some of the reasons why your dog could be hurting, how to recognize signs of pain in dogs and the steps you can take to help your pet. 

 

Why Is My Dog in Pain?

As much as we try to protect our dogs, it's highly likely they will experience some form of pain in their lifetime. Traumatic events such as squabbles with other dogs, falls and playtime injuries can all hurt our canine companions. Other potential causes of pain include: 

• Illnesses like pancreatitis and gastroenteritis  
• Torn ligaments, such as a torn ACL 
• Infections, including ear infections and urinary tract infections  
• Chronic (long-term) diseases such as dental disease or osteoarthritis  

In addition, many short-legged dog breeds, such as dachshunds and basset hounds, can suffer from back pain due to their anatomy.¹ 

4 Signs a Dog Could Be in Pain 

While some dogs may show obvious signs of pain, such as whining, limping or shaking, others are more stoic and hide it.² This might be due to their ancestry of living in the wild, where showing any weakness could make them vulnerable to an attack.   

Here are four sneaky signs to look for that may indicate your dog is in pain. 

1. Changes in Behavior  

Dogs in pain may avoid or hide from their family.³ They may also become quiet, withdrawn or even aggressive in an attempt to protect themselves from further pain by staying isolated. 

Your dog could be in pain if they are: 

• Sleeping in odd places  
• Avoiding contact with others  
• No longer interested in playing 
• Suddenly reactive or aggressive around you or other pets  
• Not eating as much as usual⁴ 
• Tense or anxious 
• Trembling or panting 
• Barking excessively or squinting  
• Suddenly restless  

Keep in mind that every dog is different: Some pets may do the opposite, becoming clingy and staying near their owner. The key is noticing a change in the way your dog behaves or interacts with you.  

2. Decreased Activity Level 

Dogs experiencing some sort of back or orthopedic pain often may not perform everyday tasks like they used to.^3,5 For instance, dogs in pain may: 

• Hesitate to go up or down stairs  
• Be unable to jump up on the couch 
• Have a tough time lying down or getting up after lying down  
• Not want to run around or play fetch in the backyard as usual  
• Slow down or lag behind on walks 
• Walk stiffly or with a limp