Nobody wants to see their dog suffering and in pain. However, sometimes it can be very difficult to know for sure whether your dog is in pain. Pets are not like people who complain or feel sorry for themselves. Often, they just go on with their days living with their pain, despite the discomfort. Sometimes it’s quite obvious—a noticeable limp, large cut, or observed trauma—but other times your dog’s signs of pain can be far more subtle. It’s at these times that people often need guidance on what to look for to know if their dog is in pain.
As with many other aspects of caring for your dog, these signs will be more obvious to you (even when they are subtle) if you have a good idea of your dog’s “normal.” This includes his normal attitude, energy level, gait, appetite, thirst, sleep patterns, and other physical and behavioural patterns. After all, if you don’t know what’s “normal,” it’s much more difficult to recognise what’s not.
Assessing Your Pet’s Pain
Here are some signs that indicate your pet may be in pain:
Biting. Dogs in pain are more likely to bite. This is true even with their owners and other people they know. This is particularly true when a person touches or moves the painful area. Sometimes, a normally friendly dog will become grouchier towards other animals or snap at them. Sometimes, pain can be perceived as aggression.
Breathing and heart rate changes. Dogs experiencing pain may have a faster and more shallow breathing pattern than normal. They may also pant. You may even notice a change in the movement of the abdominal muscles and/or those of the chest. Both sets of muscles are involved in the breathing process. Dogs in pain will often also have an increased heart/pulse, rate.
Posture changes. Dogs in pain may assume a very rigid stance, while others may assume the “prayer position” with their front legs on the ground, their butt up in the air, and a stretch throughout their abdomen. Some dogs in pain will lie around more, while others will be more restless and have difficulty laying down and getting comfortable. It all depends on the type, location, and severity of the pain. These postural changes can be even more subtle, taking the shape of an arched or sunken back, or even a dropped or tucked tail in a dog who normally has a perky tail.
Food and water changes. Dogs in pain often eat and drink less than normal. When they do eat and drink, if the cause of their pain is their teeth or some other part of the mouth, they may drop food and/or water from their mouth.
Energy level and mobility changes. Most dogs in pain will have a general decrease in their activity level. This often shows as a dog who sleeps more. It may also manifest as a dog who simply runs and/or jumps less than normal. Dogs in pain often move around less. However, depending on what hurts, they may still move around the same amount, but do so differently (i.e. with a limp, or more slowly when going up or down the stairs, etc.).
Bathroom changes. Dogs who have back pain, for any reason, may have difficulty with the posture needed to defecate. They may struggle to go to the bathroom. Sometimes dogs with back pain can even become constipated in the process.
Body changes. Swellings, be they on your dog’s legs, body, or face, could be an indication of a painful condition, such as infection, inflammation, cancer, or others.
It’s important to speak with or see your veterinarian any time your dog is in pain, or if you think he may be. Some conditions can be treated so that the pain subsides; others need chronic pain control, which will change as the severity worsens.
It is important that the underlying cause of the pain be determined and appropriately treated and managed. Many pet owners have inadvertently caused toxicity or further injury to their dog by self-prescribing medications without first checking with their veterinarian. Never give a dog medication unless instructed to do so by your veterinarian. There are often a lot of medications that can help alleviate pain or keep a pet comfortable for a period of time.
Evaluating Your Pet’s Quality of Life
It is probably “time” when the bad days begin to outnumber the good ones. Pet owners usually have an idea of what is “good” and “bad” in the pet’s life. Here are some things to consider when evaluating your pet’s quality of life.
Does your pet soil itself during the day? This can really be a stressor for some pets who prefer to be clean, and it can also pose health risks such as skin rashes and infections from sitting in urine and/or faeces. These things will further reduce the quality of life.
Does your pet still enjoy basic activities such as eating? Is the pet’s appetite normal? It is important to note that eating isn’t enough to say a pet has quality of life; some animals continue to do so despite being in a lot of discomfort.
Does your pet enjoy human interaction? Is the pet still able to recognise who you are?
Can your pet move around without difficulty or pain?
Name five things they enjoyed, or a trait that made them uniquely them: Once they no longer go three or more or those things, it is a strong indication it may be time.
Making the Final Choice
After some serious soul-searching, heart-to-heart discussions with your vet, and honest family conversations, you may decide that euthanasia is in the best interest of your pet.
After it is done, the process of grieving will begin. Consider doing something special to memorialise your unique and much-loved companion. You made your choice out of love, and your dog would likely thank you if he could.