The Quiet Signs Your Dog May Be Hurting

Pain in dogs is often easy to miss, especially when it develops slowly and quietly over time. In this talk, you’ll discover the subtle signs that may suggest your dog is hurting, from small changes in movement and posture to shifts in mood, sleep, and daily routines. You’ll also learn why these signs are so often mistaken for normal aging, and what you can do to notice them sooner. With practical suggestions and gentle encouragement, this talk helps you become a calmer, more confident observer of your dog’s wellbeing. This talk is for anyone who has ever felt that something may be off, even when they couldn’t quite explain why.

Transcript

Many people assume that as a dog gets older, They become less active, Sleep more, Or lose interest in playing. But many of the things we think of as just getting older can actually be early signs of pain. Signs that are easy to miss. Most people believe they would immediately notice if their dog was in pain. We expect dogs to whimper, Cry, Limp, Or refuse to do certain things. But chronic pain, The kind that starts as a minor discomfort and lingers, Shows up much more subtly in dogs, Especially in the early stages. And because it builds up slowly, It's easy to miss. We don't always make a big deal out of our own aches and pains either. Think back to a time when you weren't feeling all that great. Maybe you had a headache or sore muscles. You probably didn't immediately tell everyone around you. Instead, You adjusted. You moved more slowly, You avoided bright lights or loud noises. And dogs do exactly the same thing, But even in a more subtle way. Another key reason we may miss signs of pain is that they often look like normal aging. When an older dog sleeps more, Or no longer jumps up on the couch, Or hesitates before going up the stairs, We assume that they're just slowing down with age. And of course, Aging brings changes, So the challenge is figuring out which changes are normal, And which might be something else. We can't assume we would notice pain just because the dog isn't crying or whining. I sometimes hear people say, Well, He's not whining, So he can't be in pain. But that's not how chronic pain works. With acute pain, Like stepping on something sharp or suffering an injury, You might hear a yelp, And not even always. But with long-term pain, Such as in osteoarthritis, Dogs don't react the same way. Instead, They adapt. They move differently, Change their sleeping positions, And their behaviour may shift. The challenge is recognising these changes for what they really are. It's very easy to overlook pain, Simply because it develops so gradually. If a dog doesn't want to jump on the bed today, We might not think much of it. And a couple of months later, He hesitates before going up the stairs. But he still manages, So we don't really worry. And before we know it, His daily routine has completely changed. But because it happens so slowly and gradually, We don't connect the dots. That's why it's so important to know what to look for. So what are we looking for? One of the most common early signs of pain is a decrease in activity. Your dog may start walking more slowly on walks, Turning a half-hour walk into a 45-minute one. Instead of eagerly running ahead, He may lag behind. Dogs with joint pain or discomfort often want to keep going, But their body doesn't cooperate the way it used to. So they may slow down, Take more breaks, Or signal that they prefer a shorter route. If this happens once, It's not necessarily cause for alarm, But it is something to take note of. Another thing that might show up is more irritability. If your dog pulls away when you touch certain areas, Or even gives you a little lip lift or a small growl, That could be a sign of pain. He might snap if another dog bumps into him, Or start avoiding other dogs altogether, Especially the energetic, Bouncy young ones. Pain just makes everything harder. Just like we get more irritable when we're in pain, Dogs can too. Some owners assume that this is just a personality change. I sometimes hear people say, He's turning into a grumpy old man. And that's usually said with an unaffectionate chuckle. But sudden changes in temperament are almost always a sign that something isn't right. Another thing is, If your dog used to love cuddles, But now prefers to be alone more often, That could be a sign of pain. Many dogs withdraw when they don't feel well. They may go lie in another room, Avoid playtime, Or stay in their bed more often. Another interesting sign can be licking. A dog in pain often licks the area that hurts. This could be a joint, A paw, Or another body part. Sometimes they can't quite reach the exact spot, So they may lick a nearby area instead. Licking triggers the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals in the body. But if a dog starts obsessively licking one spot, It can be a sign that something's wrong. Think about how we instinctively rub a sore area. Licking is a dog's version of that. Many people associate paw licking with allergies, And that's certainly possible. But if the dog is only licking one paw or one joint, An allergy is far less likely to be the cause. Sleep problems can also occur. Some dogs struggle to find a comfortable position at night. You might notice them becoming restless, Getting up frequently, Changing positions, Lying down again. And that makes sense, If you think about it. Joint or muscle pain can make it difficult to stay in one position for long. Dogs that have trouble settling into a good sleeping position may be dealing with chronic pain. Now, These were some of the behavioral signs that you might notice, But there are also physical signs. Things that you can observe in your dog's body and the way they move. The first one of those is limping or lameness. Limping is one of the most recognizable signs of pain. But by the time a dog is visibly limping, Is visibly lame, There is already a significant amount of pain. This is not an early sign of discomfort. It's a late sign. Dogs are incredibly good at compensating for discomfort. So when limping becomes obvious, It often means that the issue has been present for quite some time. Also, Pain affects posture in various ways. Just as people might hunch their shoulders or adjust their gait to avoid discomfort, Dogs do the same. So, What could you notice? One of the first is a roached back. This can indicate back pain, But it can also indicate abdominal pain. A lowered head position. Dogs with neck or back pain often hold their head lower than normal. A low or a tucked tail. This can be a sign of discomfort or tension. And shifting their body weight. Dogs that place more weight, For instance, On their front legs may be experiencing hip pain or pain in the knees. This is not always easy for owners to spot, But sometimes some owners do. The next one is excessive panting. If your dog is panting even when they are not active and it's not warm, Pain could be the cause. So you could then see panting at rest and in a cool environment. Or rapid breathing even when lying down. The next thing is difficulty getting up or lying down. You might notice that your dog struggles to push themselves up from a lying position. Almost as if they have to hoist themselves up. Once they get moving, They seem to loosen up and walk normally. This is known as start-up pain and is a classic sign of joint issues. And then muscle loss. Pain changes the way a dog moves and over time this can lead to muscle loss. If a dog avoids putting weight on a painful leg or shifts their weight to the other side, The muscles in the affected area become less active. And with muscles, As with many things, It's a case of use it or lose it. So when these muscles are not used, They shrink, They become smaller. So if one leg or one side of the body appears thinner than the other, That's always a sign that the area hasn't been used properly for quite a while. Now, Even if a dog isn't physically limping, They may still move differently to avoid pain. For example, If both hips are affected by arthritis, Both legs may hurt. Meaning the dog can't favour one leg because they both hurt. Instead, They might adopt a different way of walking altogether to compensate for the discomfort. You might also see shorter strides on one side, Either front or back, Or forelegs, Making movement look short, Stiff and awkward. You might see a bunny hop with the hind legs while running. Or you could see swaying hips or a really unusual weight shift. Another thing to look out for is uneven nail wear. A dog's nails wear down naturally through movement. As an aside, Often not enough, Which is why we need to trim them. But that's a whole different topic. However, If the nails on one paw are noticeably longer than the others, It could mean that the dog isn't fully bearing weight on that leg. The opposite might also happen. If a dog isn't lifting a paw properly due to pain, The nails on that side might wear down faster than those on the other paws. A really interesting one that you sometimes can see is changes in coat texture. This can also be a clue. Here's how that works. When a dog is in pain, They adjust their movement to compensate and avoid discomfort. This alters muscle tension and it also affects the fascia, The connective tissue beneath the skin that runs throughout the entire body. These changes can sometimes be seen in the coat, Creating irregular patterns or shifts in texture. Now, What can you see? Sometimes you can see hair sticking up in certain areas. Or in dogs with longer fur, A curly coat or a rough coat, You might see a flattened area of fur. Conversely, You might see wavy or curly patches that can develop in an otherwise smooth coat. Sometimes you can see asymmetrical coat changes, One side looking different from the other, Which may indicate an imbalance. And one of the most common signs that I fairly often see is the development of a mane, A lion's mane, A thickened rough around the shoulder area. And this often happens when a dog's hind legs become weaker, Causing them to put more weight on the front legs to compensate. These coat changes tell a story about how your dog is using their body. At this point you might be thinking, OK, I recognize some of these signs in my dog, But now what? Well, The good news is that there are steps you can take to figure out what's going on. The first step is to observe, To become a detective. Pay close attention to your dog's daily habits. I believe that if you're aware of the subtle, Or sometimes not so subtle, Signals we've discussed so far, You'll start noticing much sooner when something's off. My goal is not for you to become obsessed with analyzing every little thing. Life is meant to be lived, And not to spend worrying all the time. But I do want pain awareness to be at the back of your mind, Basically all the time. How can you do that? Observe their movements. Pay attention to how they get up, Walk, Sit, Lie down. Watch their activity levels. Are they moving more slowly? Are they avoiding certain activities? And try to notice small changes. Are they licking one spot more often? Sleeping differently? Hesitating before jumping onto something? One of the best ways to track changes is to keep a simple journal. Write down everything you notice, Such as hesitated before going up the stairs, Or seemed stiff after lying down. Over time, Patterns may emerge that aren't obvious from one day to the next. And use video to track movement. I mentioned this in the previous podcast. I'm a huge fan of regularly filming your dog, Especially if you suspect something has changed. Sometimes a camera captures things that the naked eye might miss, And being able to review footage can be incredibly helpful. And then, Trust your instincts. Trust your intuition. You know your dog best. If something doesn't feel right, Trust your gut. If others dismiss your concerns, But you still have the feeling that something is off, Listen to your intuition and seek help. Now, If you have a suspicion that your dog might be in pain, The next logical step would be to go to the vet and talk about it, And have your dog examined. That is absolutely the right step. But there are a few challenges here. Identifying mild to moderate pain in dogs can be surprisingly difficult, Even for experienced veterinarians. Now, Why is pain sometimes so hard to assess in the veterinary clinic? First of all, Stress and excitement can mask pain. Most dogs are at least a little bit tense or excited at the vet's office, And many are downright terrified. But even dogs that seem happy to walk in are often in a heightened state of alertness, Of arousal. That adrenaline rush can temporarily suppress pain, Making the dog move more smoothly than they would at home, And that can make diagnosis tricky. Also, Most veterinary clinics have slippery floors, And these can affect movement. This can make it really difficult to properly assess gait abnormalities or subtle movement issues. And of course, Veterinarians usually only have a limited time to observe a dog in the clinic, And pain signals, As discussed, Can be really subtle. And some dogs absolutely can become very stoic during an examination, But that doesn't mean that they're not in pain. So, How can you help ensure that your vet gets the full picture? This is why it's so important to write down your observations at home and during walks. Since pain can be so difficult to assess in a clinical setting, Your own observations are incredibly valuable. You are the one who sees your dog every day and notices changes that a vet might miss during a short appointment. And the best way to communicate your concerns is by providing concrete information. So, What could you bring to a vet appointment? Well, Your written log. If you've been tracking behavioral changes, Such as hesitation on stairs or difficulty getting up, A written log can be so useful. And photos of unusual postures. If your dog sits or lies down in a strange position, A photo can highlight subtle changes. It can also be really hard to remember or to describe certain things, Like did he lean to the right or to the left when he was sitting. That can be so hard to remember, And a photo can be really, Really helpful then. And of course, Videos of movement at home and outside. Footage of how your dog moves in a familiar environment, Getting up, Walking, Climbing stairs or jumping onto the couch can reveal pain-related movement changes that might not be visible in the clinic. In some cases, It can actually be quite useful to have your dog assessed by a movement specialist, Such as a physical therapist, A chiropractor, An osteopath, Massage therapist or T-touch practitioner, Before visiting your vet or as a complement to your vet appointment. These specialists are trained to assess movement and biomechanics, Whereas a general vet must focus on all organ systems, And that sometimes means that subtle, Movement-related pain isn't always their primary focus. Now, Why can a movement specialist be helpful? For one, Because these sessions are often a lot less stressful. Dogs are usually calmer in that type of setting, And that makes it easier to identify movement restrictions. Movement specialists focus on biomechanics. These people are trained to assess posture, Muscle tension and compensatory movement patterns that might not stand out in a standard vet exam. And they can provide additional insights for the vet. If a physiotherapist or osteopath identifies pain or movement limitations, This information can really help guide discussions with your vet about treatment options. It absolutely doesn't mean skipping the vet. Not at all. It means gathering as much information as possible to get the clearest, Most complete picture by the time you visit. And by working together, You as the owner, Your vet and a movement specialist, You can get the most thorough assessment and develop the best possible treatment plan for your dog. Here are what I think are the most important takeaways. The first, Pain is usually silent. Most dogs don't whimper or cry when they're in pain. Instead, They show subtle changes in behavior, Posture or movement. Second, Not all decline is just old age. If your dog is moving less, Avoiding activities they used to enjoy, Or behaving differently, There may be an underlying cause. Thirdly, Observation is your very best tool. Small details can make a big difference. Keeping a journal, Taking photos and recording videos can help detect pain early. And lastly, Veterinarians can't read minds. Pain can be hard to diagnose in a clinical setting, So your observations are extremely valuable. Now, If after listening to this you're thinking, Hmm, I recognize some of these signs in my dog, Then it's time to put what you've learned into action. Start taking notes on what you observe, Record videos of your dog's movement, And if needed, Schedule a visit with your vet or a movement specialist. And most importantly, Trust your gut. Trust your intuition. If something doesn't feel right, Follow that feeling. You know your dog better than anyone. Thank you so much for listening. I hope to see you again next time.