Chronic pain in dogs and cats is often hidden through evolutionary stoicism, making recognition and treatment a critical welfare challenge for pet owners.
Chronic pain in companion animals represents a significant but largely invisible welfare burden. Pets in chronic pain modify their behavior to minimize pain expression, and owners interpret reduced activity as normal aging rather than treatable suffering. Better owner education about behavioral pain signs, combined with accessible veterinary pain assessment and treatment, would dramatically reduce chronic pain in the companion animal population.