Chronic Pain Management in Dogs | Animal Welfare Hub

Chronic pain from arthritis, cancer, dental disease, and neuropathic conditions affects millions of dogs — and is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Key Facts

Osteoarthritis affects approximately 20% of dogs and the majority of senior dogs over 10 years
Pain assessment in dogs relies on behavioural cues including gait changes, activity reduction, and facial expression
The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale and Canine Brief Pain Inventory are validated assessment tools
Multimodal pain management combining NSAIDs, gabapentinoids, and physiotherapy produces better outcomes than single-agent treatment
Nerve pain from spinal disease and cancer requires different pharmacological approaches than inflammatory pain

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain in dogs is a welfare crisis that is partially hidden by dogs evolutionary tendency to mask signs of discomfort. Owners and sometimes veterinarians attribute reduced activity and mobility to normal ageing rather than recognising and treating treatable pain. Arthritis pain in older dogs is almost ubiquitous and almost always undertreated. Multimodal pain management can transform quality of life for arthritic dogs. Regular pain assessment using validated tools, proactive discussions about treatment options, and realistic end-of-life planning are all components of excellent chronic pain management.

What You Can Do

Discuss chronic pain assessment at every annual veterinary visit for dogs over 7
Learn to use canine pain assessment tools including the Glasgow scale
Ask your vet about multimodal pain management including both pharmacological and physiotherapy options
Adapt your dogs environment with ramps, non-slip flooring, and warm resting spots
Advocate for pain management training in veterinary education