Chronic pain in companion animals including from arthritis, dental disease, and cancer is frequently under-recognised and under-treated due to stoic behaviour concealing discomfort.
Chronic unrecognised pain is a major source of animal suffering that owners and sometimes vets miss due to the subtlety of behavioural changes. Regular veterinary pain assessment, owner education about subtle pain signs, and appropriate multi-modal pain management significantly improve quality of life for chronically painful animals. Pain management should be reviewed regularly as disease progresses.