Chronic pain in companion animals is frequently underrecognised because animals mask subtle signs, and modern pain assessment tools enable owners and vets to detect and treat suffering more effectively.
Animals with unmanaged chronic pain experience daily suffering that diminishes quality of life, reduces social interaction and causes behavioural changes often attributed to ageing. The masking of pain is an evolutionary adaptation in prey species that prevents veterinary detection without active assessment. Owner education in recognising subtle pain signs transforms the welfare of millions of companion animals.