Recognising Pain in Dogs: Assessment and Action

Dogs mask pain instinctively and owners frequently miss signs of suffering, making validated pain assessment tools an important welfare resource.

Key Facts

Dogs evolved from wolves where showing vulnerability could invite predation — pain masking is therefore adaptive
A 2019 survey found that 83% of dog owners could not correctly identify all common pain signs in their pets
The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) is the most validated acute pain assessment tool for dogs
Chronic pain scales including the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index assess long-term musculoskeletal pain
Facial action units (ear position, eye tension, muzzle tension) encode pain states in dogs — the DogPAIN app uses these
Behaviour changes associated with pain include reduced interaction, altered sleep, reluctance to be touched, and changed posture
Repeated veterinary handling in a low-fear context allows accurate pain baseline establishment for individual dogs
Under-treatment of post-surgical pain in dogs is well-documented — discharge analgesia protocols have improved significantly

Welfare Considerations

Pain recognition in dogs is a welfare skill that every owner can develop. The natural tendency to anthropomorphise dog behaviour — interpreting a quiet, withdrawn dog as "calm" rather than "in pain" — consistently leads to under-reporting and under-treatment. Validated pain scales convert subjective observations into structured assessments that guide treatment decisions and allow monitoring of response to analgesia. Welfare-conscious owners who learn to apply a basic pain assessment framework provide their veterinarian with actionable information that transforms care quality. The goal is proactive pain recognition — identifying discomfort before it becomes severe — through regular systematic observation using the same behavioural criteria each time.

What You Can Do

Download and learn to use the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale short form for your dog
Establish a behavioural baseline for your dog so changes consistent with pain are more recognisable
Schedule a veterinary assessment if your dog shows reduced activity, altered posture, or changes in interaction
Never withhold prescribed pain medication from post-surgical or injury-recovery dogs
Advocate for veterinary practices to use validated pain scales as standard in discharge assessment
Share pain recognition resources with other dog owners in your community