Recognising and Managing Chronic Pain in Dogs

Chronic pain is common but frequently underrecognised in dogs. Improving detection and treatment is one of the most impactful things owners and vets can do for canine welfare.

Key Facts

Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 20% of dogs over one year old and up to 80% of dogs over eight years old
Dogs evolved to mask pain as a survival strategy, making chronic pain particularly easy to miss
The Dog Grimace Scale and validated owner questionnaires (e.g. Canine Brief Pain Inventory) improve pain detection
Chronic pain reduces activity, disrupts sleep, causes social withdrawal, and significantly reduces quality of life
Multimodal pain management combining NSAIDs, physiotherapy, weight management, and environmental modification is most effective
Anti-nerve growth factor (anti-NGF) monoclonal antibody therapies represent a new generation of canine pain treatments
Owners frequently underestimate pain in their dogs, attributing slowing down to normal ageing rather than treatable pain
Environmental modifications — ramps, orthopedic beds, non-slip surfaces — can significantly improve daily comfort for painful dogs

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain in dogs causes sustained welfare harm that is qualitatively different from acute injury. A dog living with unmanaged osteoarthritis may experience pain every time it rises, walks, or is touched — yet owners and even veterinarians may miss the signs because dogs rarely vocalise chronic pain. Subtle behavioural changes — reduced willingness to climb stairs, hesitation before jumping, shortened walks, sleep disturbance, decreased interaction — are the primary signals. Validated pain scales and owner questionnaires improve detection, but require active use. Treatment must address not just pain but the whole quality of life: physiotherapy improves muscle support and joint stability; hydrotherapy offloads weight while maintaining conditioning; weight loss in overweight dogs significantly reduces joint loading. Emotional and social wellbeing also matter — a dog in chronic pain may become irritable, less playful, and less connected to family life, with cascading effects on the human-animal bond. Regular reassessment of pain management effectiveness is essential, as needs change over time.

What You Can Do

Learn the subtle signs of chronic pain in dogs — reduced activity, reluctance to jump, sleep changes, irritability
Take your dog for regular veterinary assessments that include pain scoring, especially from middle age onwards
Do not attribute slowing down in an older dog to "just ageing" — consult a vet about pain assessment
Ask your vet about multimodal pain management including physiotherapy and weight management
Modify the home environment with ramps, non-slip matting, and orthopaedic bedding for arthritic dogs
Support research into canine pain recognition tools and novel analgesic therapies