Chronic pain is one of the most underrecognised welfare problems in companion dogs. Better assessment tools and treatment options are transforming how veterinarians and owners manage canine pain.
Chronic pain in dogs is a major but underappreciated welfare problem. Because dogs evolved as social hunters with strong motivation to mask vulnerability, subtle signs of chronic pain — reluctance to jump, changes in facial expression, reduced play, altered gait — are easily missed by owners and sometimes by veterinarians. Validated assessment tools have dramatically improved pain detection, but their use is still not universal in clinical practice. Effective treatment now encompasses multimodal approaches: licensed NSAIDs, gabapentinoids for neuropathic pain, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, dietary management of body weight, and environmental modifications including ramps and orthopedic bedding. Early intervention produces substantially better quality-of-life outcomes than waiting until pain is severe.