Chronic pain is among the most common and most underrecognized welfare problems in companion animals, with dogs and cats stoically adapting to ongoing pain in ways that mask their suffering from owners.
Chronic pain in companion animals is underdiagnosed because the animals cannot tell us they hurt, and because their adaptations to chronic pain look like aging, slowing down, or personality change rather than obvious suffering. A dog that no longer wants to go for long walks, climbs stairs reluctantly, and seems less engaged is not simply getting old — these behavioral changes often reflect ongoing pain from progressive joint disease. Veterinary pain assessment at regular visits, owner education about subtle pain indicators, and timely treatment access prevent months or years of unrecognized suffering in animals that deserve relief.