Dog Pain Assessment and Management

Recognizing and managing pain in dogs — the evidence base for pain assessment tools and effective analgesia in companion animal practice.

Key Facts

Dogs evolved as prey concealment strategists whose ancestors masked pain — domestic dogs retain many of these suppression behaviors
Subtle behavioral changes including reduced activity, altered posture, and decreased social engagement often indicate chronic pain
The Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale and Colorado State scale are validated pain assessment tools for dogs
Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 20% of dogs and is significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated in companion practice
NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the most commonly prescribed analgesics for dogs and are generally safe with monitoring
Multimodal analgesia combining different drug classes and non-pharmacological approaches achieves better pain control than single-drug regimens
Owner education about signs of chronic pain in dogs dramatically increases the rate of diagnosis when owners know what to look for

Welfare Considerations

Canine pain management is a welfare priority that requires active attention because dogs systematically conceal pain in ways that can mislead even experienced owners and veterinarians. The dog who no longer greets enthusiastically at the door, who hesitates before jumping onto furniture, who changes their sleeping position, or who interacts less with the family may be experiencing significant chronic pain that behavioral masking has prevented from being recognized. Systematic pain assessment using validated tools, proactive analgesic prescription for dogs with diagnosed pain conditions, and owner education about pain signs are the pillars of good canine pain welfare. These are achievable improvements in companion animal practice.

What You Can Do

Learn the subtle behavioral signs of chronic pain in dogs and monitor your companion regularly for changes
Ask your veterinarian to assess your senior or arthritic dog using a validated pain scale at every visit
Do not normalize behavioral changes in aging dogs as simple slowing down without pain assessment
Request appropriate analgesic treatment if your dog has a diagnosed condition associated with pain
Consider physical rehabilitation therapy for dogs with chronic musculoskeletal pain — evidence shows significant benefit
Implement environmental modifications including ramps, non-slip mats, and elevated food bowls for dogs with mobility pain