Companion Animals

Companion Dog Pain Recognition and Management

Dogs frequently suffer from unrecognized and undertreated pain due to their behavioral tendency to hide discomfort and owner difficulty interpreting subtle pain signals.

Key Facts

Dogs evolved to conceal pain as vulnerability in social and predator contexts
Validated pain scales such as the Glasgow CMPS-SF help veterinarians assess canine pain
Chronic pain from osteoarthritis affects an estimated 20% of dogs over age 8
NSAIDs and multimodal analgesia can dramatically improve quality of life for painful dogs
Subtle signs of chronic pain include reduced activity, reluctance to jump, and personality changes

Welfare Considerations

Dogs in chronic pain often do not vocalize or show obvious distress signals recognizable to their owners. Changes in sleep patterns, reduced play, altered gait, and withdrawal from interaction are frequently dismissed as normal aging rather than signs of treatable pain. Better owner education about subtle pain signals and more proactive veterinary pain management could dramatically reduce the burden of unrecognized chronic pain in companion dogs.

What You Can Do

Learn validated behavioral pain indicators for dogs including the Glasgow pain scale
Schedule annual mobility and pain assessments for dogs over age 7
Ask your veterinarian specifically about pain management options if your dog seems slower
Advocate for veterinary education improvements around pain recognition and treatment