Chronic pain in dogs is widespread but underdiagnosed. Learning to recognize subtle behavioral signs and working with vets on multimodal pain management protects dog welfare throughout their lives.
Chronic pain is the hidden welfare crisis in companion dog populations. Unlike acute pain, which produces obvious signals, chronic pain manifests as gradual behavioral change that owners and even vets can easily attribute to aging rather than recognizing as treatable suffering. A dog that has stopped wanting to play, that sleeps more, that is less enthusiastic about walks — may not be slowing down naturally but suffering constantly. Identifying and treating chronic pain transforms quality of life. This requires owners who know the behavioral signs, vets who proactively assess for pain, and access to the full toolkit of pain management options including newer therapies like monoclonal antibody treatments.