Chronic pain in dogs is significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated, as dogs mask pain through behavioral adaptation — making owner and veterinary education essential for welfare improvement.
Chronic pain in dogs represents a pervasive, underaddressed welfare problem. The same stoicism that allowed wild ancestors to avoid showing vulnerability to predators now prevents domestic dogs from communicating their pain clearly to owners. A dog that moves slowly, is reluctant to jump, sleeps more, or snaps when touched may simply be described as "getting old" when they are in fact experiencing chronic pain that could be managed. Veterinary and owner education about subtle pain signs, combined with systematic assessment using validated tools, can dramatically improve welfare for millions of dogs who currently suffer unnecessarily.