Dogs mask pain effectively as a survival mechanism, making it critically important for owners and veterinarians to use validated pain assessment tools to recognize and treat canine suffering.
Pain in dogs causes genuine suffering regardless of whether it is expressed in ways humans recognize. A dog lying quietly in a corner, reluctant to interact, with subtle facial tension may be experiencing severe pain that would be recognized in a human immediately. The stoic presentation of pain in dogs has historically led to significant undertreatment - surgeries performed with minimal post-operative analgesia, chronic conditions managed without pain relief, and pain going unnoticed for months. Better pain recognition and treatment is one of the highest-impact welfare improvements available to dog owners.