Pain in elderly companion animals is systematically underdiagnosed and undertreated, representing one of the most significant welfare gaps in veterinary care of geriatric pets.
Geriatric pain is a pervasive, hidden welfare problem in companion animals. Owners and sometimes vets attribute reluctance to exercise, altered posture, and behavioural changes to 'just getting old' rather than chronic pain requiring treatment. The animals most affected cannot communicate their suffering verbally, making proactive assessment essential. Modern pain management has transformed outcomes for arthritic dogs and cats, but access requires owner awareness, veterinary proactivity, and financial resources. Routine geriatric welfare assessments that include validated pain scoring tools would identify treatable suffering in millions of animals currently living in unacknowledged discomfort.