Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Chronic Pain Recognition Advanced

Chronic pain in dogs is systematically underdiagnosed because dogs evolved to hide pain and owners may misattribute pain behaviours to ageing, requiring active assessment.

Key Facts

Validated pain assessment tools for dogs include the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale
Owners often report that dogs treated for pain suddenly seem years younger
Subtle signs of chronic pain include reluctance to jump, altered gait, and behaviour change
Chronic pain sources include arthritis, dental disease, and intervertebral disc disease
Multimodal pain management combining drugs, physiotherapy, and environmental changes is effective

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain may be the most prevalent and overlooked welfare issue for companion dogs. Systematic screening for pain in middle-aged and older dogs, using validated tools and owner questionnaires, would identify suffering that currently goes untreated in millions of animals.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet to assess your dog for chronic pain at annual checkups
Learn the subtle signs of chronic pain in dogs
Use environmental modifications to reduce pain and improve mobility in affected dogs