Companion Animal Welfare

Dog Chronic Pain Behavioural Signs

Chronic pain in dogs is frequently missed because dogs hide pain, making behavioural sign recognition an essential skill for owners and veterinarians.

Key Facts

Chronic pain in dogs manifests as behaviour change rather than vocalisation
Reduced activity, reluctance to jump, grumpiness and sleep changes are common signs
Validated pain assessment tools include the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index
Pain from arthritis affects up to 20% of dogs over 1 year of age
Effective multimodal analgesia including NSAIDs, gabapentin and physical therapy reduces chronic pain

Welfare Considerations

Chronic pain is one of the most underdetected welfare problems in companion dogs. Owner recognition of subtle behavioural changes combined with veterinary pain assessment tools improves detection rates. Untreated chronic pain causes profound welfare harm over months and years.

What You Can Do

Learn the behavioural signs of chronic pain in dogs from veterinary resources
Raise any behaviour changes in your dog with your vet as a potential pain indicator
Ask your vet about chronic pain assessment if your dog is over 7 years old