Companion Animals

Dog Chronic Pain Recognition and Management

Chronic pain in dogs is frequently underrecognised, but validated pain assessment tools and multimodal analgesia enable much improved quality of life.

Key Facts

Chronic musculoskeletal pain affects an estimated 20% of adult dogs
Dogs hide pain as an evolutionary survival strategy, making recognition difficult
Validated scales including the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale detect subtle pain signs
Multimodal analgesia combining NSAIDs, gabapentin and physical therapy outperforms single drugs
Regular pain assessments at annual vet checks enable earlier intervention

Welfare Considerations

Unrecognised and untreated chronic pain is a major source of ongoing suffering in the dog population. Owner education and validated assessment tools are essential to closing the recognition gap.

What You Can Do

Learn the signs of chronic pain in dogs through validated owner assessment tools
Request a pain assessment at your dog's annual veterinary check
Ask your vet about multimodal pain management options for your dog