Companion Animals

Pain Assessment in Dogs: Recognising and Responding to Canine Pain

Dogs mask pain instinctively, making recognition challenging but essential, as chronic unrecognised pain is one of the major welfare failures in companion animal care.

Key Facts

Dogs can maintain normal appetite and activity with significant chronic pain
Validated pain scales include the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale
Facial expression changes including orbital tightening are validated pain indicators in dogs
Chronic pain from arthritis is often attributed to ageing rather than recognised as treatable
Behaviour changes such as reduced interaction and increased sleep are often first indicators
Pain assessment is now considered a vital sign in modern veterinary practice

Welfare Considerations

Unrecognised pain in dogs causes prolonged unnecessary suffering while owners attribute changes to normal ageing. Dogs that withdraw, sleep more, snap when touched, or struggle with stairs may be experiencing significant chronic pain that NSAIDs or other analgesics could relieve. Post-analgesic behaviour improvements demonstrate that pain was present. Regular structured pain assessment prevents the welfare failure of prolonged untreated chronic pain.

What You Can Do

Use a validated pain assessment tool to evaluate your dog monthly from middle age
Watch for behavioural signs of pain: reluctance to exercise, irritability, changed sleeping position
Book a pain assessment consultation with your vet if you notice any relevant changes
Advocate for routine pain assessment as part of wellness visit protocols
Never administer human pain medications to dogs as many are toxic
Ask your vet about multimodal pain management for dogs with chronic conditions