Dogs cannot verbally communicate pain, making recognition a critical welfare skill for owners and veterinary professionals. Dogs often hide pain as an evolutionary adaptation, meaning by the time obvious signs appear, pain may already be significant and chronic. Understanding the full spectrum of pain indicators — not just obvious signals — improves welfare through earlier recognition and treatment.
Acute pain (post-surgery, trauma, sudden injury) typically produces more obvious signs:
Chronic pain (osteoarthritis, dental disease, ear disease) often presents subtly:
Validated pain assessment tools improve consistency and sensitivity:
Recognising pain should trigger prompt veterinary assessment and appropriate management. NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen, grapiprant) are the mainstay of canine pain management. Gabapentinoids, tramadol, and amantadine may be used for neuropathic or refractory pain. Multi-modal approaches combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological management (physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, weight management) are most effective for chronic conditions.
Owners are the most important observers of chronic pain, spending the most time with their dogs. Encouraging owners to complete validated questionnaires at regular veterinary visits, and educating them on subtle chronic pain signs, dramatically improves recognition. "Is your dog doing everything they did two years ago?" is a useful screening question.