11 signs to help you tell if your dog’s in pain

Dogs are notoriously stoic and don’t often show obvious signs of pain until their suffering with acute pain. You might expect your dog to whimper, yelp or cry when in pain, but this is often only the case when a sudden injury has occurred. 

More often than not, loving owners can miss the subtle signs of pain in dogs and even experienced vets can miss it without the right information at a consultation. 

In this article, we’ll explore the various signs a dog show that indicate they may be in pain. Spotting pain early means you can take action before things escalate - giving your dog better comfort and potentially slowing the progression of chronic conditions like arthritis.

Subtle signs don’t equal subtle pain

Some of the most common signs of pain in dogs are things owners chalk up to 'just getting older.' But they can be early warnings of discomfort or joint issues.

The physical signs of pain in dogs are often easier to spot but sometimes they’re fleeting and can be dismissed or missed entirely. If you notice any limping, change in gait, skipping, or hesitation to walk or play, please seek veterinary attention so you can intervene before pain escalates.

If you notice any new or sudden behavioural or physical changes in your dog, seeking veterinary advice is a sensible first port of call. 

Help your vet to help you:

Keeping a pain diary with symptoms and changes you’ve spotted can help your vet make an accurate diagnosis. Take this with you to help your vet build a full and accurate picture before making a diagnosis. 

11 signs your dog may be in pain

1. Changes in eating, drinking or sleeping

If your dog is eating, drinking or sleeping either more or less than usual, this can be a sign there is underlying pain. Issues like arthritis can make getting comfortable difficult, leading to disrupted sleep patterns and restlessness. 

2. Aggressive or territorial behaviour

If your dog begins barking, growling or defending their items or space - it could be surprising to hear that the underlying cause could be pain. Just like a human with a persistent headache, dog’s tolerance levels take a nosedive when they’re in pain too. So if your dog’s exhibiting any signs of aggression, it’s recommended you investigate for underlying pain. 

3. Barking excessively or overreacting

If your dog begins barking more than normal it could be a sign of pain. In particular, dogs who are in pain become a lot more sensitive to stimuli such as noise and movement. That may result in barking, lunging or even snapping at things in their environment. This lower tolerance can be a sign of undiagnosed pain. 

4. Nervous or fearful behaviour

Just as a dog in pain may exhibit ‘aggressive’ behaviours, some dogs retreat, become nervous or anxious and go into their shell. A nervous dog may shake or tremble, hide, retreat or bark and try to keep dogs or people away from them. Nervous dogs may also become almost hypervigilant, finding it hard to relax and instead surveying their environment for perceived threats. 

5. Withdrawing from touch

A dog who previously enjoyed snuggles on the sofa or a good body scratch and fuss may be more reluctant to touch if they’re in pain. Sometimes they’re resistant or shy away from having certain areas of their body touched or stroked - sometimes it’s a full withdrawal from being touched anywhere. If your dog’s no longer enjoying the physical touch they once enjoyed, it may be a sign of pain. 

6. Excessive licking, scratching or chewing

Dogs who are in pain can lick, itch or chew an area of their body excessively. It’s not always the area of pain that gets the attention but persistent licking and scratching can indicate discomfort or an attempt to self-soothe. 

7. Limping, skipping or changes in gait 

Sometimes it’s a sudden onset of a limp, others it might be a subtle skip on the back legs then walking normally. Any change in gait whether persistent or sporadic is worth investigating. Issues like luxating patella, elbow or hip dysplasia can worsen over time and will ultimately lead to arthritis. The first signs of these conditions are typically subtle changes in gait. 

8. Trembling or shaking

Some dogs are silent sufferers who don’t announce their pain. They may not scream or cry but instead they’ll quietly shake or tremble in silence. This trembling can be a sign of abdominal pain, spine or back pain or other pain that’s triggering a nervous system response. 

9. Changes in posture

Favouring one side of the body or avoiding putting weight on a muscle or joint that’s in pain can lead to changes in posture. You might notice your dog has more of a hunched posture or a roached back - or if you look closely, you may notice a tendency to weight bear more strongly on one side of their body.  

10. Reluctance to do things they normally enjoy

Whether jumping on and off furniture or in and out of the car - if your dog’s in pain, you may notice them reluctant to do things they previously did without issue. If your dog’s less playful or refuses to walk, perhaps even pancaking on the floor midwalk - there may be pain at play. Any sudden change in behaviour deserves investigation.  

11. Panting (when not hot)

We associate panting with hot dogs - since this is how they regulate their body temperature. But a dog who’s in pain may pant heavily or intermittently regardless of the temperature. This is commonly accompanied by pacing whereby the dog’s finding it hard to settle down and relax. Or you may notice your dog panting more heavily on walks despite not overexerting themselves physically. 

 

The most common type of pain in dogs

Osteoarthritis is the most common cause of pain in dogs with approx 40% of dogs suffering from joint pain as a result. Treatment is typically a combination of pain relief and joint supplements - you can learn more about canine arthritis medicines here. 

Common signs of arthritis in dogs include:

• Reduced activity

• Stiffness, limping, slow to rise

• Excessive licking or grooming

• Changes in behaviour

There’s only one ingredient in joint supplements that’s been scientifically proven to treat arthritis in dogs and that’s hyaluronic acid - but the type you give matters. 

Dogs who suffer with arthritis have up to 90% less hyaluronic acid in their joint fluid than normal dogs. You can replenish that loss by giving an oral hyaluronic acid supplement for dogs like Zooomy. 

It’s worth noting that while many supplements contain hyaluronic acid in many different strengths, the only hyaluronic acid that’s been scientifically proven to be absorbed by dogs is long chain molecules (like our Zooomy formulation). 

You can learn more about the difference between long chain and short chain hyaluronic acid here - but the TLDR is: you want the long stuff! 

An easy way to identify whether a supplement contains the long or short chain variety is to look for whether the product is vegan friendly. Long chain HA is not made from animals - so it’s a quick hack when ingredient checking! 

Or save yourself the search and try Zooomy - the long chain HA joint supplement trusted by 100’s of UK dog owners. 

👉 Shop Zooomy