When was the last time you really looked at your dog? I mean,
really looked at them? As a dog trainer, I'm constantly observing canine communication - yet I still missed some crucial signs that my own dog was in pain. If you've been following Potter Paws on Instagram, you'll have seen that my eldest lab, Dave, has been having hydrotherapy sessions following a bout of illness. This journey has reminded me just how subtle dog pain signals can be and how easily we might miss them.
Dave's Story: When Pain Hides in Plain Sight
Dave's always been a bit of a special case. He's a big boy – a traditional stocky show Lab and managing his weight has always be a challenge due to a genetic condition that means he can't overexercise. When he was about three, he hurt his shoulder without any obvious incident. He simply came home from a walk one day and started limping. And in a classic dog move, the second we got to the vet, the limp disappeared!
For the past few years, he occasionally goes lame on that shoulder, we give him a couple of days' rest and painkillers and he's right as rain again. But there's more to the story than that.
Dave's never been a cuddly dog – he doesn't like being touched much, hates having his nails clipped, and isn't keen on being brushed. For ages, I thought this was just his personality. It wasn't until we got him more comfortable with regular chiropractic and massage therapy that we saw huge improvements. He became happier with grooming, more affectionate and hardly ever went lame.
Fast forward to last November and a few days after a slightly longer-than-usual holiday walk, Dave was suddenly in an awful lot of pain. Three weeks of bed rest and strong painkillers later, we discovered he has arthritis in three of his paws and one leg, alongside his dodgy shoulder. The poor lad has been quietly compensating for his shoulder pain so long that it's now affecting his back leg too.
The Subtle Signs of Pain in Dogs
So how do we spot when our furry friends are suffering, especially when they're so good at hiding it? Here are some subtle signs I've learned to watch for:
Changes in Character and Behaviour
One of the biggest indicators of pain is a change in your dog's behaviour. This might show up as:
- Becoming reactive or barking at things they usually ignore
- Developing noise sensitivity
- Starting to resource guard
- Refusing to follow cues they've always known
- Becoming irritable or grumpy
- Going off their food
- Hiding away (Dave's favourite is under the stairs or in the garden when he's particularly uncomfortable)
Physical Changes to Watch For
Pain also manifests in more physical ways that we might easily overlook:
- Changes in coat patterns or swirls (due to underlying muscle tension)
- Refusing to jump into the car when they've always done so before
- Slowing down on walks or sitting down frequently
- Taking longer to change positions (getting up or lying down)
- Licking specific areas of their body with no visible injury
- Subtle changes in how they move or walk
- Reluctance to be touched in certain areas
The Impact of Everyday Activities
It's also worth considering how our everyday routines might be contributing to our dogs' discomfort. Activities that seem harmless when they're young can cause problems as they age:
- Jumping on and off furniture
- Leaping in and out of cars
- Playing fetch with lots of running, jumping and landing
- Slippery floors without runners or carpet
- Swimming in cold water
For Dave, we've implemented simple changes like using a ramp for the car, making sure he steps onto the sofa rather than jumping and putting runners down in the kitchen to prevent slipping.
Being the Responsible Parent
The challenge comes when our dogs want to keep going even when it hurts them. Dave would happily keep walking, running, swimming even though it causes him pain afterwards. He gets proper FOMO watching the other dogs continue playing. That's when I need to be the bad cop and say, "I know you want to do this, but it's going to hurt you later."
It's a difficult balance. We want our dogs to enjoy life but we also need to protect them from themselves sometimes, especially as they age.
The Importance of Being a Pain Detective
Our dogs can't tell us when something hurts, and they're evolutionarily programmed to hide weakness. In the wild, showing pain would make them vulnerable so our domesticated pups still carry that instinct to mask discomfort.
This means we need to become detectives, carefully observing changes in behaviour, movement and interaction. You don’t have to panic over every little thing, just develop an awareness of what's normal for your dog so you can spot when something's off.
If you notice consistent changes, consider consulting your vet, a canine massage therapist, physiotherapist or chiropractor. Sometimes the underlying issues are muscular rather than something that shows up on a standard vet examination.
For Dave, we're managing his conditions with a combination of pain relief, lifestyle adjustments and regular hydrotherapy. We've had to reduce his walk length to about 45 minutes, which is sad but necessary based on the patterns we've observed in his comfort levels.
Our job as dog parents is to advocate for them when they can't speak for themselves. A little detective work and preventative care can go a long way in keeping our furry friends comfortable and happy throughout their lives.
Have you noticed any subtle signs that your dog might be experiencing discomfort? Share your story and get advice from the
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