by Julie Gawain

Created on: December 22, 2009

Ascertaining whether your dog is in pain is a useful diagnostic tool to not only you, but your veterinarian, as well.  The signs of canine pain are relatively simple and common sense.  Dogs will let you know that they are in pain throughout a variety of ways; their body language, vocalizations, and behavior will typically be different than the norm.  

Anyone who has had contact with dogs knows the basics of canine body language; it is easy to tell when a dog is friendly or aggressive.  When there is pain involved, a dog's posture may become hunched.  He may keep his head down, and if there is a particular part of his body that is hurting him, he may 'guard' that area.  He may also shake, pant, or be slow to rise.  His tail might not wag as much, and you may notice him having difficulty finding a comfortable position.  

Vocalizations can also be helpful.  Whimpering, whining, crying, or conversely, a lack of noise in a usually loud dog can all point to pain.  

As the owner of the dog, you are instrumental in ascertaining whether your dog is in pain.  Being around him every day for as long as he has been alive gives you an advantage that veterinarians do not-you know your dog's normal behavior.  Abnormal behavior, such as aggression in an otherwise gentle dog, and decreased appetite in a food-motivated dog can be signs of pain.  Dogs in pain might also engage in inappropriate urination or defecation. 

The knowledge you possess about the typical behaviors of your dog is a baseline, and it makes it easy to recognize anything that is not the norm.  Trust in your instincts.  If you just 'know' that your dog is in pain, don't brush off your feelings as false intuition.  Chances are, you are right.  

When dealing with a dog in pain, use extreme caution.  As we have seen, dogs react to pain in a diverse amount of ways.  Even the gentlest dogs must be handled with care.  If your dog is exhibiting aggressive behavior due to pain, fashioning a noose-style muzzle from a leash may be helpful.  If you need to move him to get him to the veterinarian, move him gently.

While finding out whether a dog is in pain is relatively simple, many times it is extremely difficult to know what exactly is causing the pain.  If you believe your dog is in pain, call your veterinarian.  When it comes to man's best friend, it is better to be safe than sorry.  

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