How can you tell if your dog is in pain?
I can't believe I even have to ask this — I SHOULD KNOW. But I think I'm too close to him, I'm not objective. So please help me — what signs should I look for that might tell me if my old dog is in pain or if he's just old and slightly confused. I'll talk to my vet on Monday, but I could use some answers sooner. Thanks.
The following reply is by : lathom01 :
Aside from the obvious yelping, there are several other indicators. Dogs have different pain tolerances and will all react differently to pain. For dogs who have been in chronic pain for a while, it's harder to detect because they grow used to it and adapt. Arthritic type pain will usually show when the dog has been inactive for a while (like when waking in the morning). He'll be stiff and reluctant to move much. Acute pain, on the other hand, may show itself by causing the dog to tremble when it isnt cold, pant when he isnt hot, and will raise his heart rate. He may carry his head and his tail lower, and (if you're in tuned to your dog's little nuances) you may notice his ears are drooped down and his eyes dont have that "sparkle"). If it were just a case of confusion, your dog may be doing things like forgetting he is housebroke, and he may stop and stare at things for a while (as if he's seen it before but still isnt quite sure what it is…). If your dog is old and other causes of pain have been ruled-out, put him on a Glucosamine medication. There's hundreds of canine Glucosamine meds available over the counter. Good luck!