Dog is suddenly yelping | Recognise pain and take action

Recognising pain in dogs. Dogs feel pain, just like us. And we do everything we can to prevent our canine friends from suffering when they show it. But recognising pain in dogs is not always easy and is often overlooked. We will help you to better recognise when your dog is in pain and how to help them.

What is pain?

In humans, pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience, so it can be felt physically and emotionally. However, the extent to which dogs experience emotional pain has not been researched. Therefore, in this article, when we talk about pain, we are referring to physical pain.

Pain is a warning signal from the body when tissue damage is imminent or has occurred. Pain can be caused by external factors (e.g. cold, heat or injury) and internal processes (e.g. inflammation or disorders of the nervous system). Pain can be acute or chronic.

The sensation of pain is triggered when so-called pain receptors are activated. These receptors are found almost everywhere in the body and respond to temperature, pressure, stretching and injury. The outer skin is particularly sensitive to pain. Although the brain and many internal organs do not contain pain receptors, they are surrounded by pain-sensitive membranes. This is why swelling of the organs or injury to their surface is still perceived as pain.

Does everyone feel the same amount of pain?

The degree to which pain is felt and shown varies greatly from individual to individual. Many hunting dog breeds, for example, seem to be more tolerant of pain, or at least show less pain, because of their breeding. After all, it is their job to be able to cope with the pain that comes with the hunt, for example if they collide with something or are injured by prey. The release of adrenaline can also reduce the sensation of pain. For example, a dog that is injured while hunting or playing hard may not show it for hours after it has calmed down. 

Good to know: Just because your dog does not show any (obvious) signs of pain does not mean he is not in pain.

How do dogs behave when they are in pain?

There is no general rule for recognising pain in dogs. Injury and inflammation are the most common causes. As almost all organs and body structures contain pain receptors, there are many different behaviours and physical symptoms that indicate pain. These signs are not always obvious or may be classified as 'normal signs of ageing'.

One relatively reliable indication of the presence of pain is the so-called pain face. In a pain face, the eyes are either fixed and wide open or squeezed together with a wrinkled forehead. The ears are tense or flat against the head. The face generally looks tense, the mouth is pulled back and wrinkles form at the corners of the mouth. When the dog is panting, the tongue does not hang loosely from the mouth but is spoon-shaped or slightly curled at the sides. Severe musculoskeletal pain is also often characterised by lameness or complete loss of use of the affected leg.

Symptoms of minor pain are often more subtle and therefore harder to spot. You should observe your dog's movements regularly and become familiar with them. This will help you to spot changes and possible signs of pain, which we have listed below. However, even if your dog shows one or more of the following symptoms, it does not necessarily mean that he or she is in pain. It is important that you also analyse the circumstances. It is the overall picture of abnormalities and circumstances that tells us this. For example, ask yourself if the symptoms occur after playing with other dogs or after sprinting. Also consider whether your dog is older or has had painful problems in the past.

Behavioural changes when in pain:

• Smacking lips

• Scratching or licking (certain parts of the body)

• Vocalisations such as screaming, whining, howling

• Reduced appetite

• Increased need for rest

• Restlessness

• Decreased interest in exercise and environment

• Refusal to perform certain cues (sitting, lying down) or movements (climbing stairs, getting in/out of the car, jumping over obstacles)

• Problems performing movements (e.g. getting up from a basket)

• Avoiding (physical) contact

• Avoiding contact with conspecifics

• Strong soothing or avoidance behaviour

• Increasingly anxious or aggressive

• Eye pain: pinching of the eyes

Physical symptoms of pain:

• Repeated heavy breathing, accelerated breathing

• Pain face (tight facial expression, dilated pupils)

• Trembling

• Excessive salivation

• Sweaty paws

• Weight gain or loss

• Sensitivity to touch (including grooming)

• Coat changes (in certain areas)

• Changes in gait (limping, stumbling, dragging toes, hobbling)

• Avoidance of certain gaits

• Poor hygiene

• Problems urinating or defecating

• Redness, swelling, discharge (certain parts of the body)

When and why does the dog scream?

The causes of pain can be anywhere in the body and are varied. Some organs or parts of the body are more sensitive than others. For example, even the smallest injuries can sometimes be very painful. This can make it difficult to find the cause of the pain.

Parts and structures of the body that are often affected by pain are:

• Skin

• Spine

• Hips

• Legs

• Feet

• Eyes

• Ears

The circumstances in which pain occurs or is expressed also vary greatly. Pain often occurs suddenly, for example during walks, training or encounters with other animals. The dog will scream and limp or tremble from one moment to the next. It can also develop slowly. Particularly in older animals, the first signs may not be so obvious and may only become more apparent over time. 

Circumstances where pain is common:

• Hunting

• Training (e.g. agility)

• Playing and roughhousing

• Running with the bike

• Getting up

• Eating

• Urinating and defecating

If your dog screams in his sleep

If your dog screams in his sleep, it is probably because he is dreaming. Dreaming dogs can make a variety of sounds such as barking, growling and howling. They also often twitch their muscles, move their limbs and move their eyes under their closed eyelids. If you feel that your dog is dreaming excessively or even badly, you can gently wake him up. Be gentle as a sudden awakening can confuse your dog and cause an aggressive reaction.

Can pain be measured in dogs?

Pain is always an individual experience. However, the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (J. Reid et al, 2007) was developed with the pain score for dogs in order to make the degree of pain measurable in an abstract way and thus make the assessment of pain comparable. It is primarily used in a clinical setting to estimate the amount of analgesia required after surgery.

To determine the pain score, dogs are scored in six categories. Within each category, observations are sorted in ascending order of pain severity. In each case, the point that best describes the dog's behaviour and condition must be selected. At the end, the points are added up to give a final pain score. The higher the score, the more pain the dog is experiencing. A maximum of 24 points can be achieved.

What are the consequences of pain?

Pain is the body's signal that something is wrong. If left untreated, it can become a disease in itself. If the pain receptors are constantly irritated, the pain can become a permanent condition, even after the original trigger has disappeared. This is called pain memory.

Constant pain can also cause anxiety and aggressive behaviour and lead to subsequent physical changes. If your dog avoids certain movements, makes compensatory movements or adopts a relieving posture because of the pain, this will lead in the long term to (muscle) tension and incorrect strain. This damages joints, tendons, bones and muscles, which in turn leads to the development of pain, which the dog tries to compensate for. A vicious cycle of pain and pain adaptation develops.

What to do when your dog is screaming?

Pain is always a warning signal from the body. You should therefore act as soon as you notice that your dog is in pain. This is not only important to spare him suffering, but also to prevent the long-term effects on his health and well-being described above.

If you are sure, or even just suspect, that your dog is in pain, you should take him to a vet. There he can be thoroughly examined and treated if necessary. In addition to palpation of the affected area, diagnostic tests such as x-rays or ultrasound scans may be required. Treatment will depend on the nature and severity of the cause. A dog in pain should always be given pain killers until the underlying problem has resolved or is no longer causing pain. It may also be necessary to treat the problem surgically. Once a veterinary diagnosis has been made, canine physiotherapists or chiropractors may also be able to help with certain problems.

Dogs are at high risk of suffering injuries or painful diseases during their lives. Diagnostics and surgery in particular can quickly become expensive. That's why it's a good idea for every dog owner to take out pet insurance. This will ensure that your dog is covered and receives the best possible veterinary care and treatment, regardless of your budget.

The bottom line

Pain is a warning signal from the body. That's why we need to take it seriously and act when our dog is in pain. This is the only way we can spare him suffering and prevent serious consequences. There are many symptoms that can be associated with pain. Depending on the part of the body affected and the severity of the problem, different tests and treatments will be required.

The confidu magazine is written by our veterinarians according to current scientific standards. The articles do not replace a veterinary diagnosis, but are intended to provide you with initial information on many topics related to your animal. If you have specific questions about your pet, our vets will be happy to advise you via the confidu app.