Detecting Pain in your Pet

Animals feel pain just like humans do but unlike humans, they are unable to speak to us about it. It is important to look for subtle changes in your animals behavior to identify if they are in pain or feel any discomfort.

If your animal shows one or more of these behaviors and you suspect it may be due to pain, notify your veterinarian immediately. 

Following are signs that your animal may be in pain:

• Whining, Howling, Whimpering. Yelping, Groaning, Grunting 
• Restlessness, reluctance to move, difficulty getting up from a laying position, repetitively gets up and lies down
• Trembling, circling or lyingvery still
• Seeks more affection than usual
• Difficulty or hesitation in getting up from a lying position or lying down
• Change in chewing behavio, chewing on one side
• Decreased appetite rapid change in weight or overeating.
• Withdrawl from social interaction
• Changes in sleeping - sleeping more than usual
• Lapses in housetraining
• Grimaces, vacant stare, glazed, wide-eyed or lookssleepy
• Enlarged/dialated pupils
• Flattened ears
• Panting excessively when at rest
• Acts out of character, growls, hisses, bites
• Pins ears back
• Licking in one area often
• Scratching a particular part of its body often
• Avoiding your hands or you, acting out or agressive towards one or more family members
• Decreased range of motion
• Reduced interest in play and walks
• Difficulty urinating or defacating
• Tucked tail, turning the head away, hunching down