How to Recognize When Your Pet Is in Pain

How to Recognize When Your Pet Is in Pain

Taking care of our pets would be a lot simpler if they could just explain how they feel and tell us what they need. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In fact, most cats and dogs instinctively hide signs of pain and other symptoms of illness that they experience. As a result, pet owners often don’t notice that anything is amiss until their pet has become too ill to continue hiding their symptoms.

8 Signs Your Pet Is in Pain

Since it’s so tough to see a pet’s pain, it’s up to pet owners to be vigilant observers of the behavior of their cats and dogs. Keep a close watch for any changes to their behavior, routine, appetite, energy level, and appearance, as even slight shifts can indicate a problem.

1. Mobility Issues

Musculoskeletal problems like arthritis are some of the most common causes for pets to experience pain. If your pet limps, favors certain limbs, struggles to get up or down, or is reluctant to move around, this is a sign of pain.

2. Appetite Changes

Loss of appetite or weight loss can indicate pain.

3. Vocalization

Unusual vocalization like whimpering, yowling, howling, or growling can indicate pain. This is especially true if your pet always vocalizes while eating, having a bowel movement, or moving around.

4. Sleeping Patterns

If your pet has become excessively tired or conversely seems restless or agitated, this could indicate pain or other health problems.

5. Appearance Changes

An unusual posture or gait could indicate pain.

6. Personality Changes

Unexplained aggression, disinterest in play, or withdrawal from other members of the family indicate illness.

7. Excessive Grooming

Excessively grooming, licking, or biting at a particular area can indicate pain, illness, or anxiety.

8. More Frequent Accidents

A lapse in litter box training or housebreaking can indicate a health problem.

Pain Management for Pets in Woodland Park

If you notice any unusual changes or behaviors in your pet, we strongly encourage you to schedule a veterinary appointment right away. We’ll examine your cat or dog and recommend any diagnostic testing necessary to determine the underlying cause of your pet’s discomfort. Then we’ll work closely with you to determine the appropriate course of treatment.
At Compassion Animal Hospital, we’re committed to helping our patients live long and happy lives. We offer a comprehensive list of services to help our patients find relief from chronic and acute pain. These treatments include pain medications, nutritional supplements, dietary adjustments, lifestyle adjustments, surgery, cold laser therapy, and more.
Dr. Cooper will work with you and your pet to find a pain management plan that works best for you. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact us today.

Could Your Pet Be in Pain?

Animal Pain

Learn to Recognize the Signs During Animal Pain Awareness Month

During September, Compassion Animal Hospital recognizes Animal Pain Awareness Month by teaching pet parents how to recognize signs of pain in cats and dogs. Recognizing when a pet is in pain can be extremely difficult. In the wild, predators choose to target animals that appear sick or weak. Our pets evolved to instinctively mask signs of illness and injury, including pain. Although it’s difficult to spot, you can learn to detect subtle signs.

Learn to Recognize Pain in Your Pet

Signs of Pain in Cats & Dogs

  • Behavior Changes - Behavior changes, like unusual aggression or appetite loss, are the most common indicators of pain. You might also notice changes that occur in their daily routine, thirst, energy level, playfulness, bathroom habits, or other behaviors.
  • Appearance - Your pet's appearance might change. Look for swelling, redness, lumps, bumps, and changes to their skin or coat.
  • Mobility - Limping, lameness, or reluctance to move about and play indicate pain.
  • Isolation - Cats and dogs who are in pain might attempt to isolate themselves, become less social with people and other household pets, and exhibit a reluctance to be touched.
  • Heart Rate - When in pain, pets will have an elevated heart rate.
  • Vocalization - Whimpering, howling, yowling, or other excessive vocalization might also occur as a result of pain.
  • Eyes - Look for squinting and/or pupil dilation or contraction.
Pain in Your Pet
Pain Unique to Cats

Signs of Pain Unique to Cats

  • Grooming Changes - An overall decrease in grooming can indicate general illness, pain, or discomfort, but cats that are injured tend to groom their wounds excessively.
  • Purring - Although cats sometimes when they're comfortable, they also purr in order to comfort themselves. If your cat purrs more than usually, this could indicate discomfort.

Signs of Pain Unique to Dogs

  • Panting - Excessive panting or fast, shallow breathing can indicate pain and other discomforts in dogs.
  • Posture/Gait Change - A change in posture or in the way a dog walks might indicate pain.
  • Trembling - Dogs experiencing significant pain often tremble.
Pain Unique to Dogs
Health Screening for Your Woodland Park Pet

Schedule a Preventative Care Appointment and Health Screening for Your Woodland Park Pet

The best way to deal with pain in pets is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. With a strong focus on wellness and preventative care, our veterinarian at Compassion Animal Hospital recommends scheduling pets for regular checkups. This will help us detect signs of illness, age-related disease, or other health problems and begin treatment before they progress far enough to cause your pet any pain. If your pet already has an acute or chronic condition, we’ll work with you to establish a safe and effective pain management plan. To learn more, contact our Woodland Park veterinarian today.