I was once talking to a relative who asked for advice about their dog who “was limping, but not painful.”
We got into a discussion about pain in animals and I was quite surprised that the obvious signs of pain were not recognized. What is limping if it isn’t an overt sign of pain?
As the status of pets has been raised to that of a family member in many households, most people would be horrified to learn that they were missing the signs pain in their dog or cat.
It has been proven without doubt that our animal companions do feel pain and do suffer in the same way we do. The difference, however, is in the way they communicate pain.
The example of a limping dog is an easy one to understand, but it still gets missed all the time.
Another common problem is dental pain. It is extremely rare that a dog or cat will stop eating from dental pain, even when it is excruciating. Subtle signs such as chewing on one side of the mouth, drooling, or preferring to play with soft toys are often overlooked.
Animals who are in pain will become less active, they may groom excessively, be reluctant to go up stairs or jump on furniture, eat less, pant heavily, have bad breath or red gums, or change their behaviour. Many owners will think their animal is simply slowing with age, but when they give some pain relief medication or treat underlying disease, they are surprised to see the energetic happy pet they used to know emerge again. By recognizing and treating pain in pets, people will have the opportunity to share a happy, comfortable life with their best friends.
Submitted by Gary Noorlander – owner Animal Hospital of North Fergus
