Signs of Pain in Dogs & Cats

When dogs and cats are painful, their behaviour changes. If you see any of the following ten signs, get help for your pet:

1. Loss of appetite. Any pet that won’t eat has a problem.

2. Inability to sleep. Any pet that won’t sleep has a problem.

3. Circling many times before lying down. A joint that does not move doesn’t hurt. In order to lie down, the joint must bend and this flexion is painful for pets with arthritis. Often, pets with severe arthritis choose to fall down rather than squat before lying down. These pets need help.

4. Unusual posture, such as sitting with legs extended. You’ll see dogs sit with their hind legs straight out when they have knee problems, such as patella luxation or ruptured ACL. Cats can sit like this, too. Pets that sit with their rear legs extended often limp. They need help.

5. Licking or rubbing an area. Pets that are anxious or in pain often lick or rub an area, in the same way a baby sucks its thumb. Pets lick because repetitive licking releases endorphins, which will ease both pain and anxiety. If your pet is anxious, use DAP pheromone for dogs and Feliway pheromone for cats. If your pet is in pain, get help from your holistic veterinarian.

6. Limping or not bearing full weight on a limb. Easy to see if your pet walks in the sand. Also easy to see if the body lists to one side or the other.

7. Won’t play with toys. Pets in pain lose interest in even their favourite toys. If you have to beg your pet to play, look for a problem.

8. Gaining weight due to inactivity. Pets that hurt don’t enjoy exercise. Nothing’s worse than being a pet and not wanting to move. For many dogs & cats so painful they don’t want to move, floating in warm salt water and treating with Adequan can help restore activity.

9. Ratty appearance. Pets with sore backs can’t bend and groom themselves. If your pet’s coat is unkempt, it may have back pain.

10. Change in temperament. Pets that become grumpy or asocial are may be in pain. We often see this in senior pets that have always been good with kids but now snap at them when the kids bump into them or try to pet them.