Signs of Pain in Dogs You Should Not Ignore

Dogs instinctively hide pain — an evolutionary trait from when showing weakness invited predator attention. By the time a dog shows obvious signs, the pain is often already significant. Knowing the subtle signals is key to early intervention.

## Behavioural Signs of Pain

Withdrawal and Reduced Activity
A normally social dog that suddenly retreats, avoids interaction, or sleeps far more than usual is often uncomfortable. Pain suppresses motivation and energy.

Changes in Eating and Drinking
Mouth pain (dental disease, foreign body) causes food avoidance or eating on one side only. Abdominal pain suppresses appetite entirely.

Vocalisation
Whimpering, yelping when touched or moved, growling when approached — these are clear pain signals. However, many dogs in chronic or severe pain vocalise very little.

Aggression or Irritability
A dog that snaps when normally gentle is often in pain. Never dismiss sudden aggression without ruling out a physical cause — especially in older dogs.

Restlessness and Pacing
A dog that cannot settle, changes position frequently, or gets up repeatedly during the night may be experiencing discomfort that prevents relaxation.

## Physical Signs of Pain

Postural Changes
- Hunching of the back (spinal or abdominal pain)
- Holding one leg raised at rest (limb or joint pain)
- Reluctance to lower the head to eat from a floor bowl (neck pain)
- Wide-based stance with head down (generalised pain or nausea)

Localised Licking or Chewing
Dogs lick painful areas compulsively. Persistent licking of a paw, joint, or area of the body often indicates localised pain below the surface.

Changes in Breathing
Panting at rest (when not hot or anxious) is a significant pain indicator. Shallow, rapid breathing can accompany severe pain.

Facial Expression
Research in dog pain assessment (the Canine Pain Scale) identifies: ears pulled back, eyes partly closed or squinting, tension around the muzzle and forehead as reliable pain indicators.

## When to Act

If your dog is showing two or more of these signs, a vet assessment is warranted — particularly if the signs are new. Log the signs and when they started using Flovvi before your appointment.