Our Pets In Pain
I have heard too many times from people “my dog is limping, but they’re not in pain” Your dog does not limp, go lame, or walk differently for no reason.
It is because THEY ARE IN PAIN!
If you have been noticing that your dog has a limp but they are still running around and jumping up on the couch or bed so you think "oh it must not be hurting them if they are still behaving pretty normally" you need to think again.
When was the last time you or someone you know had a painless limp?
Our dogs’ brains work differently to our - duh - They don't have the forethought that "if I do X or Y that's going to cause pain" they just do the actions they want to do in the moment and experience pain as a result, but they do not make the connection that the pain is a result of the action. When they are excited and playing in the moment, they may not even notice the pain.
So, if your dog (or cat or any 4 legged pet) is limping or their walk/ run has changed, it’s time to take them to the vet. Even if you have not noticed any behaviour changes.
Dogs, and cats especially will often try to hide or mask their pain from us.
This is an instinctual part of how their brains are wired going all the way back to their wild wolf or big cat heritage and evolution.
In the wild illness and injury mean exclusion and death from the family group. So, their instinct is to hide any pain, illness, injury, or discomfort they may have not because they don't love and trust you but because their brain/ instinct is telling them that weakness = death.
Our animals rely on us to know when they are in pain and to see those subtle signs (that they are often trying to hide) that only we, their pet parent who knows them best would see so that we can get them to the vet or pet health professional as early as possible to keep them in optimal health and give them the best quality of life available.
Some of the signs you can use to recognise if your dog is in pain, your dog may show one or several of these (and this is not a full or complete list)
Vocalisation- whining, yelping, crying out.
Just like humans, often when animals are hurting, they will let you know by whining or vocalising.
Be sensitive to touch or less inclined to normal handling.
If you see your dogs skin twitch or ripple when you touch them in certain places, this is a good indication that they are experiencing pain in that area.
Become grumpy and may snap at you
Just like us humans, our dogs may become grumpy if they are in pain; especially if they have been for a while. Unfortunately, we often don’t notice the subtle signals that dogs use to tell us they want us to stop an action or leave them alone and then they are left with few options to make us stop such as snapping to really get our attention.
Become quiet or less active
This is often the first sign owners of active breeds notice that something is not right with their dog.
Limping or be reluctant to walk. If your dog is in pain when they walk or move, they may start avoiding movement where they can.
Pain is often categorised as Acute or Chronic.
Acute pain is sudden pain that lasts less than 6 months. Often has a specific treatable cause and has a “purpose” such as letting you know the ground is too hot or you have cut your finger, acute pain will usually stop once the cause of the pain has been removed.
Chronic pain is pain that lasts more than 6 months. Chronic pain is not as easily diagnosed because it can often have underlying and invisible causes. Chronic pain is considered a disease state and is often connected to various diseases such as cancer or arthritis.
Chronic pain may be treated and managed with pain-relieving medications, ointments, and rubs; bodywork therapies such as Bowen, massage, physio; and lifestyle changes like exercise, diet and nutrition, and changes to the home environment.
Please remember that dogs’ brains do not work the same as ours. I have heard many times over the years “oh well if it hurts then they wouldn’t do it” and this is just not true. Animals for the most part are very much in the moment, they do not have the ability or forethought to be able to think that if I run on my arthritic knee, I am going to be in more pain tomorrow, or even so much as to think if I run it will hurt. They only know when the do the action that it hurts and then they stop; unless it is long term chronic pain, and then they learn over time that running causes pain. But that still doesn’t always stop them. It is up to us to monitor their behaviour and if necessary, modify their environment and activities.