‘Do you think my pet is in pain?’ is a question we as vets get faced with very commonly. Whilst in recent years the mechanisms behind pain in pets have been heavily researched and great advances have been made in this field with a large range of medications available now to treat pain, it is a difficult question to answer.
Assessing whether an animal is suffering from pain or discomfort can be very challenging as the signs can be very subtle and animals will not all display them in the same way. Simple signs like an increased heart rate or breathing rate can often tell us if a pet is in sudden pain or distress for example after trauma or a surgery, but often chronic pain like arthritis is less obvious or shows as a change in behaviour such as fear, anxiety or stress.
In practice we often use pain scoring systems to help us determine how painful a patient is. These often look at their posture, body language and response to physical handling.
You as pet owners know your pet better than anyone else; their personality and normal behaviours. Therefore any changes in behaviours from the list below may be a sign your pet is in some pain or discomfort.
- sleep pattern
- frequency and extent of vocalisation
- eating and drinking pattern
- relaxed posture; like an increased time to settle
- activity/mobility; like reduced movement or a stiff gait
- attention-seeking behaviours
- temperament
- overgrooming/increased licking a particular area on their body
- behaviours when groomed/handled/interacted with
If you believe your pet is in pain, talk to your vet about the options you have to manage this. Your vet might suggest some digital imaging if it isn’t clear why your pet is in discomfort, or maybe recommend simple changes at home like putting down rugs to provide non-slip surfaces, or adding in appropriate supplements to their diet that can make a difference. If medication is required, your vet can explain the different options there are to find the right one for your pet.
If you are in doubt about whether your pet is in discomfort, you might find the below questionnaires helpful in determining whether it is time to see the vet.