Symptoms of a Dog in Pain and How to Help (Pasadena, MD)

Do you have a dog? Do you know how to recognize when they are in pain? What should you do if you think your dog is in pain and you aren’t sure why—or if you know why?

As a responsible dog owner, it’s important to learn everything you can about your pet’s health and wellness needs. By brushing up on the basics of canine pain, you can learn how to recognize when your dog is hurting and help them through the problem as well. Read on to find out more.

Aggression

One of the most common signs of pain in dogs is aggression. If your dog is hurting and doesn’t want to be touched, they may snap, growl, or try to bite if you get too close to the affected area. Unfortunately, this usually means you cannot help much on your own at home, and you may need assistance of the veterinarian.

Try to cover your dog’s face with a towel before moving them to the car to go to the vet. Be very careful, as a dog in a lot of pain may bite anyone, even family members.

Hiding

Hiding is almost always seen in dogs who are in pain. Even if your dog isn’t hurting that badly, they may hide under the bed or tuck themselves into the crate to try to get away from the hustle and bustle of the household until they recover.

If your dog is in mild pain or has a known chronic condition and is hiding, you can typically let them self-soothe. However, if your dog is suddenly hiding and shows other signs of pain as well, you may need to be more proactive in helping them. Take your dog to the vet right away to find out more.

Trembling

Trembling can be seen in dogs who are in mild to severe pain, depending on the cause and the location of the problem. For example, dogs with a broken bone may tremble all over because they are hurting so badly. On the other hand, dogs with arthritis may tremble only in the affected leg, and even on days when the pain is mild.

If your dog trembles from chronic pain, your vet may prescribe pain medication to help. Otherwise, however, trembling from acute pain requires further examination to figure out what’s going on with your pet and how best to handle the problem.

Whining or Howling

Some dogs are very quiet when they are in pain, and they try not to draw attention to themselves. Other dogs, however, may be noisy in pain and may whine or even howl loudly depending on the type and severity of the pain in question.

It can be alarming to hear your dog crying in pain, but you can take this as a sign that you need to see the vet as quickly as possible. Go to the emergency vet if your dog is in this much pain.

Panting

Often, dogs who are in pain will start breathing faster and will have shallower breathing, too. This results in panting, sometimes excessively. Pain panting may occur with or without drool, but it is often a sure sign that your dog is experiencing some type of pain that needs to be handled quickly.

Panting excessively can be associated with nausea as well as health conditions like heatstroke too. However, panting (outside of normal panting on a hot day) is almost always a cause for concern and should indicate a trip to the vet is needed. Your dog could be dealing with a variety of problems if they are panting excessively and without explanation.

Vomiting

If pain is very severe, it is possible that dogs may vomit from the pain as well. This is a serious situation that typically indicates a dog who is in a significant amount of pain. You should never leave a dog who is vomiting from pain untreated.

Go to the emergency vet right away if you know or suspect your dog is vomiting from pain. Tell the emergency vet as much information as you can about what could be causing your dog to hurt so badly.

If Your Dog is in Pain Your Vet Can Help

If you have any further questions or concerns about your dog’s pain, be sure to talk to your Lake Shore Pet Hospital vet for more information by calling (410) 317-2028 or booking an appointment online. Your vet can help you understand pain as it relates to your dog and can help you get to the bottom of any pain your pet may be experiencing, too.

By following the guidance of a trusted and qualified vet, you can treat or manage almost any health problems that may be causing your dog to be in pain. This is an important part of dog ownership and caring for your beloved pet.