Is Your Dog Trying To Tell You Something? Signs Your Dog Is Suffering From Pain

While we deeply cherish our pets, we often miss many of their struggles because they can’t verbally communicate with us. This means our pets may suffer in silence, and it becomes essential for us to observe their body language, behaviours and temperament to assess their health. Frequently, their illnesses go unnoticed. It’s crucial to be attentive and proactive in helping our pets while we have the opportunity.

Hidden signs your dog is suffering in pain that you should watch out for:

1. Aggressive behaviour or anger:Any noticeable shift in a dog’s behaviour is alarming, but if you notice that they are not running to greet you at the door or barking incessantly for no real change in their surroundings or if they growl or have a defensive body language when being caressed, it’s a sure signal they might be in pain.
2. Lack of social engagement: If your dog is in pain, it won’t exhibit its usual playful behaviour. Signs to watch for include a lack of interest in playing fetch, avoiding interactions with guests or friends, not responding to you as it normally does, hiding under furniture, showing a lack of enthusiasm, and appearing lethargic. These behaviours indicate that your dog may be experiencing pain.
3. Abnormal postures: If you see your dog in strange postures like tightly holding down on a limb, or if he is taking positions that are out of normal, then most likely they are in pain. If he experiences pain in movement, they might seem to be sitting more, or if they experience pain while sitting they might appear to walk around more but not regularly, if you notice him sitting in an animated position, take a note.
4. Trembling or shivering:If you see your dog shaking, you might assume they are cold, but this can be a sign of serious health issues like pancreatitis, poisoning, or kidney disease. Ingesting large amounts of sugar-free sweetener xylitol, chocolate or mouldy compost can cause muscle tremors. These conditions are serious and require immediate veterinary attention. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, take them to the veterinarian right away.
5. Change in sleeping pattern or food consumption: A healthy dog will eat at regular intervals, eagerly jump at treats, and sleep at routine times. If your dog suddenly avoids food, stops drinking water, or has trouble sleeping, it’s important to pay attention.