Is your pet hiding its pain?
To protect themselves from predators, animals naturally hide their pain. The advancement of veterinary science has decoded subtle telltale signs of animal pain. Observing your pet’s behavioral traits is vital to managing its pain.
How well do you know your pet? Take a quick survey to find out if your furry
friend could be in pain.
1. Is your pet showing any abnormal chewing habits?
Yes No
2. Has your pet shown a change in appetite or weight?
Yes No
3. Does your normally affectionate pet no longer like to be touched?
Yes No
4. Is your pet showing any limping or lameness?
Yes No
5. Does the way animals express pain vary by age?
Yes No
6. Is your pet showing “old age” behaviors?
Yes No
7. Can you help detect cancer by recognizing behavioral changes in your pet?
Yes No
Is your pet hiding its pain?
1. Is your pet showing any abnormal chewing habits?
If you answer yes, your pet may be in pain.
If your pet is showing abnormal chewing habits such as dropping its food or
chewing from one side of the mouth, it may have a dental disorder or a mouth
tumor. Additional signs may include weight loss, bad breath, or excessive
face rubbing. Routine dental checkups are important to prevent or treat
dental disorders and related pain.
2. Has your pet shown a change in appetite or weight?
If you answer yes, your pet may be in pain.
Pain directly influences your pet’s weight and eating habits. A dental
disorder may cause your pet to refrain from eating, resulting in weight loss
because it hurts to chew. Pets with arthritis or muscle soreness may not
want to access their food because it is uncomfortable for them to bend over.
Arthritis pain may also cause pets to gain weight while their eating habits
remain the same, as the arthritis prevents them from getting the exercise
needed to maintain a healthy weight.
Weight problems and joint injuries can also go hand-in-hand. Animals
carrying excess weight have an increased likelihood of tearing ligaments and
damaging joints. When an animal’s joints become damaged and painful, they
don't want to exercise. This lack of activity further contributes to their
weight problem. This is especially common in older pets. If you answered yes
to this question, talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s change in
appetite or weight.
3. Does your normally affectionate pet no longer like to be touched?
If you answered yes, your pet may have a progressive disease such as
osteoarthritis or intervertebral disc disease. Although your pet may appear
to be normal before petting it, the added pressure applied during petting
its body may expose sensitive and painful areas. If your animal avoids being
petted, discuss these behavior changes with your veterinarian.
4. Is your pet showing any limping or lameness?
Arthritis or degenerative joint diseases (DJD) are the most common causes of
lameness. Pets that limp may be reluctant to go up or down stairs, exercise,
or play. Losing unnecessary pounds will help overweight pets decrease
pressure on sore joints and reduce pain. Consult your veterinarian about
exercises, diets and pain medications that can help improve your pet’s
health.
5. Does the way animals express pain vary by age?
Correct Answer: Yes
Neonates, animals younger than 4 weeks, have the same capability of feeling
pain as other animals. However, animals’ expression of pain varies with age
and species, as well is dependent on the individual pet. Like human infants
and the elderly, the very young or aged animal may not have the sufficient
energy or the capability of communicating their pain. Formerly active pets
that quietly sit around the house may have an underlying health problem. The
lack of expression does not mean that the pet is not experiencing pain. Any
drastic behavioral change is cause for alarm. Being aware of your pet’s
habits can help you and your veterinarian assess and treat your pet’s pain.
6. Is your pet showing “old age” behaviors?
Like humans, growing old for pets can be painful. Pets with arthritis pain
will slow down, becoming less active. Decreased activity may result in
increased body weight and additional stress on joints, which can cause pain.
Managing your pet’s pain can lead to increased physical activity, desired
weight loss and a better quality of life. If your pet is exhibiting signs of
“old-age” have your veterinarian carefully examine your pet to determine if
it could be suffering from arthritis and how to manage the associated pain.
7. Can you help detect cancer by recognizing behavioral changes in
your pet?
Correct Answer: Yes
According to the Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) common signs of small
animal cancer can include abnormal swellings that persist or continue to
grow; hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina; difficulty eating or
swallowing; persistent lameness or stiffness; and difficulty breathing,
urinating or defecating.
Like humans, pets can “point” out pain by physically addressing the source
of irritation. Self- mutilation, such as excessive licking, biting or
scratching of a specific area of the body by your pet can be an indication
that your pet is experiencing irritation or pain. Recognition of these
behavioral signs can often lead to the detection of an underlying illness or
disease such as osteosarcoma, bone cancer.
Cancer comes in many forms and can affect individual animals differently.
With the advancement in pet health care, most forms of cancer can be
treated. Thorough and timely diagnosis is vital to creating a successful
treatment plan. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and
radiation therapy. For more information about small animal cancer please
contact your veterinarian.
Many basic lifestyle changes can reduce pain. Controlled exercise and weight
management are used to decrease joint stress and improve muscular support of
the joints. Providing simple environment modifications can also help reduce
pain. This may include easier access to the litter box (no hood, ramp or
stairs; low entry side to box), soft bedding; raised food and water dishes;
non-slip floor surfaces (especially in food and litter areas); baby gates to
prevent access to stairs; modified access to outdoors, especially in hot or
cold weather; and appropriate warm-up prior to exercise. Positive,
consistent interaction with the pet improves the pet’s demeanor. Your
veterinarian can help you decide whether complementary medicine would be
helpful to your pet.
A wide variety of medical approaches can be used to help reduce pain in
addition to pharmaceutical treatment. “Complementary” and “alternative”
medicines are becoming more available and accepted. Acupuncture is becoming
widely supported by scientific evidence as an effective form of pain
management. Other forms of complementary medicine may include nutrition,
massage, physical rehabilitation therapy and care in handling.