Understanding Pain in Pets: How to Know When Your Pet Hurts

For Pet Owners

Most pet owners have a close bond with their furry pal and can tell when something isn’t right. However, pets can be skilled at hiding pain, so subtle signs are easy to miss. If your pet acts “off” and you can’t pinpoint why, consider that they may be feeling pain.

The sooner you spot your pet’s pain, the sooner you can help them feel better. The Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital emergency and critical care team shares everything you need to know about identifying and addressing pain in pets.

Pain in pets looks different

Humans express pain with tears, vocalizations, and facial expressions. We have language to talk about what hurts and can point out painful areas to the doctors caring for us. Pets don’t have this language, and many of them actively try to hide or downplay their pain.

Dogs are typically more expressive than cats, who are notoriously stoic, but identifying pain can be challenging in both species. Let’s take a closer look at what pain in pets can look like.

Signs of pain in dogs

Pain in dogs can arise suddenly (i.e., acute) or develop slowly and persist for a long time (i.e., chronic). Pain signs vary depending on where the problem originates, but here are a few common changes to watch for:

Limping or favoring a leg
Trouble getting up or climbing stairs
Reluctance to move around
Whining or yelping
Panting or restlessness
Awkward body postures
Licking, chewing, or guarding a body part
Hiding or acting withdrawn
Aggression or irritability
Appetite changes
Flattened ears

Signs of pain in cats

Many signs of pain in cats mimic behavioral or aging issues, so they sometimes get overlooked. Talk to your veterinarian if you notice these signs:

Hiding or avoiding interaction
Poorly kept or greasy coat
Less interest or ability to reach favorite spots
Irritability or uncharacteristic behavior
Appetite changes or weight loss
Litter box changes
Facial grimace

Acute versus chronic pain in pets

Acute pain in pets happens suddenly—think trauma, surgery, or infection. This pain is often more severe and easier to spot than other kinds. In contrast, chronic pain develops over time and lasts for weeks, months, or years.

Chronic, low-level pain in pets is common in older dogs and cats because of age-related problems like arthritis or dental disease. Pet owners may not recognize chronic pain that comes on gradually, which means many pets, especially senior pets, go untreated.

When pain is an emergency

Pets with severe or painful health conditions may need treatment in a veterinary emergency facility. Hospitals staffed with veterinary emergency and critical care (ECC) specialist veterinarians can provide advanced, life-saving care around the clock, often in an intensive care unit (ICU). ER and ECC doctors are equipped to assess urgent or complicated cases quickly and jump into action when pets need pain control and other interventions.

ECC specialists, also called veterinary criticalists, treat traumatic injuries, care for patients after complicated surgeries, and monitor the condition of hospitalized pets. They are skilled in multiple pain management techniques, including medications, infusions, and non-pharmaceutical interventions.

Getting care from a facility with on-site criticalist support ensures your pet’s pain is addressed promptly and that an experienced veterinarian guides treatment decisions. If your pet needs additional support, such as surgery or specialty care, ECC doctors can facilitate the transition.

What to do when your pet is in pain

Schedule a visit with your primary veterinarian if you suspect your pet has chronic or low-level pain. If the pain comes on suddenly or seems severe, seek veterinary attention at an urgent care or veterinary emergency center like Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital. Your pet’s care team can provide pain medications and run diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause, and then develop a treatment plan to cure or manage the painful condition.

Pain has a significant impact on a pet’s quality of life. Left untreated, it can become harder to manage and may lead to secondary complications. However, most pain in pets is manageable. Whether your pet needs medication, rest, surgery, rehabilitation, or critical care, acting when you suspect pain can help your pet recover and return to their usual self more quickly.

Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital offers emergency care services at our Akron and Cleveland East locations 24/7, 365 days a year. Additionally, our Cleveland East location has two board-certified criticalists to help diagnose and treat pain and other serious health conditions in your pet.