Which of the following signs may indicate that an animal is in pain?

Vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure may be used to assess responses to an acute painful stimulus, particularly during surgery or after severe trauma. Behavioral changes associated with pain may be subtle and not easily recognized during routine checkups or examinations in animals. Many animals mask their pain with normal behaviors. For instance, dogs may wag their tails and greet people in spite of being in pain. A cat sitting quietly in the back of the cage after surgery may be in pain. Criteria that can be used to evaluate chronic pain, such as lack of activity, decreased appetite, weight loss, and lack of grooming, are not specific signs of pain. Your observations about changes in your pet’s attitude or interaction with family members are essential to help your veterinarian evaluate chronic pain. Response to treatment, such as increased activity after administering a pain-relieving drug, may reveal a relationship between pain and the behavioral changes.

Being unusually inactive, quiet or unresponsive, Restlessness/inability to get comfortable, Excessive/inappropriate panting, Changes in sleeping patterns, Avoiding interaction with other pets or family members, Seeking a lot more affection than usual, Whining, whimpering, yelping or howling, Constantly licking or chewing at a particular part of the body, Acting oddly and out of character, either aggressively or submissively, Difficulty eating, Flattening ears against the head, changed facial expression, Lameness, Hunched back posture, Reluctance to climb stairs/jump up, Difficulty rising from a lying/sitting position, Negative reaction to being handled/picked up. Reduced activity, lethargy, Previously friendly cats try to claw or bite, Aggression, moodiness, resentment at being handled, Attacking the tail or back legs, Excessive licking one part of the body, Over-grooming or reduced grooming – poor coat condition, Changes in temperament – wanting lots of attention or avoiding human contact, Howling or constantly meowing, Changed facial expression: droopy ears, slanted half closed eyes, Inappropriate toileting, Changes in sleeping patterns, Abnormal gait/lameness, Reluctance to jump or climb, Hiding, Not shedding nails appropriately.

General behaviour: Shaking, flattened ears, low posture, aggression, grumpy temperament, panting or crying, excessive licking or scratching a specific area, reluctance to play, interact or exercise, lameness, stiffness after rest, loss of appetite. On touch or inspection: Licking lips, flinching, turning head, moving to avoid touch, crying or vocally reacting, panting, increase in respiratory or heart rate, warmth of area, redness of area, swelling of area. You can monitor your pet to see: Do certain behaviours become common after exercise? Are behaviours more pronounced in the morning or evening? Are you more likely to see these behaviours after a longer walk at the weekend rather than a shorter one during the week? This information will help you and your vet to build a picture of the problem, control it appropriately and monitor for changes. What’s important to look for is any pattern to changes in your dog’s behaviour.

A pet in pain may play and run in the moment because the adrenaline released masks pain, but may then sleep for long hours afterwards and struggle to rise from their beds. Veterinary research has identified various signs to look out for that may indicate your pet is in pain: Change in mood. Some pets will become quiet or grumpy. Reduced ability to cock their leg or to squat when urinating or defecating. Reduced willingness to play and exercise. After exercising: Crying or whining, difficulty moving or appearing more tired. You may notice your pet struggling, or showing reluctance, to go up or down stairs or getting in or out of the car. Limping – Any form of lameness is very likely linked to pain. Struggling to get up after a long rest, or appearing stiff at first. Guarding or defensive behaviour when touched in certain painful areas.

So, owners need to keep an eye out for any unusual behavior, personality changes, limping, or changes in appetite. Dogs and cats tend to hide their pain. If your cat is in pain, you may observe one or more of the symptoms below: Frequent meowing or howling Not using their litterbox Tail flicking Won't eat or reduced appetite Poor grooming, scruffy-looking Lethargy Excessive hiding Limping Avoiding being handled Behavioral changes Irritability Uncharacteristic hissing/growling/spitting Unusual vocalizations Excessive grooming Panting Patchy fur. Some examples of these signs are: Significant decrease in appetite Tail tucked in or lowered Spending more time sleeping Yelping or whining Irritability Limping Reluctance to climb stairs or jump Reduced play or enjoyment of exercise. Changes in your dog's behavior may indicate pain, and it's important to take him to the vet for examination and diagnosis. Cats in pain will often display changes in body language. If your previously active and friendly dog is now avoiding petting, no longer wants to play, or has lost his appetite, it may be because there's pain. Pain can tire dogs, just as it can tire humans. If your dog suffers from chronic or recent pain, you may notice he sleeps more.

Vocalizing, you may notice your dog groaning or grunting when he stands up or lays down. You may hear him whining or whimpering as he tries to get comfortable. Changes in daily life activities, you may notice pacing or restlessness because your dog cannot find a comfortable place to lie down. Likewise, he may repeatedly get up and lie down in an attempt to find a comfortable position. You may notice he has less energy, or decreased endurance for previously enjoyable activities like walks and play, chasing a ball, or swimming. Once down, he may be reluctant to get back up. He may be less eager to jump up onto a bed or onto furniture. It may be more difficult for him to get into the car for a ride. You may notice trembling in his legs, particularly the rear legs. He may become reluctant to go up or down stairs. Finally, he may develop difficulty walking on slick floor surfaces. A dog who is painful may withdraw from his usual family interactions. He may become less engaged in his surroundings. You may notice decreased eating and/or drinking. Some dogs will lick obsessively at areas of the body that are painful. He may chew at the offending areas, removing hair and actually damaging the skin. A dog who is painful may pant excessively, even at rest. His facial expression may be described as a grimace, and he may seem to have a vacant stare off into space. Some painful dogs actually have a wide-eyed look. Other dogs may appear to be half asleep with partially closed eyelids. Painful dogs who have previously been very friendly and gentle may begin to act completely out of character. He may growl when people or other pets in the household approach him, and he may lash out if handled. A painful dog may stand with his front legs back under his chest in order to take some of the weight away from painful hips or rear legs. You may notice that once he sits, his rear legs splay off to the left or right, rather than being tucked underneath as is normal. When standing up he may seem to pull himself up by his front legs, rather than pushing himself up with his rear legs. He may also prefer to sit rather than to stand, and to lie down rather than to sit when stopping along the way during a walk. Any or all of these changes may indicate pain and should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian.

Behavior changes may be a clue they are experiencing discomfort. Growling, hissing, or biting in a usually calm or docile pet Calm, quiet behavior in a pet who is usually aggressive or unfriendly Unusual vocalization including howling, whining, whimpering, or yelping Excessive hiding Avoiding being touched, held, or picked up Seeking more affection than usual or exhibiting needy behavior Changes in your pet’s desire to play or reluctance to get up after a long nap may be an indication they are in pain. Trembling or excessive circling before attempting to lie down Difficulty getting up or lying down Reluctance to move, run, or play Restlessness A pet’s decreased or absent appetite may be an indication of an underlying medical problem such as gastrointestinal distress or a stomachache. Inappropriate urination in the house or increased litter box visits Changes in sleeping habits such as sleeping during times when they are usually active Decreased desire to socialize with household members Ignoring treats or meal times Dropping food from the mouth while eating Excessive grooming that leads to self-mutilation or injury is an indication they may be experiencing pain. Pets who excessively lick, bite, or scratch their skin may have a painful skin infection or an injury. Subtle changes in facial expression such as a grimace or closed-mouth smile may indicate they are nauseous or in pain. Expressions that may indicate pain include: Glazed or sleeping eyes Enlarged pupils Flattened ears Appearing to stare off into space Excessive panting when at rest

Behavioural changes in dogs may include: Decreased activity, Becoming withdrawn, Less interaction with other dogs / family members, Increased aggression towards other dogs /people, Changes in mood / overall demeanour, Changes to travelling in the car, Excessive panting, Increased thirst, Increased / decreased appetite, More clingy, Changes in sleeping patterns, Inability to get comfortable / restless, Pacing, Increased sensitivity to noise, Change in posture, Acting oddly, Licking / chewing at various parts of body, Lameness / change in gait, Difficulty getting up / lying down, Difficulty getting on / off furniture, Negative reaction to be handled or touched, Change in toileting habits, Vocalisation. Changes in behaviour are more commonly noted in cats but the following signs may indicate that you cat may be in pain: Reduced activity, Changes in play, Aggression in cats that were previously friendly towards other cats in the household or family members, Avoidance of other animals / people in the house, Change in appetite, Changes in coat condition due to reduced grooming, Resentment to being handled / groomed, Reduced / changed scratching behaviour, More sensitive to noise, Inability to settle, Attacking back legs or tail, Excessive licking / grooming of one area of the body, Changes in temperament, More clingy or more withdrawn, Inappropriate toileting, Changes in sleeping patterns, Vocalisation, Abnormal gait / lameness, Reluctance to jump / climb, Hiding.