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Dogs don't always scream or cry when they are in pain.
With over half of our dogs living with chronic pain* I am on a mission to help you spot if your dog is amongst them.
You will know a person living with chronic pain, perhaps from back pain, arthritis, the scars of surgery... or just because.
I am guessing these people are not constantly crying or screaming out in pain. So why do so many people assume their dogs would behave differently. Dogs, like us, just get on with life as best they can despite the pain.
Worse still, many vets will not pick it up in a 15 minute consult, unless you ask them specifically to check for it!
Chronic pain is a problem because:
It builds up slowly over time and is often interpreted as signs of aging - slowing down on walks, showing stiffness on lying down or getting up, changing how they stand and sit, changes in fur patterns.
It occurs over large areas of the body this makes limping or obvious lameness less likely to occur
Increased arousal can help a dog hide their pain. It is possible to distract the brain through a loved activity, so our dogs will still chase a ball, eat normally, play with you and their toys and run around for fun as this reduces the sensation of pain - for a while at least though it can make the pain worse over time.
Not all chronic pain can be seen. Soft tissue pain is invisible to x-rays, ultrasounds, MRI or CT scans - all the things a vet will use to help form a diagnosis.
Chronic pain serves no beneficial purpose.
The body is geared up to protect from an acute injury by unconsciously engaging soft tissue and changing the way they move to protect an injury and allow it to heal. But an arthritic joint won't improve with immobilisation and will instead get worse. But the body treats it as an acute injury and tries to stabilise it by "splinting it".
Being in pain causes your dog to move differently, placing more weight in different areas and over different joints which increases the pain felt there too. These over used joints can then also become damaged. A vicious cycle is now in play.
It takes a lot of mental and emotional energy to live in constant pain and this may be seen over time as a slow reduction in activity, more reluctance to get on the sofa or in the car, lower mood and perhaps even more grumpiness or other behaviour changes. This will often be interspersed with periods of mania where the dog may have less pain and this lifts the mood and makes them keen to play or run once more, at least for a while.
What to look for in your dog
changes in the way they get on / off furniture and use the stairs
changes in the way they walk, stand and sit - look for a more hunched stance or change in the position of their legs - splayed wider or tucked right under the body
fur that stands on end appearing in new places, often over the shoulders or rump
twitchy skin
nibbling, licking or biting areas of the body - usually the feet or joints of the legs
becoming more fearful or wary of other dogs, children, strangers or loud noises
sniffing more than before on a walk and lagging behind
Massage was life changing for Eva who lived with arthritis, spondylosis and nerve pain for many years
These can all suggest there might be an issue but the only accurate way is to get your dog checked over with a physical examination.
Remember many signs of pain are subtle and easier seen when the dog isn't stressed so you need to advocate for your dog by videoing their behaviours, keeping a diary of the changes you are seeing and speaking to them about the things you are seeing. Many vets are not able to recognise the subtle signs of pain either because of:
a lack of specific training in vet school - I once saw a highly skilled orthopaedic vet miss the signs of pain a dog was giving them!
a lack of consult time available to complete an assessment
a tendency for dogs in pain to either freak out or shut down in the vets - both of which make seeing the subtle signs very difficult.
So, if nothing else I would love you to keep a very close eye on your furbabies, and if you suspect your dog is in pain, note down the signs that makes you concerned and book a vet appointment. Alternatively book in for a Muscular Health Check with me (or a fellow Canine Massage Guild therapist). Click here for more information on the health checks I provide.
Or book your dog in for a massage. I can help them if they are in pain, but even if they aren't it is an excellent opportunity to have a thorough, whole body treatment which will make them feel incredible.
"I am so pleased - All the hard work you've done with Bramble has been life changing for her." Karen White, Aylesbury
Vet Practices and other canine professionals
I also offer presentations to vet practices on massage therapy and its benefits. So if you work in a vet practice, are a groomer, dog walker or fellow canine therapist, get in touch for a chat about how we can work together to support our canine clients to live happier, healthier lives.
*Over half of dogs are in chronic pain - Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte's 2021 Ted Talk "How To Save Millions Of Pets From Silent Pain".
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