How to Tell if Your Pet is In Pain
Sometimes, figuring out that your pet is feeling sick is easy. In many ways, our pets are just like us; they cough, sneeze, shake, and oversleep. Longtime pet owners will usually be able to identify if their pets are displaying any of these symptoms and know to take their furry friend in for a vet appointment.
However, there are some symptoms our pets can have that just don’t map on to our experiences as humans. In fact, one of the most common symptoms of all may be especially difficult to identify: pain.
Most animals display pain in much different ways than humans—that’s why it’s essential to get familiar with those displays if you own a pet. In today’s blog post, we’re discussing how to tell if your pet is in pain and when to call a mobile pet vet.
How Dogs Display Pain
Between dogs and cats, it’s generally easier to tell when dogs are in pain. Dogs are much more known to vocalize their pain, usually taking the form of sounds like:
- Whining
- Whimpering
- Howling
- Groaning
- Yelping
That said, these signs are a double-edged sword. While the vocalizations above can indicate pain in a dog, their absence doesn’t mean a dog is completely fine. In fact, some dogs may vocalize pain rarely or almost never. So, if you’re waiting for your dog to vocalize their pain, you might miss other obvious signs, such as:
- Restlessness or reduced activity, such as repeatedly getting up and lying back down
- Seeking more affection than usual
- Facial expressions such as grimacing, flattened pupils, or a sleepy look
- Unusual aggression, such as growling, hissing, or biting
Overall, the best way to tell your dog isn’t well is if they’re behaving opposite than normally. Aggressive or assertive gods will become docile, while docile dogs may become aggressive or assertive. Expressive and loud dogs may become quiet and demure, while quiet dogs may become loud. If you notice your dog is acting unusually, it’s best to call a mobile pet vet such as Dr. Mac for a check-up.
How Cats Display Pain
It’s generally much harder to detect signs of pain in cats—and that’s usually on purpose. You see, dogs are pack animals, which means that they benefit from making their pain known. That way, the rest of their pack knows to protect them from predators. By contrast, wild cats are both territorial and solitary. If a cat were to display pain, they would signal to competitors and predators that they’re weakened, marking themselves as a target. As a result, cats have evolved to hide their pain, even from human companions—so you’ll have to pay close attention.
It's usually easiest to tell if a cat is in pain by changes in its daily habits, activity level, and facial expressions.
Daily Habits. A cat in pain will change its daily habits while it attempts to heal. Most commonly, cats will attempt to withdraw to an isolated place where they feel safe. From that isolated place, they’ll attempt to hide their presence, perhaps to the extent that they stop eating, grooming, or using the litter box. That said, shy cats may actually seek more affection than usual.
Activity Level. A cat in pain will drastically reduce its activity level while it tries to heal. Your cat may seem restless, but that’s kind of like how we toss and turn in bed when we’re in pain. You’ll likely notice your cat shaking, limping, having difficulty jumping as high as normal, or repeatedly getting up and laying down.
Facial Expressions. Believe it or not, cats actually express pain through their facial expressions. A healthy cat will generally have an “alert” look, keeping its ears perked up for any sounds and opening its eyes wide to detect movement. By contrast, a cat in pain will have slouched or lowered ears and squinting eyes.
Like with dogs, the key is to detect unusual behavior in your pet. Unusual sensations make cats behave in unusual ways, which makes changes from the norm a key sign to seek veterinary care.
Pet Pain Relief from a Mobile Veterinarian
If you suspect your pet is in pain, then it’s essential to quickly seek medical treatment. Pain is often an indicator of a deeper medical issue, and can greatly reduce your pet’s quality of life. To get professional care for your furry friends, click here to contact a mobile pet vet today.
