As dogs age, their behavior usually changes. The playful ball-chasing and constant running that we associate with puppies gives way to adult dogs napping in the sun and lounging during evening TV time.
Senior dogs slow down even more, which is normal — old age is not a disease. However, some behavior changes in aging dogs are abnormal and may arise from pain.
What kind of behavior changes could indicate my dog is in pain?
Obvious behaviors that indicate a dog may be in pain include:
- Avoiding slippery floor surfaces
- Difficulty getting up or slow to stand from a down position
- Difficulty easing into a sitting or lying position
- Limping/lameness
- Lying down while eating or drinking
- Reluctance or inability to jump up onto furniture or into a car
- Reluctance to go up or down stairs
- Reluctance to raise his head to take a treat
- Reluctance to sit when asked
- Reluctance to turn his head to one side or the other
- Sitting on one hip or the other, with the rear legs off to one side (“lazy sit”)
- Standing to one side, shifting weight away from a painful limb
- Standing or walking with his head held down or back arched up
- Moving/walking while defecating or urinating instead of posturing
- Urinary or fecal accidents
- Restlessness at night (cannot get comfortable)
If your dog shows any of these behaviors, visit your veterinarian so they can find the source of pain and begin treatment.
What other behavior changes could be caused by pain?
Fatigue. Decreased stamina on walks or while playing is often misinterpreted as a sign of old age. There may be several explanations for diminished stamina, including metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism or heart disease. Your veterinarian will need to examine your dog to determine the cause. However, pain, particularly from chronic changes caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA), must be considered in this scenario. Often, once a dog’s pain is treated, the owners notice a return to activities previously abandoned and generally higher energy levels. In other words, owners do not realize that their pet was in pain until the pain is taken away.
Withdrawn behavior. Dogs that are in pain may be less social. If your dog previously came to greet you every time you walked through the door, and is now not doing so, pain could be the cause. Dogs may also be less social or even aggressive towards other pets they have previously gotten along well with.
Reluctance to be groomed. An often-overlooked sign of pain in dogs is a reluctance to be brushed, combed, or otherwise groomed. Pain of any kind, but particularly the chronic pain associated with OA, can become generalized so that the dog feels discomfort even in areas of the body far from the arthritic joints. When this happens, dogs become more sensitive in all areas of their body, and even being combed or brushed can feel painful. These dogs often develop dandruff and those that have medium or long hair commonly develop mats in their coat and can have urine or fecal stains on their hind end. Like cats, dogs groom themselves to stay clean, but if they are in pain they will stop.
Reluctance to be picked up. Little dogs, especially dogs that are long and low to the ground, may present their pain by resisting efforts to pick them up. The upward pressure of our hands around their bodies can set off a pain flare if they are experiencing back pain. If your small dog begins to object to being picked up, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to look into this.
Reluctance to be touched in certain areas. A dog with no pain issues should cheerfully accept the handling of all body parts. You should be able to touch all along the back, including the sides and top of the back, the bottom-most area of the torso (the area where the ribcage ends, and the lower back begins), and the area of the ‘waist’ between the ribs and pelvis. You should also be able to touch the area around the tail base without your dog being bothered.
In addition to the body, you should be able to handle all four limbs, including the toes, the feet, and the joints of the front and rear legs, without your dog reacting. If you want to test your dog’s comfort level by handling the feet and legs, you will have the best success if your dog is reclining rather than standing.
What should I do if I’m not sure my dog has pain?
When in doubt, have it checked out. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to voice your concerns. Dogs tend to hide their pain, so do not ignore these behavioral clues to your aging dog’s condition. As their caregiver, you must pay attention so any changes in behavior are observed and brought to your veterinarian’s attention.
Your veterinary healthcare team is ready to help identify pain and discomfort and to treat it so your dog can return to a comfortable, pain-free life. Your veterinarian may prescribe a trial of pain medication. If the behavioral changes improve or resolve while the cat is on medication, it indicates that your dog was indeed in pain. The sooner pain can be identified and treated, the better it is for everyone.
