Is your dog in pain?

Many dog owners ask themselves this worrying question. It’s an especially difficult issue because, unlike humans, dogs cannot verbalise how they feel. Pain in a non-verbal animal is subtle, complex, and often misunderstood — but acknowledging the possibility is the first step toward helping them.

Why Pain Is Hard to Spot

Dogs are exceptionally good at not displaying discomfort.

At the vet, for instance, they may be anxious, stressed, or even frightened — and that very stress can mask signs of pain. A dog that trembles or pants may be reacting more to the clinical environment than to physical pain. Likewise, one that seems unusually withdrawn or irritable at home might simply be coping with chronic pain that doesn’t show up clearly under examination.

A landmark 2020 study by Mills et al. highlighted just how frequently pain underlies behavioural problems in companion animals. In their research, they found a surprisingly high prevalence of pain in dogs referred for behavioural issues — suggesting that untreated pain could be a major driver of anxiety, aggression, or changes in temperament. (reference 1)

Why Diagnosis Is Challenging

Assessing pain in dogs is fraught with difficulty.

Even with standard pain-scoring tools, assessing pain in dogs is fraught with difficulty. Veterinary pain scales can help, but they rely on subjective observation and vary between assessors (reference 2).

In addition, physical examinations may fail to reveal anything overt — some dogs growl or resist palpation, others remain still, and many don’t exhibit overt limping or obvious signs of injury. Studies have noted that behavioural signs can be misinterpreted, leading to biases in observation or diagnosis. (reference 3)

Moreover, conventional pain assessments during a short clinical visit may not reflect a dog’s real-life functioning at home. A dog that doesn’t limps in the clinic could still be in pain when walking around familiar surroundings over several days.

How a Dynamic Dog Functional Assessment Helps

This is where a dynamic dog functional assessment becomes invaluable.

Rather than relying solely on static snapshots in the clinic, this type of assessment evaluates how a dog actually moves and behaves in more natural settings. It typically involves:

Video analysis of your dog’s gait, posture, and movement over time.
Observations during different activities (walking, rising from rest, playing) so compensatory patterns can be identified.
An in depth consultation gathering evidence from observations of day to day life and activities.
This evidence is then reported to your vet who will then discuss a treatment plan, which may include an initial pain relief trial.By comparing how a dog functions before and after treatment, veterinarians and behaviourists can detect improvements or lingering problems that might otherwise go unnoticed. Over time, this approach allows for a more accurate picture of whether pain is genuinely present, and whether interventions are working.

Why Addressing Pain Matters

Recognising and treating pain isn’t just about easing suffering.

According to Mills et al., resolving underlying pain in many dogs leads to significant behavioural improvement — anxiety, aggression, or other “problem” behaviours may actually be signs of psychological distress rooted in physical discomfort. (reference 1)

By identifying pain, using a dynamic assessment, and tailoring treatment, we can improve a dog's quality of life. They move more freely, feel more comfortable, and often become more emotionally balanced.