Are you worried that your pet dog is having health problems? Do you want to learn how to tell if your dog is in pain? Keep reading below for a quick guide on some of the signs your dog is in pain.
While the dog is man’s best friend, there is a lot we still don’t know about them. It takes a lot of experience and knowledge and then some to become a good dog reader. Not every dog owner has that, so we decided to give you a guide for it.
This guide will show you the signs your dog is in pain. Keep reading to learn more about how to read these signs and what you can do to help ease the pain.
1. Signs Your Dog Is in Pain: Loss of Appetite and Thirst
This first sign, the loss of appetite, is quite noticeable. Like some humans in certain ill conditions, dogs lose their appetites when they are in pain or are ill. You may also notice that your dog’s water isn’t getting reduced.
If you notice this later, your dog may have already lost weight. Talk to a veterinarian right away and get your dog checked.
2. Decreased Energy Level and Different Sleeping Habits
One of the most obvious signs a dog is in pain is a lower energy level. You may notice that your dog spends more time lying down than playing around. It can be a sign that your dog is having dental pains or other issues.
You’ll also notice that your dog sleeps more than usual. Sometimes animals understand better than humans that rest is essential to healing. Being less active or sleeping more is the dog’s way of getting better.
Observe the behavior and try to remember how long ago it started. When you can, call a vet to check the health of your dog.
3. Constant and Too Much Grooming
Dogs may lick their paws often as a way to soothe the pain they’re feeling. This is the dog’s way of caring for its wound. If you see your dog doing this, double-check that there aren’t any open wounds on the dog’s paw. After, bring your dog to the vet to get checked by a professional.
4. Change in Posture and Body
A dog’s sudden hip pain can change the way it holds itself. Your dog may be more rigid or hunched than usual. You may also see your dog in the “prayer” posture where its front legs are on the ground and its bottom is in the air.
One way to give a dog hip pain relief is to give your pet CBD oil. Using CBD oil for dogs pain is a great way to reduce the pain it’s feeling until it gets better or gets more effective treatment.
5. Limping and Other Mobility Issues
Does your dog seem to have trouble lying down or getting up? Does it seem reluctant to go up or down the stairs? If you see these signs in a dog, your pet may be dealing with an injury or arthritis.
The most common mobility issues include limping, stiffness, and slow walking. Your dog may also prefer to walk down the stairs rather than jumping it. Others stop lying down or getting up, depending on which position is most painful to them.
Mobility issues are often the effect of canine osteoarthritis. Proper treatment, CBD, and medications can help with canine osteoarthritis. Other possible reasons for mobility issues are a sore paw or injury.
6. Changed Breathing and Heart/Pulse Rate
Take note of your dog’s breathing. Is it faster and shallower than normal? Is the dog panting, even when it’s at rest? You can also look at the abdominal and chest muscles of your dog. If both sets of muscles are getting used for breathing, something is wrong or it’s painful to take full breaths.
If you’ve taken a pet first-aid course, you may know how to get your dog’s heart and/or pulse rate. An increased heart/pulse rate is an indicator of pain in dogs. When you touch or move the painful area, the dog’s heart or pulse rate is likely to increase.
7. Eye Changes
Even when they can’t speak, the eyes of a dog can say a lot. That includes expressing any pain they feel in their eyes or other parts of the body. If you’ve observed the other signs in this guide, try to get a better look at your dog’s eyes.
If the pupils are smaller or constricted, your canine has eye problems. It can be an eye injury, disease, or other issues. If the pupils are larger or dilated, the pain may be in the other parts of the dog’s body.
For some dogs, it’ll be harder to get a good look at their pupils. Some dogs will often squint or paw at their eyes. You may also see that your dog has bloodshot eyes, which is another sign that something is wrong.
Get your dog to the vet. Avoid touching the eyes, especially if they’re bloodshot or contracted. This can cause more pain or problems.
8. Your Dog Is More Vocal Than Usual
Finally, you may notice that your dog is noisier. He or she may bark, yelp, or growl more than usual. Your dog may also snarl or howl. It’s a sign that the dog is in pain and is asking for help.
Get your dog the help it is asking for. Again, as we’ve been saying, the best way to do this is to get a professional to look at your dog. Don’t take hints from the internet, especially since cases often vary.
If you know that your dog has an illness or chronic pain, apply oils to help relieve it. Cannabis also helps relieve pets’ chronic pains. You may also use other medications to help your dog feel relief from the pain.
Help Ease Your Dog’s Pain
Hemp Flower Infusions
Hemp Flower Infusions for Pets are very useful for the well-being of your furry friend. Each product contains patented hemp flower infusion, which uses Oregon-grown hemp flowers and organic vegetable glycerin to craft the most superficial quality CBD for dogs, cats, and other pets. It contains all of hemp’s beneficial cannabinoids, plus other compounds like flavonoids, terpenes, and chlorophyll, to make a real, whole-flower effect. It is very helpful for ease your dog’s pain.
As a tip, the moment you observe these changes in your dog, write it down or make a record of it. Watch out for other behavioral, mobility, or physical issues for the next several days. Your vet can make great use of your records later and have a better understanding of the dog. Here are the most common issues that cause dogs to suffer:
- Arthritis
- Bone cancer
- Kidney stones
- Ear infections
- Pancreatitis or gastritis
- Sliding kneecap
- Gum disease
That ends our guide for the signs your dog is in pain. We hope you learned something valuable and useful from this guide. If you want to learn more about reading your pet’s behavior, feel free to check out our other guides.
