Is Your Pet in Pain?

A common question that many people ask is "how do i know if my pet is in pain?" Despite the obvious fact that animals cannot talk, they do often display behaviours that signify pain. These signs may sometimes be subtle especially in "tough" pets or certain species like cats and rabbits. Pain is a big factor when assessing quality of life and we should learn to recognise if our pets are telling us that they are in discomfort.

Here is a list of some easy to recognise signs:

Signs signalling moderate to extreme pain:

vocalisation or whining
unable to stand up
loss of use of a particular leg
rapid breathing
half-closed or unfocused eyes
struggling or thrashing behaviour

Signs signalling mild to moderate pain:

loss of appetite
unwilling to exercise or play
slow movement
hiding behaviour
self-mutilation or chewing at affected area
change in personality to become aggressive or grumpy
hunched posture or guarding behaviour
yelping when certain areas are touched
stiff or abnormal gait
unable to rest comfortably
unable to jump as high as before (cats)

Many diseases or conditions can cause pain and these can vary from acute sudden pain (eg. injuries) to chronic ongoing pain (eg osteoarthritis). If your pet is telling you that it is in pain, please listen and do not let them suffer in silence. There are many treatments available to alleviate their pain.

Please contact us if you have any further questions or feel that you pet is in pain.

A common question that many people ask is “how do i know if my pet is in pain?” Despite the obvious fact that animals cannot talk, they do often display behaviours that signify pain. These signs may sometimes be subtle especially in “tough” pets or certain species like cats and rabbits. Pain is a big factor when assessing quality of life and we should learn to recognise if our pets are telling us that they are in discomfort.