How can I tell if my dog is in pain?

Look for changes more than noise: stiffness after rest, reluctance on stairs, a hunched posture, panting at rest, licking one spot, restlessness at night and loss of interest in walks or play. Any of these is worth raising with your vet.

What can I give my dog for pain?

Nothing from your own medicine cabinet. Human painkillers can seriously harm or kill dogs. Pain relief for a dog has to be prescribed by a veterinarian, who sets the medicine and the dose for that dog.

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Is my dog in pain?

Dogs rarely cry out. They slow down, shift their weight and go quiet. Tick what you have seen in the last couple of weeks.

Movement

Posture and body

Behavior

Sounds and breathing

Daily habits

Ticked

in 0 of 5 areas

Nothing ticked. Go through the list with your dog in mind, including the small things you have put down to age.

This tool organizes what you have noticed. It can't examine your pet, and its result is not a diagnosis or veterinary advice. Take what it shows to your vet; if your pet is in distress, go to an emergency clinic now. Full disclaimer

How to read it

Chronic pain in dogs shows up as changed behavior long before it shows up as noise. That is why the checklist asks about getting up, stairs, posture and sleep, and why a dog who is still eating and wagging can still be in pain.

None of these signs proves pain, and none says where it is. Stiffness can be arthritis, a spinal problem or weakness; panting can be heat, anxiety or heart disease. The list tells your vet where to start looking.

A short video of your dog walking, getting up and using the stairs at home is one of the most useful things to bring to the appointment, because many dogs move differently at the clinic.

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