11 giveaway signs your dog is in pain
Millions of dog owners in the UK could be unaware their pet is suffering from pain and mobility issues, a new study conducted by Lintbells has found.
But how easy is it to tell if your dog is in pain? According to the research, one in 10 pet owners are clueless when it comes to knowing what to look out for, and would blame any change in behaviour in their dog on old age or tiredness.
A poll of 2,000 dog owners found that only one in five would be able to quickly spot any indication their pets are unwell.
Signs your dog is in pain
It's vital you look out for the signs that could help you to identify if your dog is in pain or has any mobility issues. These include:
A change in the way they walk or run
Reluctance to jump up
Difficulty on stairs or sloped areas
More defensive towards other dogs
Reduced desire to play games
They have a 'hunched' posture
Change in personality
New developed fear of loud noises
Repeatedly turning in circles before lying down
Difficulty holding a body position when toileting
Pacing for no reason, especially at night
"Mobility issues can develop at any time in a dog’s life and if the change is gradual, you may not notice it happening at all, so it is important to continuously assess their mobility. A reluctance to go on walks, or a decline in how quickly they move could be a tell tale sign your dog could be experiencing problems with mobility," Rachel Hylton, a vet speaking on behalf of Lintbells, told the Sun.
"Other things to watch out for include repeatedly turning in circles before lying down, or a newly developed fear of loud noises."
"They may also have difficulty holding a body position when toileting, and pacing for no reason, especially at night," Rachel says.
Lintbells are urging owners to use the 'PAWS' technique to check the health of our pups.
What is PAWS?
Posture
Have you noticed any changes in how your dog walks or runs?
Attitude
Be sure to keep an eye open to see if their behaviour has changed around humans or other pets at home.
Willingness
Check if your dog still wants to go for walks or play energetic games. If not, then it could be a sign there is something not quite right.
Slowing down
Has your dog become slower during walks? This is also something to keep an eye out for.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
('You Might Also Like',)
