How to Tell if Your Pet Is in Pain: 20 Signs Owners Often Miss
- Jun 29
- 8 min read
As pet owners, we know our dogs and cats better than anyone. We notice when they're excited for a walk, eager for dinner or ready for a cuddle. But recognising pain isn't always so straightforward.
Unlike people, pets instinctively hide signs of discomfort. In the wild, showing weakness could make an animal vulnerable, and although our beloved companions now live safe, comfortable lives, those instincts remain. As a result, many dogs continue to wag their tails despite aching joints, and many cats carry on with their daily routine even when they are feeling unwell.
Learning to recognise the more subtle signs of pain can help you seek veterinary advice sooner, making treatment more effective and improving your pet's comfort and quality of life.
Contents
Why Pets Often Hide Pain
Pain is nature's way of protecting the body, but animals often conceal it remarkably well.
In the wild, appearing weak or injured could make an animal more vulnerable. Although our pets no longer face those same dangers, these natural instincts remain.
A Labrador with arthritis may still excitedly greet you at the door. A cat with painful arthritis may still jump onto the sofa, just less often than before. A dog with severe dental disease may still eagerly eat their dinner.
Because these changes often happen gradually, they're easy to mistake for normal ageing or simply "slowing down."
One of the most valuable things you can do as a pet owner is notice changes from what is normal for your pet.
Do Dogs and Cats Show Pain Differently?
Although many signs of pain are shared, dogs and cats often express discomfort in different ways. Understanding these differences can help you spot problems earlier.
Dogs often show pain by:
Limping or favouring a leg
Becoming reluctant to walk, run or play
Hesitating before climbing stairs or jumping into the car
Panting more than usual, even when resting
Whining, yelping or becoming quieter than normal
Seeking more reassurance or, in some cases, becoming irritable when touched
Slowing down on walks or tiring more quickly
Dogs can sometimes be more expressive than cats, making changes in their movement or behaviour easier to recognise.
Cats are masters at hiding pain
Cats often hide illness and discomfort exceptionally well. Rather than crying out or limping, they usually make subtle changes to their daily routine.
Watch for signs such as:
Sleeping more than usual
Hiding away or avoiding family members
Jumping onto furniture less often
Grooming less, leading to a scruffier coat
Overgrooming one area of the body
Changes in appetite or drinking habits
Becoming unusually quiet or withdrawn
Using the litter tray differently or having accidents nearby
Many owners assume their older cat is simply becoming less active with age, when in reality they may be living with a painful condition such as arthritis.
The important thing to remember is that any change from your pet's normal behaviour is worth paying attention to, even if it seems small.
Eating Normally Doesn't Always Mean They're Pain Free
One of the biggest misconceptions is that a pet with a healthy appetite cannot be in pain.
In reality, many dogs and cats continue eating despite having painful dental disease, broken teeth or inflamed gums. Eating is a basic survival instinct, and animals are remarkably good at adapting to discomfort.
Rather than refusing food altogether, they often make subtle changes, such as:
Chewing on one side of the mouth
Swallowing food more quickly
Preferring softer food
Dropping food while eating
Taking longer to finish meals
Avoiding hard biscuits, chews or toys
Pawing at their mouth or rubbing their face
For example, an older spaniel with advanced dental disease may still race to the food bowl every morning but quietly chew only on one side before swallowing larger pieces whole. Likewise, a cat with painful inflamed gums may still eat enough to maintain their weight but begin favouring softer food or walking away from dry biscuits.
This is why a normal appetite doesn't always mean everything is well. Changes in how your pet eats can sometimes be just as important as changes in whether they eat.
Why Early Recognition Matters
Pain affects far more than mobility.
Untreated pain can influence:
Appetite
Sleep
Mood
Mobility
Relationships with family members
Recovery from illness or surgery
Overall quality of life
The earlier pain is identified, the sooner your veterinary team can investigate the underlying cause and discuss appropriate treatment options to help keep your pet comfortable.
20 Signs Your Pet May Be in Pain
While dogs and cats can show pain in different ways, many warning signs overlap. Every pet is different, and some may show only one or two of these changes.
1. Sleeping More Than Usual
A normally active dog may spend much more time resting, while an outgoing cat may disappear to sleep in quiet places for longer than normal.
2. Becoming Less Active
Perhaps your dog no longer races after a ball, or your cat spends less time exploring the garden.
Reduced activity is often one of the earliest signs of discomfort.
3. Reluctance to Jump
Cats may stop jumping onto windowsills or furniture.
Dogs may hesitate before getting into the car or onto the sofa.
This can indicate joint pain, arthritis or spinal discomfort.
4. Difficulty Using Stairs
If your dog suddenly pauses halfway upstairs or carefully takes one step at a time, pain may be making movement uncomfortable.
5. Slower Walks
A dog who once happily walked for an hour may now tire after twenty minutes or constantly wants to head home.
6. Limping
Some limps are obvious.
Others are intermittent, perhaps only appearing after exercise or first thing in the morning.
Never ignore a limp, even if it seems to improve.
7. Excessive Licking
Repeatedly licking one paw, a joint or another area of the body can indicate discomfort.
The licking itself may eventually create sore skin, making the problem worse.
8. Changes in Behaviour
Pain can make even the gentlest pet seem withdrawn or irritable.
You may notice they:
Avoid being touched
Hide away
Become clingier
Growl unexpectedly
Hiss more often
Seem quieter than usual
9. Changes in Appetite or Eating Habits
While some painful conditions reduce appetite, others cause much subtler changes. Your pet may still be eating but begin chewing differently, dropping food, taking longer to finish meals or avoiding hard biscuits and chews.
Dental disease is one of the most common examples of a condition that causes significant pain while allowing pets to continue eating.
10. Panting Without Exercise
Dogs commonly pant after activity or in warm weather.
Panting while resting, particularly if it is unusual for your dog, may sometimes indicate pain and should be assessed by a veterinary surgeon.
11. Changes in Grooming
Cats experiencing arthritis often struggle to groom properly, leading to a scruffy or matted coat.
Some dogs also groom themselves less if movement becomes uncomfortable.
12. Over Grooming
At the other extreme, persistent licking or chewing can signal discomfort beneath the skin or in joints.
13. Changes in Posture
Watch for:
A hunched back
A tucked abdomen
The head held lower than usual
Standing awkwardly
Shifting weight onto one side
These can all suggest discomfort.
14. Trembling or Shaking
Although trembling can have many causes, pain is certainly one possibility, especially when accompanied by other changes.
15. Becoming Less Sociable
A normally affectionate pet may begin avoiding interaction because being touched feels uncomfortable.
16. Restlessness
Some painful pets struggle to settle.
They may constantly change position, pace around the room or repeatedly get up and lie down again.
17. Vocalising More – Or Less
Whining, yelping, growling or unusual meowing can all indicate discomfort.
Equally, some pets become unusually quiet, so any change in vocal behaviour is worth noting.
18. Changes in Toilet Habits
Pain may make climbing into a litter tray difficult or make squatting uncomfortable.
Some dogs may ask to go outside less frequently because walking is painful, while others may begin having accidents indoors.
19. Changes in Facial Expression
Pain can subtly alter facial expression.
You may notice:
Squinting
Flattened ears
Tense facial muscles
A worried expression
Reduced blinking
These changes are often easier to spot when you compare recent photographs with older ones.
20. "They're Just Not Themselves"
One of the most common things we hear from owners is:
"I can't explain it, they just don't seem themselves."
This instinct is often remarkably accurate.
If your pet's personality, routine or behaviour has changed without an obvious reason, it's worth arranging a veterinary examination.
A Real Life Example
Imagine an eleven-year-old Labrador who has gradually stopped bringing the tennis ball back. He still enjoys his walks but seems slower getting out of bed each morning and hesitates before jumping into the car.
It's easy to assume he's simply getting older.
However, these subtle changes could be early signs of arthritis. With appropriate veterinary assessment, pain relief, weight management and lifestyle adjustments, many dogs like him become noticeably more comfortable and active again.
Similarly, an older cat who no longer jumps onto the windowsill and spends more time sleeping under the bed may not simply be "slowing down". Arthritis is very common in older cats, and many benefit greatly once their pain is recognised and managed.
Common Causes of Pain in Dogs and Cats
Pain can result from many different conditions, including:
Arthritis
Dental disease
Ear infections
Injuries and sprains
Broken bones
Muscle strains
Joint disease
Skin disease
Bladder problems
Abdominal illness
Spinal conditions
Cancer
Recovery after surgery
Only a veterinary examination can determine the underlying cause.
When Should You Contact Your Vet?
Arrange an appointment if your pet develops:
A limp lasting more than 24 hours
Persistent changes in behaviour
Reduced appetite or changes in eating habits
Difficulty moving
Ongoing panting without an obvious cause
Repeated licking of one area
Any signs that concern you
Seek urgent veterinary attention if your pet:
Cries out in severe pain
Cannot stand
Has suffered significant trauma
Struggles to breathe
Has a swollen abdomen
Appears collapsed
Stops eating completely, particularly if they are a cat
How Pain Is Diagnosed
Your veterinary surgeon will begin by taking a detailed history and performing a thorough clinical examination.
Depending on what they find, further investigations may include:
Blood tests
Urine tests
X-rays
Ultrasound
CT or MRI scans, where appropriate
These investigations help identify the underlying cause so that treatment can be tailored to your pet's individual needs.
How Pain Can Be Treated
Treatment depends on the cause but may include:
Prescription pain relief
Anti-inflammatory medication
Antibiotics where infection is present
Surgery when necessary
Weight management
Physiotherapy
Hydrotherapy
Joint supplements where appropriate
Lifestyle and environmental adjustments
Never give your pet human painkillers such as ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin unless specifically instructed by your veterinary surgeon. Many medications that are safe for people can be extremely dangerous for dogs and cats.
Helping Your Pet at Home
Simple adjustments can make a significant difference while your pet is being assessed or treated.
You can help by:
Providing soft, supportive bedding
Using ramps where appropriate
Keeping food, water and litter trays easy to access
Maintaining a healthy body weight
Following your veterinary team's treatment plan carefully
Monitoring changes in mobility and behaviour
Keeping a simple diary or recording short videos at home can also be incredibly helpful. Gradual changes are often easier to recognise over time and can provide valuable information during your pet's consultation.
Final Thoughts
Our pets cannot tell us when something hurts, but they often show us in subtle ways. A slight hesitation before jumping, a change in eating habits or simply seeming quieter than usual can all be early clues that something isn't right.
Trust your instincts. If your dog or cat doesn't seem quite themselves, it's always worth seeking veterinary advice. Identifying pain early can make a significant difference to their comfort, wellbeing and quality of life.
At Roundwood Vets, we're here to help if you're concerned that your pet may be in pain. Whether you've noticed changes in their behaviour, mobility or eating habits, our friendly team can assess your pet, investigate the cause and discuss the most appropriate treatment options to help them live a happier, more comfortable life.
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