If you find these symptoms in your cute dog, it means you need to take it to the vet, because it should be suffering from pain.

Why is it difficult to tell if a dog is injured?

Your dog entrusts his life to you. Even so, it may instinctively hide its pain from you. This is not because it suddenly feels that it does not trust you, on the contrary, this is the evolutionary hardware of the ancestor of dogs as predators and predators thousands of years ago.

“From an evolutionary perspective, dogs that exhibit pain symptoms are more susceptible to attacks by predators.” Over time, dogs learned to mask symptoms of weakness or vulnerability. From a survival point of view, many animals tend to hide the external manifestations of pain.

The little things usually eat suddenly lose appetite

Veterinarian Meghann Robinson, DVM, MPH said: Believe me, your dog never thinks he needs a diet. Changes in appetite can predict many health conditions in dogs. It may also reflect that your dog is in pain at this time.

Owners usually notice that when their dog doesn’t have an appetite like people usually think, or your vet may call it a loss of appetite, then it may be a sign of pain or discomfort. If your puppy has never missed a meal, then you have reason to worry that it will not be interested in food. If your dog’s only symptom is skipping meals, make sure her food is fresh and passed the smell test before you panic.

Try to give her some delicious and nutritious foods that you know she likes. If her appetite lasts for more than a day or two, call a vet.

Your dog has trouble breathing

It is normal for a dog to gasp during or after exercise. However, lack of exercise and breathlessness sometimes mean that there is a situation that requires urgent medical attention, including pain, heatstroke or poisoning.

Gasping is a subtle and often overlooked pain signal. Some dogs pant more in pain than usual, but eating and drinking seem normal. If the temperature the dog is at most of the time does not change much, but their panting volume has changed a lot, please heed this warning and consult a veterinarian immediately.

Asthma can also be a subtle sign of severe pancreatitis. This is in my own dog, and even me, as a veterinarian, missed a week,” Dr. Robinson shared.

Whimper and complain

This sound will break your heart. Some dogs can remain quiet when injured, but some dogs, especially young dogs who have not experienced physical discomfort, may whimper and cry when they feel pain. Your presence will bring comfort to them and stop them from whining.

However, this does not mean that they are no longer harmed. An increase in whimpering or vocalization can be intermittent, continuous, or painful when touched. But some owners think that quiet pets are not painful. The director and veterinarian of Banfield Pet Hospital, Heidi Cooley, said: “Don’t think your dog is painless just because it doesn’t whimper.” If your dog is whimpering after surgery, please make sure to give it the correct painkiller.

If there is no clear reason why it is crying, the veterinarian must pay attention to it immediately. “As a pet owner, it is important to understand your pet’s behavior and habits, and take action when you notice or suspect something is wrong.” There are many causes of pet pain, and some can be very serious.

Your veterinarian can help you assess the level of pain in your pet and help you find ways to relieve pain. The sooner you and the veterinarian detect and treat potential signs of pain or illness, the more likely you are to return your pet to a comfortable state. “Dr. Cooley said.

Your dog’s desire for love will change

Dogs who like to cling to people usually ask for hugs and pets, but recently, they don’t want to be petted. Or, the opposite is true. Dogs who are usually independent suddenly become dependent on others. These changes in behavior are sometimes related to pain.

“Tigers will not change stripes, and puppies will not change hugs!” The difference in how well dogs like to be petted may be a sign of their injury. Like us, dogs will become more in need of your attention and comfort when they are injured. Another aspect is to avoid contact.

If your puppy suddenly hides, spends more time alone, refuses to play with their favorite toys, or avoids petting, this may be a reasonable explanation. Your dog may try to avoid being touched, or if you touch it in a particular place, it may startle, scream, or bite. These are all potential signs of pain.

Bite, growl, or bite

If you feel pain and someone wants to pick you up or touch your injured area, you may want to bite off their head (or at least, tell them to step back).

It is painful to face your puppies growling at you, and worse, your dog feels the same way. Dr. Werber said: “If you touch a dog and it yells or tries to bite you, it means extreme pain, just like we see in dogs with pancreatitis.

“Even gentle, friendly dogs will bite their best friends when they are injured. If your usual gentle friend becomes aggressive, it will growl or become grumpy when you approach or touch her. , Then it’s a good idea to go to the vet.

Excessive licking

If your dog keeps licking their legs, they may be trying to heal their pain. Leg licking may be a sign of arthritis or other sources of pain.

Although it is difficult for them to distinguish acute pain or new-onset pain from chronic pain, they tend to try to heal the area by licking the wound,” said Dr. Robinson. According to PetMD, arthritis in dogs is slow onset, starting when dogs try Hidden pain and discomfort. You may not notice your dog’s discomfort until the pain becomes difficult to manage.

If you suspect that your elderly pet has arthritis, talk to your vet. Dr. Robinson said: “Your veterinarian may do blood tests for your dog, take X-rays of the area of ​​interest, and may recommend a treatment plan to help him stay as comfortable as possible in old age. “Supplements such as glucosamine may also help relieve inflammation and stiffness, but they cannot cure arthritis in dogs.

How do you help your dog when it is in pain

First, take it to the vet to determine the cause and best treatment. “In addition to traditional and mainstream forms of pain management, many new forms, from physical therapy to acupuncture, massage and ultrasound also exist. Your veterinarian is ready to work with you on the best path for pain management for your pet. Go forward,” Dr. Cooley said.

Dr. Werber said: “The home pain medication is largely limited to aspirin.” Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are not recommended for dogs. Aspirin with antacids may be more effective for the dog’s stomach-the recommended dose of aspirin is one adult aspirin (325 mg) per 50-60 pound dog.

For example, for a 30-pound dog, you need to take half of its adult aspirin. Dogs weighing 12-15 pounds. , Taking a quarter of adult aspirin or a low-dose aspirin (81 mg). For dogs weighing 10 pounds or less, take 1/4 to 1/2 of low-dose aspirin. Remember, aspirin can only be taken for short periods of time-2-3 times every 12 hours.

If your pet seems to need more, go to the veterinarian for better options and longer-term pain management,” he added. Editor: Only for reprinting. If you need medication, you must consult a professional veterinarian.