Reading Your Pet's Pain: What They Can't Tell You

Changes in Movement

• Slower to get up from lying down, especially after long rest periods
• Stiffness in the first few minutes of a walk that "warms out"
• Reluctance to jump into the car or onto the sofa (things they used to do without hesitation)
• Shifting weight — standing with more weight on certain legs
• Bunny hopping with the back legs instead of running normally
• Difficulty with stairs — going up slowly or avoiding them entirely

Behavioural Changes

• Less enthusiastic about walks or tiring more quickly
• Licking or chewing at specific joints or body parts
• Restlessness — unable to settle, pacing, changing position frequently
• Changes in sleep — sleeping more, or unable to get comfortable
• Reduced appetite — eating less or more slowly
• Grumpiness — snapping when touched in certain areas, avoiding being handled
• Withdrawal — less interested in play, interaction, or activities they usually enjoy

Easy-to-Miss Signs

• Panting when at rest (not after exercise or in warm weather)
• Yawning repeatedly — can be a stress/discomfort signal
• Lip licking when not eating — another stress indicator
• Furrowed brow — dogs do show facial expressions of discomfort
• Tail position — carried lower than usual

Cats are the masters of disguise when it comes to pain. They'll hide, go quiet, and maintain their routine even when they're genuinely uncomfortable.

What to Watch For

• Reduced grooming — a painful cat may stop grooming properly, leading to a matted or dull coat
• Over-grooming — conversely, licking one area obsessively can indicate pain in that area
• Changes in litter tray habits — not using the tray, or difficulty getting in/out (may indicate joint pain)
• Hiding more — retreating to places they don't usually go
• Reduced jumping — no longer getting to high spots they used to frequent
• Changes in facial expression — squinting, ears rotated sideways, tight muzzle (look up the "Feline Grimace Scale")
• Reduced purring — or occasionally increased purring (cats sometimes purr when in pain as a self-soothing mechanism)
• Sitting hunched rather than lying stretched out

Veterinary researchers have developed validated pain scales based on facial expressions for both dogs and cats. The Feline Grimace Scale and the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale for dogs are both evidence-based tools that can help you assess your pet's comfort level.

They're freely available online and worth familiarising yourself with. They give you an objective framework for something that can otherwise feel very subjective.

If you notice any of these signs:

1. Don't panic. Many of these signs can be explained by conditions that are very manageable once identified.

2. Start keeping notes. When does the behaviour happen? How often? Is it getting more frequent? This information is incredibly valuable for your vet.

3. Record video. If your dog is limping intermittently or your cat is moving differently, try to capture it on your phone. Animals have an infuriating tendency to appear completely normal the moment they walk into a veterinary consulting room.

4. Book a vet appointment. Not an emergency, but don't put it off for months either. Early detection of most chronic conditions leads to better outcomes.

5. Trust your instinct. You know your pet. If something feels off, even if you can't pinpoint exactly what, that's worth investigating. "They just seem different" is a valid reason to see your vet.

You can't prevent every health condition, but you can catch things earlier by knowing what to look for. The signs are subtle because your pet is wired to hide them. Your job isn't to feel guilty about what you might have missed — it's to start paying attention from today.

And if your pet has already been diagnosed with something, these same observation skills will help you monitor how they're responding to treatment and spot any changes that need your vet's attention.

Your pet can't tell you they're in pain. But they're showing you. Now you know how to look.