13/05/2026
⚡️DOGS IN PAIN STILL RUN, PLAY, AND KEEP GOING⚡️
Not a week goes by without a client saying:
“But my dog can’t be in pain—they still…”
• Play ball
• Go for walks
• Do agility
• Run and play with the grandchildren
• Compete in sports
• Jump on the sofa
• Chase squirrels
• Act ‘normally’
…and this is one of the biggest misconceptions we see in canine rehabilitation.
🐾 Dogs in chronic pain often continue to perform normal activities
Unlike humans, dogs are incredibly stoic. Pain behaviours are often subtle, gradual, and easily dismissed as “just getting older” or “slowing down.”
Many dogs with musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, compensatory strain, or soft tissue dysfunction will still run, play, and remain active—because movement is instinctive, routine, and often driven by adrenaline, excitement, or habit.
They do not always cry, whimper, or limp.
In fact, by the time obvious lameness appears, pain may have been present for weeks, months, or even years.
🔬 Common subtle signs of pain include:
• Slower to rise after rest
• Reluctance to jump into the car
• Hesitation on stairs
• Reduced stamina on walks
• Behavioural changes or irritability
• Changes in posture or weight shifting
• Licking joints or limbs
• Difficulty settling comfortably
• Reduced performance in sport or exercise
• “Good days and bad days”
Pain is not always loud. Often, it is silent compensation.
Early recognition matters—because chronic pain changes movement patterns, increases compensatory strain, and can significantly affect long-term mobility and quality of life.
As therapists, our job is not just to treat pain—but to help owners recognise it.
Because “they’re still playing” does not always mean “they’re pain free.”
