02/17/2025
OUCH! Is your pet in pain? How do you even know when they're hurting?
Our pets are programmed to hide their illness and pain, and many of them do hide it until it's too late to treat effectively. Knowing the signs of pain will help us to begin treatment - the earlier we intervene, the better we can keep your pet comfortable long-term. That often means we can keep them around longer because they have a better Quality of Life! If you see any of these signs (especially if there are multiple), please have a discussion with your veterinarian ASAP. If you need additional support, please reach out to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kristen by calling or texting 614-434-6411.
Pain in dogs can look like:
Panting
Wanting to be outside more
Spending less time with family
Not jumping like they used to
Limping
Excessive licking
Restlessness
Reluctance to go up or down stairs
Behavior changes, including irritability or aggression
Eating less
Playing/walking less
Vocalizing (whine, yelp, cry, moan etc)
Signs of pain in cats can look like:
Limping
Vocalizing (meows, yowls, etc)
Not using the litter box
Hair matting or dandruff - may indicate that your cat isn't grooming themselves
Excessive licking, bald spots may occur
Decreased activity
Decreased jumping - may not jump onto the counters anymore, or the furniture, or onto the cat tower, etc
Hiding
Withdrawing from the family
Behavior changes, including irritability or aggression
Hunched posture or lowered head
Grimaces- their ears are pushed back, eyes are squinted, and whiskers point outward instead of relaxing down
For additional resources, including pain assessments, please visit the FAQ page at
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