Pain in Dogs

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Pain in Dogs

By: Dr. Rhea Morgan

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Section: Overview

Causes of Pain

Any cause of tissue damage or inflammation is potentially capable of causing pain. Examples of such causes include the following:

Trauma - fractures, sprains, dislocations, wounds, muscle tearing, blunt forceful injuries

Exposure to heat – flame, hot water, heating devices

Exposure to extreme cold – frostbite, cold surfaces, cold weather

Tissue inflammation – from infections, from pathologic conditions or diseases, from physical changes

Necrosis of tissue – death of the tissue

Ischemia – loss of blood supply to the tissue

Stretching of tissue – especially of round or hollow organs

Spasm of tissues – especially of muscles or muscular organs

Organs That May Manifest Pain or Become Painful

Bones

Joints and ligaments

Muscles

Skin and soft tissues under the skin

Tissues of the mouth

Portions of the brain and spinal cord

Tissues within and around the eye

Certain components of the ear and ear canals

Certain structures within the chest, particularly the esophagus and tissues lining the chest (pleura)

Many abdominal organs, including those of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, reproductive tract, and the tissues lining the abdomen (peritoneum)

Tissues near the anus and tail

External genitalia

What to Watch For

Manifestations of pain are highly variable in animals. Some signs are obviously related to pain, while others are more subtle. The individual personality of the animal and its tolerance for pain also affect the clinical manifestations of pain. Animals in pain often present with a wide variety of signs. Some signs that are associated with pain include the following:

Altered behavior – quieter than normal, avoidance of other animals or people, hiding, aggressive behavior, fear biting, mental dullness and depression, agitation, restlessness, pacing

Altered movement or gait – lameness, reluctance to move, reluctance to get up, wobbliness, abnormal carriage or use of one or more legs, stiffness

Vocalization – growling, howling, yipping, moaning, groaning

Decreased or lack of appetite (anorexia)

Increased respiratory rate

Increased heart rate

Shock, collapse

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