3 Common Misconceptions About Pain in Dogs

The next post in our Pain and Behaviour series is all about debunking 3 of the most common misconceptions about pain in dogs.

When I start working with a new a behaviour client, there is often some reluctance to consider pain as a contributing factor to their dogs behaviour. Initially, this used to confuse and frustrate me but I slowly started to understand why.

When it comes to pain and dogs, there is very little information out there for owners to find. Usually, most behavioural issues are put down to a lack of training or something the owner has done wrong. In my experience, this usually isn't the case and often a medical issue is the direct cause or a contributing factor to the dogs behaviour.

So without further ado, let's begin.

Misconception 1: Dogs in Pain Won’t Run, Jump, or Play

I actually heard this response from an orthopedic specialist who was assessing one of my previous behaviour clients and it shocked me. The dog in question was very overwhelmed with day-to-day life and would bark, lunge and chase most things, this occurred during the assessment when the dog lunged at a passing car. This caused the specialist to say 'The dog can't be in pain because he runs'. This is categorically not true. Just like us when we experience pain, dogs still have a life to live & things to do, we don't just stop living because of the pain. They can still enjoy activities & experiences despite being in pain, partly because of what's going on internally. Adrenaline, cortisol, dopamine & endorphins all have pain killer quality to them, when these get triggered, dogs experience temporary pain relief which can make them feel better.

This also explains why some dogs can become fixated or obsessed with certain activities. In my experience, there is a big link between dogs who are living with chronic pain and an obsessive love with playing fetch. As far as I am aware, there is little to no research into this but it is something I have experienced too many times for it to be a coincidence. Before moving on, I want to share a short clip of my previous dog, Tywin. This is a video from his penultimate walk, before he was put to sleep on a Monday. Watch the video and see if you can tell when it was filmed. (See comment under the video for the answer).

The video above was taken on the Saturday, just 48 hours before we said goodbye to him.

To this day, I still believe that if you’d turned the corner and seen him running, the last thing you’d think was that he was about to be put to sleep because of chronic pain.

And honestly, I completely understand why.

Misconception 2: Dogs Who Are in Pain Will Whine or Cry

This is another common misconception, most people expect a dog in pain to whine, cry or limp.

Unfortunately, we often put our behaviour onto dogs in an effort to understand them but dogs rarely express pain the way we do making it very easy for pain to be missed.

Instead of displaying pain in ways we recognise, dogs will often carry on as "normal" and suffer in silence. It's not uncommon that dogs will develop behavioural issues in response to pain. Excessive barking, destructive behaviours, being more withdrawn are just some of the behaviours I have recently seen.

The below video is taken from a movement and posture analysis of a rescue client I am currently working with. The dog in question is very noise sensitive, doesn't like men, pulls a lot and is generally very nervous. Our assessment showed some abnormalities with her rear end which lead to her being x-rayed and the results were surprising!

Not only did the dog have a ruptured knee ligament but it turns out she has been walking and running on a fractured rear leg for over 2 years!

No whining, no crying or limping.

This is a perfect example of a dog not displaying any traditional signs of pain. Instead, her nervous energy and behavioural issues are the symptoms of underlying pain.

Thankfully we have identified the underlying reason and Lulu can receive the treatment she needs.

Misconception 3 - Pain Only Affects Older Dogs

Yoshi - The Maltipoo puppy with Tethered Cord Syndrome

This is another common theme, that I've noticed when it comes to discussing younger dogs behaviour. Usually, their behaviour is put down to them "Being a puppy" and the advice given to owners is usually "They'll grow out of it". Whilst maturity does have a big impact on a dogs behaviour, it isn't the silver bullet that it's made out to be and time doesn't resolve every problem.

I've lost count of the amount of owners I've worked with who have been told "They're just a puppy" and "They'll grow out of it" only for the dog to get worse & actually grow into the behavioural issue - as you can probably tell, I find this scenario very frustrating!

Below are a few of the standout "puppy" cases I've worked on where pain/medical issues were a massive contributing factor to their behaviour.

• A young Cocker Spaniel puppy (4 months) whose biting was so severe that the usually puppy solutions didn't work. After we carried out a behaviour & pain assessment, I identified an issue with her left hip, which after assessment from a veterinary physio, confirmed her pelvis was out.

• A 3 month old Maltipoo puppy, who was incredibly nervous, noise sensitive and touch sensitive. After our assessment, the dog was diagnosed with Tethered Cord Syndrome, which will require life-time medication & observation.

• An aggressive & anxious 5 month old German Shepherd puppy, who had seen 5 different local trainers/behaviourists before me, got diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia & needed hydrotherapy, pain killer & specific exercise to manage his pain.

• A Springer Spaniel puppy, who has struggled with anxiety, fear & stress since day one, getting diagnosed with arthritis, disc degeneration & spleen issues, all before the the age of 1.

• A 4 month old Labrador, who couldn't switch off & was always on the go, suffering from 2 stomach infections Giardia & Campylobacter. Once both of these were resolved by the vet, the dogs ability to rest drastically improved.

Whilst the above are only a handful of the cases I've worked on, it just goes to show that young dogs can experience pain & it's vital that it is factored in when dealing with difficult & persistent puppy behaviour, that doesn't improve with traditional puppy training advice.

Final Thoughts

Spotting when a dog is in pain is incredibly difficult.

Unfortunately, it’s not always as simple as noticing a limp or hearing an increase in whining. Pain can show up in a variety of ways such as barking, reactivity, restlessness, or even an increased need for exercises - confusing even the most experienced dog owner or behaviourist.

What’s most important is that we, as dog professionals and caregivers, stay open to the possibility that behaviour changes might have a physical cause. Pain can wear many masks, and if we only look for the obvious signs, we risk missing what our dogs are really trying to tell us.

If you'd like help with your dogs behaviour, I'd recommend checking out my Beyond Behaviour Programme, which is a comprehensive and holistic approach to resolving behavioural issues. It's comprised of comprehensive assessment (including a movement & posture analysis), behaviour report, veterinary report and follow-up training sessions.

You can book a free, 30 minute discovery call so we can chat about the issues you are dealing with.