Pain and Behaviour Problems in Dogs

Our dogs can’t tell us when they are in pain, sometimes they hide it really well and can be in pain for extended periods of time without their human caregivers knowing

Research has shown that often the underlying cause of behaviour problems in our pets is pain.

In one study conducted by clinical animal behaviourists, up to 80% of the animal patients referred to clinics with behaviour problems had underlying pain (Mills et al., 2020).This is why many animal behaviour consultants insist on a vet check-up for the animal before they will see it.

A change in behaviour?

A sudden change in a dog’s behaviour is often indicative of pain or a medical issue, especially if there has been no significant event that may have triggered the change. Some of the types of behaviour change that may be a result of pain are:

• Clinginess or attention-seeking behaviour that is different or more intense.
• House soiling where a dog may have previously been clean in the house, this may be as a result of a bladder condition.
• Lethargy or lack of interest in activities that your dog has previously enjoyed, or just changes in which your dog plays, not being so keen to bring that ball back or play tug of war with you.
• Repeated licking of a part of the dog’s body can be indicative of a painful area.
• Sometimes dogs may change the way they move about the house, suddenly deciding to avoid certain rooms, this may seem really odd, but it could be that the floor covering in that room may be slippery and be difficult for the dog to walk on if they have some joint or back pain.
• Walking with an unusual gait, shifting weight from side to side when standing still or struggling to stand up quickly from laying down.
• Aggression, this can be directed at people or other dogs.

It can be really distressing when our previously mild-mannered pooches growl or snap at us, but they will be doing it for a reason! Think about how you feel when you aren’t well, I definitely get irritated more easily, and our dogs are the same, this is the only way they can tell you that they are uncomfortable, in pain or ill. Pain may not be the reason a dog is displaying aggression, but it may intensify an aggressive response.

Seek a vet

If you suspect that your dog is in pain, ask your vet to check them over. Be their voice, sometimes the cause of the pain may not be immediately obvious in an examination so it’s really important that you explain that your dog is not behaving in a way that is normal for them. Vets rely on pet owners reporting any differences in a dog’s behaviour to try and work out the source of any medical condition, no one knows your dog as well as you.

If your dog has been checked and no medical condition has been identified but you are concerned about their behaviour, seek the advice of a qualified dog behaviour expert.

Dogs try their best to behave in a way that fits in with humans, sometimes they just need a little extra help to do so.

(Reference: Mills, D., Demontigny-Bédard, I., Gruen, M., Klinck, M., McPeake, K., Barcelos, A., Hewison, L., Van Haevermaet, H., Denenberg, S., Hauser, H., Koch, C., Ballantyne, K., Wilson, C., Mathkari, C., Pounder, J., Garcia, E., Darder, P., Fatjó, J. and Levine, E., 2020. Pain and Problem Behavior in Cats and Dogs. Animals, 10(2), p.318.)

To contact me, please call 07725 197253 or email me at info@dogbehaviourexpert.co.uk