Pain In Dogs

Dogs, as we know, are incredible creatures. They are so incredible, they’re even good at hiding pain. Why do dogs hide pain as much as possible? In the wild, if they were to show signs of pain and weakness, they would be more likely to be ‘picked on’, left behind or attacked. Ever heard of the phrase ‘survival of the fittest’? Not only is survival of the fittest how evolution occurs (those with better genes survive the longest and are able to reproduce…. I won’t let my zoology brain take over just now though!), but also in pack structure in the wild. The fitter the animal, the less likely it will be ‘picked on’ and the higher the chance of survival. Showing weakness through injury would naturally be a bad idea!

We get a lot of members stating that their dog ‘is not in pain’, but how do we know? Often the signs are small, but obvious. Signs of pain in dogs commonly include: 

- Limping - Bowing (downward dog yoga pose)

- Shaking

- Changes in behaviour

- Panting - Crying

- Loss of appetite

- Stiffness

- Licking/nibbling a specific area

- Change of the fur on one area of the body. Fur may go coarse and rippled in a concentrated area of the body – often spinal.

Many people ignore these signs despite them all showing pain. If a dog is limping, this is because he/she is in pain. As per paragraph one, dogs will do as much as they can to hide pain, so if they have gotten to the point they’re limping, they’re in a lot of pain. I often hear people saying they want to avoid a trip to the vet, and avoid veterinary medication when their dog is limping etc. Yes, in some cases medication can often be avoided, such as stiffness of joints often requiring more omega 3, and potentially a good joint support supplement like raw poultry feet (full of chondroitin and glucosamine) or Green Lipped Mussel; however, very often pharmaceutical painkillers are required, even if just short term. It would be simply cruel in most cases to make a dog continue to suffer in pain, and this could also hinder the recovery time of the injury. If a dog is prescribed such drugs for a new pain diagnosis, its good practice to take these initially until the dog is out of pain and the issue being worked on. Your dog may be prescribed NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories) like Meloxicam (Metacam, Loxicom, Meloxaid, Meloxidyl), or other pain killers like Paracetamol or Pardale V. Both conventional pain killers and NSAIDs do have potential side effects, which is why I would only use them long term in absolute last resort scenarios. PLEASE NOTE: It is ILLEGAL to advise and dose pharmaceuticals to other members unless you are a qualified veterinarian who has seen the dog. Are there natural alternatives for pain? Yes, there are! However generally speaking, these build up over time to become more effective, which is why I wouldn’t recommend using purely natural pain prevention after a new pain diagnosis – get on top of the pain with pharmaceutical intervention, then build up natural prevention once the dog is out of immediate pain. Different natural pain products will be required depending on the source of the pain. Its best to consult a Functional Medicine Practitioner or Holistic Vet to discuss the best option for your dog. Natural pain preventions/anti inflammatories include: -

Boswellia

- Devils Claw

- Alfalfa

- Ginger

- Homeopathic Arnica 30C

- Turmeric (golden paste) or curcumin-liposomal

- CBD Oil Alternative therapies (all to be carried out by qualified animal physiotherapists) which can help various types of pain include:

- Red Light Therapy (such as the Photizo) or HEALED PETS use code NOBULL15 for 15% off

- Acupuncture (needles placed in specific areas to release pain)

- Hot/Cold Therapy (hot and cold pads, alternated dependent on the source of pain)

- Electrotherapy (similar to the TENS machine)

- Hydrotherapy (to help rebuild and strengthen muscles around areas of pain and degradation

– also great exercise for pain sufferers due to being low impact) To summarise, if your dog is limping or showing any of the symptoms I mentioned near the start of this blog, please seek veterinary help immediately

– your dog IS in pain! Your priority is getting your dog out of the initial pain, before working on building a natural pain prevention routine, working alongside qualified professionals throughout. Hope this helps you understand more about pain in dogs.

Written by Bethany Calhoum, No Bull, Just Natural Health for Dogs