How to Know When Your Dog Is in Pain?

small signs that might mean the dog has an issue

Introduction

This is a question we often hear from dog owners in our daily work. Maybe you’ve noticed that your dog, for example, moves slightly stiffer or hesitates when sitting down. It’s very easy to think it’s just a one-time thing. But the truth is, those exact small movement changes can be early signs when your dog is in pain or feeling discomfort. Learning to spot them in time—and more importantly, taking them seriously—can make a big difference.

Why It’s Hard to Tell When Your Dog Is in Pain?

Dogs are extremely good at hiding when something is wrong. Minor problems can arise without us noticing, and suddenly we are dealing with a bigger problem that in many cases could have been prevented.

A dog can’t use words to tell us it’s in pain, but it communicates all the time through movement and behavior. Often, subtle changes reveal that something isn’t right—maybe it starts moving differently, loses interest in things it usually enjoys, shows restlessness, or hesitates slightly before certain movements. These signals can be easy to miss when they appear gradually. And even when we do notice them, we might think, “It will pass!” Sometimes it does, but not always.

In my work at the rehabilitation clinic, I come across this very often.
There may have been signs of pain or discomfort for quite some time—
but the owner didn’t recognize them as a problem, or simply didn’t notice the change in their dog’s behavior or movement.

When we explain what we’re seeing, many owners feel like they’ve failed their dog.
They’re often ashamed or heartbroken to realize their dog may have been in pain for a long time. Of course, they wish they’d noticed it earlier.

And the truth is, rehabilitation can take longer when the problem has been ongoing for a while, compared to when it’s caught and addressed early.

Puppy running on three tracks that might be due to discomfort

What You Can Do

Learn to Spot Early Signs

After more than a decade in rehab and working with dog owners, I’ve seen how hard it is to notice subtle movement changes. The great thing, though, is that people in general—and dog owners in particular—are eager to learn more. So next time their dog starts showing discomfort, they will know and take action.

First things first: We must start observing how our dogs move and what normal movement looks like. How do the different gaits look? And how do they perform movements like sitting down and lying down? There are many things to look for, of course—this is just an example.

By learning to observe how your dog moves and behaves when it’s feeling good, it becomes easier to notice small changes when they don’t. The more knowledge you gain, the easier it gets.

My advice to my clients is to start observing one thing at a time, build confidence in what they see, and understand what it might mean. That’s when we can develop an eye for movement, helping us take action before the problem gets worse.

Australian Shepard having laser therapy for pain relief

Small Signs That Mean a Lot

They are experts at compensating for discomfort and keeping up a “normal” appearance. Hiding pain is an instinct that has followed dogs through evolution – in the wild, an injured animal is an easy target, so, over time, they have developed strategies not to show weakness. (Bekoff, M. 2011. Do Dogs Feel Pain the Same Way That Humans Do?, Psychology Today). This makes it hard for us to detect early symptoms. I often hear from dog owners that their dogs seemed happy and active despite being in pain. Some dogs may even become more restless or stressed, which can sometimes be mistaken for extra energy rather than a sign of discomfort.

How Pain Affects Movement and Behavior

To understand how pain affects dogs, we can look at the scientific definition of pain:

"Pain is defined as an ‘unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage’ (IASP – International Association for the Study of Pain)."

When experiencing pain or discomfort, they often adjust how they move and behave to compensate. At first, the signs might be subtle—that easily goes unnoticed by most of us, such as putting more weight on one leg than the other, avoiding certain movements, or hesitating before jumping onto the couch. Another subtle change can be pacing, where a dog moves both legs on one side together at the same time. Here's why pacing matters. Over time, these subtle changes can lead to muscle imbalances, stiffness, and even secondary injuries, and when the discomfort is visible limping, for example, the problem has often been there for some time.

Behavioural changes are another signal to take seriously. At first, you may think your dog is grumpy for some reason, but over time, it can, in some cases, develop into more obvious aggression.

When your dog is in pain. Excessive licking or biting can indicate underlying joint issues or referred pain. Monitoring for repetitive behavior or changes in movement can help identify hidden pain early.

Behavioral Changes to Watch For

In addition to changes in movement, behavior can also reveal that a dog isn’t feeling well.

A dog that withdraws from family life, becomes more irritable with other dogs, or reacts differently in situations where it was previously relaxed may be in pain. Some dogs lick excessively at a specific part of their body, and owners may mistake it for itching when it's actually due to pain.

According to Whole Dog Journal, pain can lead to subtle behavioral changes in dogs, such as reduced performance in work or sports without an obvious reason. When the pain is identified and treated, the dog’s behavior often returns to normal.

We know what it feels like to be in pain—we move differently, get tired faster, and it affects us mentally. But with dogs, it’s not always as obvious. If we can spot these signs early, we have a much better chance of slowing down the problem before it worsens.

What to Do If You Notice a Change

If you suspect your dog might be in pain, follow these steps:

🔹 Detect: Pay attention to your dog’s movements and posture.
🔹 React: Stop any activity that might be causing discomfort, such as running, training, or working.
🔹 Act: Consult a veterinarian and a chartered physiotherapist to assess the dog fully.

Want to get more insights into physiotherapy for dogs? Read more here!