Dog pain can show in subtle behaviours, study finds

A study of 530 dog owners and 117 non-owners found many people miss subtle signs that dogs are in pain, such as yawning, increased blinking and lip or nose licking. The article reports that recognising these signals is important and that the authors note veterinary advice is often recommended when pain is suspected.

New research shows many people do not reliably recognise signs of pain in dogs, and the issue is being discussed because missed signals can affect animal welfare. Animals sometimes hide pain and show it through small behavioural shifts rather than obvious vocal or physical signs. The study used an online questionnaire and compared responses from dog owners and non-owners about a set of behaviours linked to pain. The authors report that prior experience with pets in pain helped some owners recognise more cues. Key findings: - The study sampled 530 dog owners and 117 non-owners and asked participants to rate 17 behaviours that indicate pain. - Participants generally recognised obvious signs such as hesitant paw lifting and reduced play, but less obvious cues were often missed. - Subtle indicators reported as linked to pain included yawning, lip and nose licking, looking away and increased blinking. - Non-owners were more likely than owners in this sample to associate freezing or turning the head away with pain, and prior experience of pet pain improved recognition for some owners. - The article notes pain can alter sleep, restlessness, clinginess, and may increase noise reactivity or lead to reluctance to be touched in specific areas. Summary: The research suggests owners may overlook subtle behavioural signs of pain in dogs, which has implications for animal welfare and behaviour. Undetermined at this time.