FAQ - The effect of pain on dog behaviour

This month I have seen two cases of pain related behaviour changes. Whenever I first meet a dog with recent behavioural changes I always consider multiple factors, but one of the first is to check that a vet has examined the dog to ensure they are fit and healthy. This is especially important if the behaviour is an unexpected change and usually (but not only) seen in older dogs. 

Both of the dogs I saw this month had been to the vet and had a clean bill of health as far as the vet could see but, as we know, vets can only assess what they can see and test and many dogs don’t give clear reactions even when something that hurts is manipulated. In animals, just like us, pain can be experienced in very different ways. Some dogs will react and yelp at the slightest thing where other dogs will be totally stoic giving very little away. This sometimes means getting to the bottom of exactly what the problem is can be very difficult. 

I often ask clients to keep a diary and often repeat this again if the vet prescribes pain medication at any point, to see what makes a difference. 

Some dogs develop new (and sometimes quite creative) behaviours such as:  

     * Aggression towards dogs or people when the dog always had a nice temperament before.  

     * Suddenly becoming scared of things like noises or animals.

     * Restlessness, pacing or just a general inability to settle in one place when he normally comes home from a walk and sleeps soundly. 

Other dogs will loose normal behaviours;

     *They may become distant with you, or stop playing with other pets. 

     *They can loose interest in food or treats 

     * They can also loose interest in walks or become lethargic. 

Any change in behaviours like those detailed above can occur for many reasons but if you are worried the first step is to eliminate a medical cause. The best way to help your vet work out what the cause may be is to make detailed notes including;

- Changes in behaviour

- Diet

- Exercise

- Schedule

- Time spent doing different activities

- Even the weather!

Diaries are a very powerful tool which can highlight things or show links that aren't otherwise apparent. 

Using a diary for my dog Logi we realised that if he ate three small meals a day verses two slightly larger ones he was much less likely to vomit in the evening, which was pivotal in helping the vet diagnose his issue. And when he feels better his behaviour changes for the better!

Often with older dogs these changes can happen very slowly, so we almost don't notice, especially when you see them every day. However, when you bring them to someone like me, or a vet, who works with multiple dogs on a daily basis it can be more apparent that something isn't just down to age, and is something we can help to improve so don't hesitate to reach out if something doesn't seem quite right.