Signs Your Dog Is in Pain: What Every Owner Should Know

Last reviewed: May 2026

Dogs are masters at hiding pain

One of the most challenging aspects of caring for a dog is that they are instinctively inclined to mask pain. But dogs notice. This isn't stubbornness or toughness: it's an evolutionary survival strategy. In the wild, showing weakness makes an animal vulnerable to predators and to losing their place in a social group. Domestication hasn't removed this instinct. Your dog will work hard to appear normal even when they're in significant discomfort.

What that means is that by the time most owners notice their dog is in pain, the problem has usually been developing for days, weeks, or even months. Learning to recognise the subtle, early signs of pain can mean the difference between a straightforward treatment and a complicated, expensive, and distressing one. And it also means your dog spends less time suffering in silence.

Subtle signs most owners miss

The most important pain signals in dogs are the quiet ones, the behaviours that are easy to dismiss as nothing or attribute to something else. If you see any of these consistently, don't ignore them:

One of our day care dogs, a Boxer, dropped weight gradually over a few months. But the owner hadn't noticed at home, but our team flagged it during a routine check.

Lip licking and nose licking

Dogs lick their lips when they're anticipating food, but frequent lip licking outside of mealtimes is a well-documented stress and pain signal. If your dog is licking their lips or nose repeatedly when there's no food around, they may be experiencing discomfort. It's one of the earliest and most commonly missed signs. Without fail.

Yawning

Yawning when a dog isn't tired is a displacement behaviour that often indicates stress or pain. Less is more. If your dog yawns frequently during activities they normally enjoy, or in situations that shouldn't make them tired, pay attention. Combined with other signs, repeated yawning is a meaningful indicator.

Panting at rest

Dogs pant after exercise and in hot weather. Panting when they're at rest, in a cool environment, and haven't been exercising is often a sign of pain or distress. Panting that seems heavier than normal, or that occurs at unusual times, deserves investigation.

Changes in facial expression

Dogs in pain often have a subtly different facial expression. A tightness around the eyes, ears held slightly differently, or a furrowed brow. These changes can be hard to spot unless you know your dog's relaxed face well. Researchers have developed the "Glasgow Composite Pain Scale" specifically to help identify these facial cues, and some vets now use it routinely.

Reluctance to be touched

A dog that normally enjoys being stroked but flinches, moves away, or tenses when you touch a particular area is telling you something. In our experience working with hundreds of dogs across Essex, even if there's no visible injury, the reluctance to be handled is a clear signal. Pay particular attention to reactions when touching the head, spine, abdomen, and legs.

Posture changes

Pain changes how a dog holds their body, and these postural shifts are often visible before more obvious symptoms develop:

You might also find our post on dog weight management helpful.

Hunched or arched back

A dog standing or lying with a noticeable arch in their back (like a cat stretching) is often experiencing abdominal or spinal pain. This posture is the dog's attempt to protect the painful area by tensing the surrounding muscles.

Prayer position

Front legs stretched forward with the chest low and the hindquarters elevated. This position often indicates abdominal pain and can be a sign of serious conditions like pancreatitis or gastrointestinal obstruction. If you see this posture, contact your vet promptly.

Reluctance to sit or lie in their usual position

A dog that normally curls up to sleep but suddenly starts sleeping stretched out (or vice versa) may be adjusting their position to relieve pain. Trust takes time. Similarly, a dog that normally sits squarely but starts sitting with one hip tilted may have hip or knee discomfort.

Weight shifting

Subtly shifting weight away from a painful limb is an early sign of leg, hip, or shoulder pain. The dog may stand with one foot slightly lifted, or lean to one side. This can be hard to spot but becomes more obvious if you watch your dog standing on a flat surface from behind.

Behaviour changes

Pain doesn't just change how a dog moves, it changes how they act. Behavioural shifts that seem unrelated to any physical problem are often, in fact, rooted in pain:

Our guide to senior dog care covers some related ground.

Reduced activity

A dog that's less enthusiastic about walks, slower to get up, or less interested in play may be in pain. It's often attributed to "getting old" or "having a lazy day," but if the change is consistent, it warrants investigation. Dogs don't choose to be less active. They do it because something hurts.

Increased irritability

A normally gentle dog that snaps when approached, growls when moved from their bed, or reacts disproportionately to minor disturbances may be in chronic pain. Pain makes dogs (and humans) less tolerant of interaction because they're already at their coping limit. If your dog's temperament has changed, pain should be the first thing you rule out.

Withdrawal

Some dogs in pain become clingy and seek more attention than usual. Others do the opposite. They withdraw, hide, or isolate themselves. If your normally sociable dog starts spending time alone, hiding under furniture, or avoiding the family, take it seriously.

Changes in sleep patterns

Restlessness at night, difficulty settling, frequent repositioning, or sleeping significantly more than usual can all indicate pain. Pain disrupts comfortable sleep, and a dog that can't find a comfortable position is often a dog that's hurting.

Appetite changes

Pain affects appetite in several ways:

• Reduced appetite. Not wanting to eat, picking at food, or leaving food unfinished is a common pain response, particularly for dental pain, abdominal pain, or nausea
• Difficulty eating: dropping food, chewing on one side of the mouth, or reluctance to eat hard food can indicate dental or jaw pain
• Eating unusual things, some dogs in pain eat grass, dirt, or other non-food items; this behaviour (pica) can be a response to nausea or gastrointestinal discomfort

Any significant or sustained change in appetite should prompt a vet visit. Dogs are driven by food. A dog that consistently turns down meals is telling you something important.

Mobility changes

These are the signs most owners eventually notice, but they're often the later-stage indicators rather than the first signs:

• Limping or favouring a leg
• Stiffness after rest, especially first thing in the morning
• Reluctance to jump onto furniture, into the car, or up stairs
• Bunny-hopping rather than running normally (often indicates hip pain)
• Difficulty getting up from lying down
• Shorter strides or a changed gait
• Lagging behind on walks or wanting to turn for home early

If your dog is showing mobility changes, they're likely in pain. Don't wait for a limp to become severe. Early intervention leads to much better outcomes. Our senior dog care guide covers mobility support for older dogs specifically.

When to see a vet

The honest answer is: sooner than you think. Small steps. If you're asking "should I take my dog to the vet?", the answer is almost always yes. Specifically, see your vet promptly if:

• Any of the above signs persist for more than 24 to 48 hours
• Your dog is yelping, whimpering, or crying
• There's visible injury, swelling, or heat in any area
• Your dog is refusing food for more than a day
• Your dog is in the prayer position (front low, rear elevated)
• There's sudden onset of any symptom. Sudden lameness, sudden aggression, sudden collapse
• Your dog is panting heavily at rest with no obvious cause
• You simply feel something isn't right, trust your instincts; you know your dog better than anyone

Pain management options

Modern veterinary medicine has excellent pain management tools. No dog needs to live in chronic pain:

• NSAIDs: anti-inflammatory medications that reduce pain and inflammation; widely used for arthritis and post-surgical pain
• Other pain medications: gabapentin, tramadol, and other medications for pain that doesn't respond well to NSAIDs
• Joint supplements: glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids support joint health and may reduce inflammation
• Hydrotherapy: builds strength and mobility while minimising joint stress; excellent for chronic conditions
• Physiotherapy: targeted exercises and treatments to improve function and reduce pain
• Acupuncture: increasingly used in veterinary medicine for chronic pain conditions; evidence is growing
• Weight management: reducing excess weight is one of the single most effective pain interventions for joint problems
• Environmental modifications: ramps, orthopaedic bedding, non-slip surfaces, and raised bowls reduce daily strain

How day care and professional walkers spot issues

One of the under-appreciated benefits of day care and professional dog walking is the trained, objective observation your dog receives. Our staff see dozens of dogs every day. They notice when a dog's gait changes, when a dog that normally runs is walking, when a dog that normally plays is lying down, or when a dog that normally eats eagerly is leaving food. They've flagged early-stage lameness, skin conditions, lumps, ear infections, and dental problems that owners hadn't yet noticed: sometimes catching serious conditions in their earliest, most treatable stage.

This isn't a criticism of owners. We work closely with local vets and always recommend you see your dog every day, and gradual changes are incredibly hard to spot when you're looking at the same dog in the same environment. A fresh pair of trained eyes provides a different perspective, and that perspective can be genuinely life-saving.

Key takeaways

• Dogs hide pain instinctively: don't wait for obvious symptoms; learn the subtle signs
• Lip licking, yawning, and panting at rest: common early indicators most owners miss
• Behaviour changes often mean pain: irritability, withdrawal, sleep disruption, and reduced activity all warrant investigation
• Trust your instincts: if something feels off, it probably is; see your vet
• Modern pain management is excellent. No dog needs to suffer; effective treatments are available
• Professional observation catches things you miss: day care and walking staff provide a second set of trained eyes

Your dog depends on you to be their advocate. Learning to read the signs of pain is one of the most important things you can do as a dog owner. If you're concerned about your dog, see your vet. And if you'd like your dog to have regular professional observation alongside their exercise, our day care and dog walking team are here to help. Get in touch. Your dog's comfort is our priority too. Not always easy.