While you may have a deep connection with your pet, you may not always notice if they’re in pain right away. Your cat might start to shy away from frequented spots or your dog might sustain an injury that isn’t visible to you. But how can you tell if your pet is suffering from an injury? Your veterinarian will be able to answer your questions if you start to notice behavioral changes in your pet. Below are ways you can spot symptoms signaling that your pet is in distress. 

Your Guide to Recognizing Pain in Your Pets

What Are Some Signs That My Pet Is in Pain?

Cats are masters at masking their pain. Their instinct tells them to hide weaknesses from potential predators, regardless of how safe they feel in your home. By paying special attention to their mannerisms, you will be able to spot unusual behavior. The subtlest shifts in behavior, such as increased grooming, longer naps, and less frequent physical activity may indicate that your pet is in pain.  More obvious and alarming signals to look for include loss of appetite, hiding, sudden unusual social behaviors, limping, and vocal distress. Once you spot your cat’s symptoms, call your veterinarian for an appointment and provide a detailed description of your cat’s change in behavior. 

Although dogs sometimes attempt to hide their pain as well, they aren’t quite as subtle as cats. Pay attention to their movements. Do they have more trouble sitting or standing up than usual? Are they slower and stiffer going up the stairs, or do they refuse to climb stairs at all? These are all common indications of pain. Chewing on a particular body part, sudden aggression, an increase in vocalizations, and excessive licking are also warning signs. If your pet’s behavior seems to be off, contact your veterinarian for an appointment and inform them of your dog’s symptoms. 

How Should I Handle My Pet’s Pain?

Nobody wants to see their pet in pain. While it may be tempting to fix the issue on your own, your pet’s distress may be a symptom of a more dangerous situation. While you wait to visit your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis, don’t give human medicine to your pet and don’t attempt to heal  wounds yourself. In an emergency, take your pet to the animal clinic. After a careful physical examination, your veterinarian will be able to uncover the cause of the pain. Depending on the diagnosis, they will discuss treatment options with you, including surgery, prescription medication, or a new diet and exercise regimen. This is the best way to ensure your pet is on their way to recovery.  Some pain medications used by people are problematic or toxic to dogs and cats.

Experienced veterinarians at Cherry Hill Dog & Cat Hospital, in Elkton, MD, understand that the health, comfort, and happiness of your pet is important to you. No matter how minor a change in behavior may seem, veterinarians Dr. Douglas Foreman and Dr. Roberta Mauro take all of your concerns seriously. With a thorough history, physical exam, lab analysis and possible digital Xrays we can determine the problem and develop a treatment plan for your pet.  Call (410) 398-1331 today to schedule an appointment.  To schedule an appointment, call (410) 398-1331 or visit their website for additional pet health resources.