How to Tell if Your Pet Is in Pain

You can tell if your pet is in pain by watching for changes in behavior, posture, movement, facial expression, and daily habits because most animals in pain don’t cry out. They go quiet, withdraw, and adapt in ways that are easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. That instinct to hide discomfort is deeply wired into dogs and cats, and it means the pets who need help most are often the ones showing the fewest obvious signs. The subtle signals are there, but they tend to look like laziness, mood shifts, or just “getting older” rather than what they actually are: a pet that is hurting and has no other way to tell you.

At Case Veterinary Hospital in Savannah, GA, we want to change that. This guide walks you through the specific signs of pain that are easiest to overlook, how to read your pet’s body language and facial expressions, what chronic pain looks like in senior pets, and exactly what to do when something doesn’t seem right. The more familiar you are with these signals, the sooner your pet gets the relief they deserve.

Are You Missing the Subtle, Non-Vocal Signs of Pet Discomfort?

Most people picture a pet in pain as one that’s whimpering, crying, or vocalizing clearly. In reality, most pets in pain are quiet. They may be suffering significantly without making a sound, and their discomfort expresses itself in ways that are easy to overlook or explain away.

Changes in Posture and Movement

A pet in pain often changes how they hold their body. A hunched posture, a tucked abdomen, or a reluctance to shift positions when lying down are all signals worth noticing. Pets with joint pain may have difficulty getting up from a lying position, hesitate before stepping up or down from furniture, or change how they move in ways that reduce weight-bearing on a painful limb.

Changes in Grooming and Self-Care

Cats especially use grooming as a barometer of their comfort. A cat that has stopped grooming, or conversely, is excessively grooming or licking one area of the body, may be in pain. Over-grooming is often a response to localized pain or discomfort at a specific site. Under-grooming can indicate generalized malaise or pain that makes the physical act of grooming uncomfortable.

Changes in Facial Expression

Research in veterinary behavior has produced pain scales for both dogs and cats based on facial cues. Signs of pain in the face include:

Eyes that appear squinted or partially closed when the pet is awake
Ears held back or flattened against the head
Tension in the muscles around the muzzle and forehead
A glazed or distant expression rather than the pet’s typical alert appearance

Is Your Senior Pet Slowing Down Due to Age or Treatable Joint Pain?

This is one of the most important questions veterinarians at Case Veterinary Hospital want every senior pet owner to consider. The signs of pain in senior pets are frequently dismissed as “just getting old,” when in reality they reflect undertreated, painful conditions like osteoarthritis that have highly effective management options.

What Arthritis Looks Like in Older Pets

Osteoarthritis affects an estimated 80 percent of dogs over the age of eight. It’s also extremely common in cats, though it’s diagnosed far less frequently because cats show pain differently. Signs of arthritis-related pain in senior pets include:

Stiffness that improves after they’ve been moving for a few minutes
Reluctance to use stairs, jump onto furniture, or enter and exit the car
Sleeping more than usual and choosing lying positions that favor certain limbs
Reduced engagement with play, toys, or family interactions

The key distinction between normal aging and arthritis pain is that arthritic pain is treatable. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories specifically formulated for pets, joint supplements, laser therapy, and physical rehabilitation can all dramatically improve quality of life for senior pets with joint pain. If your older pet is slowing down, please bring this up at your next visit to Case Veterinary Hospital.

Do You Know How to Read Your Pet’s “Pain Face” and Body Language?

Reading your pet’s overall body language in context provides the most complete picture of how they’re feeling. Pain in pets changes the whole picture, not just one feature.

Signs of pain across the whole body include:

Restlessness and inability to settle into a comfortable position
Guarding a body part by holding it away from contact or reacting sharply when it’s touched
Panting that isn’t related to heat or exercise, particularly in cats
Trembling or shaking that doesn’t have an environmental cause
Vocalization like whimpering, growling, or hissing in response to normal touch

Behavioral changes are equally important signals. A pet in pain often withdraws from family interactions, stops seeking affection, or becomes uncharacteristically reactive or irritable. These changes frequently precede visible physical signs and are sometimes the first thing owners notice in retrospect once a diagnosis has been made.

What Should You Do if You Suspect Your Pet Is Suffering?

If your pet shows signs of pain or unusual behavioral changes, the most important step is to schedule a veterinary examination without delay. Do not attempt to manage pet pain at home with human medications. Products like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin are toxic to dogs and cats and can cause organ failure, sometimes rapidly and at very low doses.

At Case Veterinary Hospital in Savannah, our veterinarians are trained to detect pain through physical examination, behavioral assessment, and diagnostic tools like X-rays, ultrasound, and bloodwork. A formal pain assessment allows us to identify the source and severity of your pet’s discomfort and develop a treatment plan that provides real, safe relief.

If your pet is in acute, severe pain, such as crying out, unable to stand, or unable to be touched without extreme distress, this is an emergency situation. Contact Case Veterinary Hospital immediately during our business hours, or head to the nearest emergency animal hospital if we are closed.

Paying Attention Is the First Step Toward Relief

Your pet cannot ask for help, file a complaint, or point to where it hurts. You are their advocate, and the observations you make at home are among the most valuable tools their veterinarian has. Trust your instincts. If something about your pet’s behavior, movement, or expression seems off, it’s worth a call to Case Veterinary Hospital in Savannah at (912) 352-3081. Early detection of pain leads to earlier treatment, better outcomes, and a better quality of life for the animals who depend on you.

Frequently Asked Questions: Recognizing Pet Pain

Q: Why is it so difficult to tell when a dog or cat is in pain?

A: In the wild, showing pain, weakness, or vulnerability makes an animal a target for predators. Our domesticated pets still carry this powerful survival instinct. Consequently, they will actively hide their discomfort for as long as possible. By the time a pet is actively crying out or limping, the pain is often already severe.

Q: What are the most common behavioral signs of pain in pets?

A: Since they cannot tell us where it hurts, you have to look for shifts in their daily routines and personality. Common clues include:

Sudden Aggression or Grumpiness: A previously gentle pet may snap, growl, hiss, or pull away when touched, especially near the lower back, hips, or mouth.
Hiding and Withdrawal: Cats, in particular, will often hide under beds, in closets, or avoid family interaction when they feel unwell.
Changes in Sleeping Habits: Sleeping much more than usual, sleeping in unusual positions, or conversely, restlessness and an inability to get comfortable.
Loss of Interest: Avoiding favorite toys, refusing to go on walks, or failing to greet you at the door.

Q: What are the physical or postural signs of pain?

A: Pain alters how an animal carries its body. Keep an eye out for these posture changes:

The “Prayer Position”: Hunching the back while stretching the front legs out on the floor. This is a classic sign of severe abdominal pain.
Stiffness or Limping: Difficulty rising from a nap, hesitating before climbing stairs, or no longer jumping onto the couch or bed.
Heavy Panting: Panting when it isn’t hot or after zero exercise is a major indicator of stress or pain (especially in cats, where any open-mouthed panting is a medical emergency).
Trembling or Shaking: Shivering when the room is perfectly warm can indicate acute pain or distress.

Q: Can grooming habits change if a pet is in pain?

A: Yes, dramatically so.

Over-Grooming: Pets will often repeatedly lick, bite, or chew at a specific spot that hurts (like a painful joint or an infected wound) to the point of causing hair loss and raw skin.
Under-Grooming: Unkempt, matted, or greasy fur—particularly in cats—often means they are too stiff or sore from arthritis to bend around and clean themselves properly.

Q: My pet is still eating perfectly fine. Does that mean they aren’t in pain?

A: No, absolutely not. This is the number one mistake pet owners make. The basic drive to eat and survive is incredibly strong. Pets will regularly continue to eat their meals even while dealing with broken bones, severe arthritis, or raging dental infections. Eating is not a reliable indicator of comfort.

Q: What should I do if I suspect my pet is in pain?

A: Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Do not wait to see if it gets better, as chronic pain can physically alter a pet’s nervous system and make it harder to treat later. If the pain is accompanied by sudden collapse, severe trauma, or an inability to urinate, head to an emergency vet immediately.

Q: Can I give my pet a human painkiller like Advil or Tylenol to help them sleep?

A: Never give your pet human over-the-counter medications. Medications like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and naproxen (Aleve) are highly toxic to dogs and cats. Even tiny doses can cause fatal kidney failure, liver destruction, or severe bleeding stomach ulcers. Your vet can safely prescribe pet-specific anti-inflammatories and pain relievers.