As a pet ages, it is common for owners to ask questions about their pet’s wellbeing. These may include “is my pet in pain?” or “is my pet suffering?”. It can be difficult to assess pain in an animal since we can’t ask them to tell us how they are feeling.
Many pets do not display obvious signs of pain, such as whining or crying out, so signs of pain can go unnoticed or untreated.
Anxiety is another area that is less commonly considered than pain, but can be just as detrimental to the quality of life of an animal, particularly in cats. Anxiety in our pets can often be centered around the changes occurring in the body as a disease process progresses. Some examples of this may include increasing breathing difficulties in the case of lung diseases or decline in cognitive abilities. Signs of anxiety in companion animals are often similar to signs of pain including behavioral and appetite changes.
Below are some common signs of pain or anxiety in our companion animals as well as a validated pain inventory tool developed by the University of Pennsylvania.
Note: this is not an exhaustive list of signs of pain or anxiety in animals. Every animal is different and will display signs of pain or discomfort differently. The most reliable indicator is changes from normal behavior. For example, if a dog who has been social and friendly their whole life becomes withdrawn or aggressive, that would be concerning for pain, excessive anxiety, or other medical changes.
- UPenn Canine Brief Pain Inventory
- Feline Grimace Scale (and supplementary guide with pictures)
- Osteoarthritis Pain Assessment: DOG and CAT
Common Signs of Pain and Anxiety in Pets
| DOGS | CATS |
| Decreased social interaction | Decreased interaction or decreased/ loss of curiosity |
| Decrease or loss of appetite | Decrease or loss of appetite |
| Submissive behavior | Hiding or attempting to escape |
| Decreased activity/ refusal to move | Decreased activity |
| Self-mutilation (ex lick granulomas, biting self) | Excessive licking or grooming |
| Aggressive behavior or biting when touched | Lack/ decrease in grooming |
| Stiff posture/ changes in gait | Stiff posture or gait, refusal to jump/ go up or down stairs |
| Anxious or glazed expression | Tail flicking |
| Vocalization (whimpering, whining, howling, growling | Guarding behavior, aggressive behavior |
| Changes in urination or bowel habits, accidents in the house | Inappropriate urination/ defecation, failure to use litter box |