How to Tell If Your Dog or Cat Is in Pain: Signs and When to See a Vet

By Dr Duncan Houston.

Pets cannot tell us where it hurts, but they often communicate pain through changes in behaviour, movement, posture, appetite and routine. Some signs are obvious, such as limping or crying. Others are remarkably subtle, particularly in cats and senior pets.

Recognising these changes early can lead to faster treatment, improved comfort and a better quality of life.

Quick Answer: How Can You Tell If a Pet Is in Pain?

Common signs of pain in dogs and cats include:

• Hiding or avoiding interaction

• Irritability, growling or reacting when touched

• Limping, stiffness or difficulty standing

• Reluctance to jump, climb stairs or exercise

• Restlessness or difficulty getting comfortable

• Reduced appetite or difficulty chewing

• Changes in grooming

• Unusual posture or facial expression

• Panting, trembling or vocalising

• Changes in urination or defecation

• Loss of interest in play or normal activities

A single sign does not always confirm pain. However, any unexplained change from your pet’s normal behaviour deserves attention.

Why Pain Can Be Difficult to Recognise

Animals often conceal pain because appearing weak may make them vulnerable. Cats are particularly skilled at hiding discomfort, while dogs may continue eating, walking or wagging their tails despite being painful.

Pain may also develop gradually. When mobility or behaviour changes slowly, these signs are sometimes mistaken for normal ageing.

Your pet’s normal routine is the best reference point. A seemingly minor change can be meaningful when it persists or appears alongside other symptoms.

How Urgently Does Your Pet Need Veterinary Care?

Seek Emergency Veterinary Care Now

Contact an emergency veterinarian immediately if your pet has:

• Difficulty breathing or open-mouth breathing in a cat

• Collapsed, become unresponsive or cannot stand

• Pale, blue or grey gums

• Severe pain following trauma, a fall or a road accident

• A swollen or painful abdomen

• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to urinate

• Sudden paralysis or inability to use one or more limbs

• An obvious fracture, deep wound or uncontrolled bleeding

• Severe eye pain, trauma or sudden vision changes

• Persistent screaming, crying or extreme distress

Do not delay care while waiting to see whether these signs improve.

Arrange a Same-Day Veterinary Assessment

Your pet should generally be assessed the same day if they have:

• Sudden lameness or will not bear weight on a limb

• Persistent panting, trembling or restlessness

• A painful, swollen or closed eye

• Repeated vomiting or abdominal discomfort

• Difficulty passing urine or faeces

• Sudden aggression or marked sensitivity to touch

• Refused food, particularly if your pet is a cat

• Pain that prevents sleeping or settling

Book a Veterinary Appointment

Less dramatic changes still require investigation when they continue or worsen, including:

• Gradual stiffness or reduced mobility

• Sleeping more than usual

• Hesitating before jumping or climbing stairs

• Reduced grooming

• Changes in appetite or social behaviour

• Recurrent house-soiling or litter tray avoidance

• Loss of interest in walks, play or family activities

Personality and Behaviour Changes

Behavioural changes are among the most common signs of pain.

Watch for:

• Hiding or spending more time alone

• Reduced interest in play

• Avoiding affection or handling

• Becoming unusually clingy

• Growling, hissing, snapping or swatting

• Reacting when a particular area is touched

• Appearing withdrawn, anxious or unsettled

• Changes in sleep patterns

• Difficulty finding a comfortable resting position

A friendly pet that suddenly becomes irritable is not necessarily becoming “naughty”. Pain, illness or sensory decline may be affecting how safe and comfortable they feel.

Facial Expression and Posture

Pain can change the way your pet holds their face and body.

Possible signs include:

• Squinting or tightly closed eyes

• Flattened or backward-facing ears

• Tension around the muzzle

• A furrowed brow

• Dilated pupils

• A hunched or tucked-up posture

• An arched back

• Holding the head unusually low

• Guarding one area of the body

• Repeatedly shifting position

Cats experiencing pain may sit with their body tense, head lowered and legs tucked beneath them rather than curling up comfortably.

Unequal pupil size, persistent squinting or a suddenly closed eye requires urgent veterinary attention.

Changes in Movement and Mobility

Pain involving the joints, muscles, spine, paws or nervous system may cause:

• Limping or an uneven gait

• Stiffness after resting

• Difficulty standing or lying down

• Slower movement

• Reluctance to use stairs

• Hesitation before jumping

• Reduced exercise tolerance

• Slipping on smooth floors

• Sitting or lying in unusual positions

• Difficulty getting into the car

• Avoiding walks or stopping frequently

Cats with arthritis do not always limp. They may simply stop jumping onto furniture, sleep downstairs, miss the litter tray or choose lower resting areas.

Senior pets should not be assumed to be “just getting old”. Age is not a disease, and many age-related mobility changes are caused by treatable or manageable pain.

Changes in Appetite and Eating

Pain can reduce appetite or make eating physically difficult.

Watch for:

• Eating less or refusing food

• Approaching food but walking away

• Chewing slowly or on one side

• Dropping food from the mouth

• Pawing at the face

• Difficulty opening the mouth

• Excessive drooling

• Bad breath

• Crying while chewing

• Preferring soft food over biscuits

These signs may indicate dental disease, a fractured tooth, mouth inflammation, jaw pain, nausea or another medical problem.

A cat that stops eating should be assessed promptly. Prolonged food refusal can cause serious complications.

Grooming and Physical Appearance

Pain frequently affects grooming behaviour.

Possible changes include:

• A greasy, dull or matted coat

• Reduced grooming, especially over the back or hindquarters

• Excessive licking of one joint, paw or body area

• Chewing or biting at the skin

• Hair loss caused by repeated licking

• Stains around the eyes or mouth

• Sudden weight loss

• Muscle loss, particularly over the spine or hind legs

Excessive licking does not always mean a skin allergy. It may be your pet’s attempt to soothe an uncomfortable area.

Vocalisation and Breathing Changes

Some pets become more vocal when they are uncomfortable, while others become unusually quiet.

Signs may include:

• Whining or whimpering

• Yowling or persistent meowing

• Growling or hissing

• Crying when moving or being touched

• Repeated barking or howling

• Groaning when lying down

• Panting when the environment is not hot

• Rapid or shallow breathing

• Trembling

Panting can be caused by pain, anxiety, heat, respiratory disease or other medical problems. Breathing difficulty should always be treated as an emergency.

Changes in Bathroom Habits

Pain can affect whether, where and how comfortably a pet urinates or defecates.

Watch for:

• House-soiling in a previously trained dog

• Urinating or defecating beside the litter tray

• Difficulty climbing into a high-sided litter tray

• Straining or vocalising

• Repeated visits to the litter tray

• Holding urine or faeces for longer than usual

• Constipation

• Urinating small amounts

• Licking around the genital area

Bathroom changes may be caused by arthritis, urinary disease, constipation, gastrointestinal pain or neurological problems.

Repeated straining without producing urine is an emergency, particularly in male cats.

Common Causes of Pain in Dogs and Cats

Pain can be acute, meaning it begins suddenly, or chronic, meaning it persists over time.

Common causes include:

• Arthritis and degenerative joint disease

• Dental disease

• Ear infections

• Eye injuries or ulcers

• Skin inflammation

• Trauma, fractures or wounds

• Spinal pain

• Urinary tract disease

• Gastrointestinal inflammation

• Pancreatitis

• Cancer

• Postoperative discomfort

• Neurological disease

Signs of pain can overlap with signs of anxiety, nausea, hormonal disease, cognitive decline and other conditions. A veterinary examination is needed to identify the underlying cause.

What to Do If You Suspect Pain

1. Observe Without Forcing Movement

Do not repeatedly press, bend or manipulate the painful area. Frightened or painful pets may bite or scratch even when they are normally gentle.

2. Record the Changes

Write down:

• When the signs began

• Whether they appeared suddenly or gradually

• Activities your pet now avoids

• Changes in appetite, sleep or bathroom habits

• Any recent falls, injuries, procedures or medication changes

3. Take Videos

Short videos of your pet walking, using stairs, jumping, eating or getting out of bed can be extremely useful. Some animals behave differently at the clinic because of excitement or adrenaline.

4. Restrict Strenuous Activity

Until your pet has been assessed, prevent running, jumping and rough play. Keep cats indoors and walk dogs on a lead for bathroom breaks.

5. Contact Your Veterinarian

Your veterinarian may recommend a physical examination, neurological or orthopaedic assessment, dental examination, blood tests, urine testing or diagnostic imaging.

Never Give Human Pain Medication Without Veterinary Direction

Do not give ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, paracetamol or acetaminophen unless a veterinarian has specifically prescribed it for your pet.

Human pain medicines can cause stomach ulcers, kidney damage, liver failure and potentially fatal poisoning. Cats are particularly vulnerable to paracetamol toxicity.

If your pet has accidentally swallowed medication, contact a veterinarian or animal poison service immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear. The US Food and Drug Administration also recommends that pain medication for pets be used only under veterinary guidance.

How Veterinarians Assess and Treat Pain

Pain assessment may include:

• Observing posture, movement and facial expression

• Examining joints, muscles, spine, mouth and abdomen

• Comparing current behaviour with your pet’s normal routine

• Using validated pain-scoring tools

• Reviewing videos and observations from home

• Performing diagnostic tests when necessary

Treatment depends on the cause and may involve medication, surgery, dental treatment, weight management, rehabilitation, environmental adjustments or other supportive therapies.

Modern pain control is often multimodal, meaning several compatible strategies are combined to improve comfort while reducing reliance on any single treatment. Current AAHA pain-management guidelines emphasise regular assessment, individualised treatment and ongoing monitoring.

Helping a Painful Pet at Home

Depending on your veterinarian’s recommendations, supportive changes may include:

• Providing thick, supportive bedding

• Placing non-slip mats on smooth floors

• Using ramps or steps near furniture

• Switching to a low-sided litter tray

• Keeping food, water and toilets within easy reach

• Raising or adjusting bowls when appropriate

• Maintaining a healthy body weight

• Following medication instructions carefully

• Attending scheduled reassessments

Never change the dose or stop prescribed pain medication without speaking to your veterinarian.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming reduced activity is simply old age

• Waiting for a pet to cry before taking pain seriously

• Punishing growling, hiding or house-soiling

• Forcing a painful pet to exercise

• Giving leftover medication from another pet

• Using human painkillers

• Stopping medication because your pet appears better

• Missing veterinary rechecks

Pain can fluctuate. A good day does not necessarily mean the underlying condition has resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a pet still eat if they are in pain?

Yes. Some animals continue eating despite significant pain. A normal appetite does not rule out discomfort.

Does tail wagging mean a dog is not painful?

No. Dogs may wag their tails when anxious, uncertain or seeking reassurance. Consider the complete body posture and behaviour.

Why is my cat not limping despite having arthritis?

Arthritis commonly affects several joints at once. Cats may adapt by moving less, jumping lower or changing their routine rather than developing an obvious limp.

Can pain cause aggression?

Yes. Pain can make a pet feel vulnerable and defensive. Sudden aggression should prompt a medical assessment before it is treated purely as a behavioural problem.

Can pain cause house-soiling?

Yes. Arthritis, spinal pain, urinary disease, constipation and gastrointestinal discomfort may all contribute to accidents or litter tray avoidance.

How can I monitor chronic pain?

Keep a weekly record of mobility, appetite, grooming, sleep, play and social interaction. Videos taken in the same location can help reveal gradual changes.

Get Personalised Support Through ASK A VET™

Unsure whether your pet’s behaviour could indicate pain or how urgently they need care? The ASK A VET™ app can help you:

• Speak with a veterinary professional

• Share photographs and videos of concerning behaviour

• Track mobility, appetite and activity changes

• Organise your pet’s health records

• Prepare the right information for an in-person appointment

• Develop a personalised monitoring and supportive-care plan

ASK A VET™ does not replace emergency examination or hands-on veterinary care. If your pet is struggling to breathe, unable to urinate, collapsed or experiencing severe pain, contact an emergency veterinary clinic immediately.

Visit AskAVet.com or download the ASK A VET™ app for veterinary guidance when you need help deciding what to do next.

Final Thoughts

Dogs and cats may not speak, but they are constantly communicating. Changes in personality, movement, appetite, grooming and routine may be their way of showing that something hurts.

Trust your knowledge of your pet. If something feels wrong, record what you are seeing and contact your veterinarian. Early recognition and effective pain management can mean less suffering, faster recovery and more comfortable years together.