10 Signs Your Dog Is in Pain (and What to Do About It)

Dogs are not stoic — they are evolutionarily wired to hide pain because showing weakness in the wild made them a target. That instinct is still intact in your Labrador on the couch. By the time a dog is obviously limping or crying, they have usually been uncomfortable for a while.

Here are the ten signs to actually watch for, and what to do about each.

1. Changes in posture and gait

A dog in pain often stands differently. Watch for:

• Hunched back
• Head held low
• Weight shifted off one leg
• Stiff, short-strided walking
• "Bunny-hopping" with the back legs

Short videos of your dog walking — taken weekly — make slow changes much easier to spot.

2. Reluctance to do normal things

Skipping the couch. Hesitating before jumping in the car. Slowing down on walks. Refusing stairs. Each of these is a data point. One might be nothing. Three together is a pattern worth investigating.

3. Slow to rise or lie down

If your dog pauses, shifts, and lowers themselves carefully instead of flopping down, that is often joint or back pain. The getting-up side of the equation is even more revealing — stiff first steps that work out after a minute are a classic early arthritis signal.

4. Licking one specific spot

Dogs lick painful joints. Not all day, and not dramatically — often just a few extra licks on the same elbow or hock. A worn or saliva-stained patch of fur is worth showing your vet.

5. Changes in appetite

A dog whose appetite drops for more than a day or two is telling you something. It is rarely pain alone — pain plus nausea, pain plus anxiety, or pain plus illness — but it is always worth taking seriously.

6. Changes in sleep or restlessness

Panting at night. Getting up repeatedly to reposition. Inability to settle. These are some of the most reliable indicators of chronic discomfort, and often the first things owners notice — though they rarely connect them to pain initially.

7. Irritability or withdrawal

A normally social dog who is suddenly snappy when touched in a particular spot, or who retreats to sleep alone, may be in pain. The personality change is not a behavior problem; it is communication.

8. Changes in facial expression

Researchers have validated canine pain scales based on facial expression:

• Tense forehead or brow
• Squinted or half-closed eyes
• Ears pinned back
• Pulled-back lip corners
• "Hard" stare

Once you start watching for these, you will see them.

9. Vocalization (but less often than you think)

Whimpering, grunting when lying down, or sharp yelps when touched are pain signals — but they are late signals. Many chronically painful dogs never vocalize at all. Do not wait for sound.

10. Subtle personality shifts

The catch-all category. "Just not herself." Less play. Less engagement. Lower tail carriage. Slower response to cues they know well. Trust this instinct — owners are almost always right when they sense something is off.

What to do next

Step 1: Start a pain log

Write down what you are seeing, when, and in what context. Include weekly videos. Two to three weeks of data is gold at a vet visit.

Step 2: Book a vet visit

Be specific: "I think she is in pain and here is what I have been seeing." A good vet will do a hands-on orthopedic exam, check range of motion, and order X-rays if appropriate.

Step 3: Do not self-medicate with human drugs

Never give your dog ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, or aspirin without direct veterinary guidance. Some are toxic; others have narrow safety margins in dogs.

Step 4: Consider the full pain toolkit

Depending on the diagnosis, that may include prescription pain medication, weight management-and-management), controlled exercise, joint supplements, physical therapy, and natural options like CBD. Explore natural CBD options for dog pain at bestcbdforpets.com for vet-informed reviews and dosing guides. Brands like HolistaPet formulate CBD specifically for dogs with joint pain, combining it with glucosamine and turmeric for targeted relief.

Step 5: Re-evaluate

Pain management is iterative. What works for six months may need adjusting. Regular rechecks — even when things seem okay — catch problems early.

A final thought

The owners who are hardest on themselves for "not noticing sooner" are usually the ones who did notice and started asking questions. Dogs are good at hiding it. You are not a bad owner because your dog masked pain for weeks. You are a good owner because you are paying attention now.

Related reading: Arthritis in older dogs · Hip dysplasia · Post-surgery recovery-recovery-for-dogs-a-gentle-roadmap) · Explore natural CBD options for dog pain at bestcbdforpets.com.