Top 5 Signs Your Pet Might Be in Pain (and What to Do About It)
As a loving pet owner, you want your companion to feel comfortable, active and happy. While it’s natural to think you’d notice if your pet were in pain, the truth is that the signs can often be subtle and easy to miss.
Pets don’t always show pain in ways we expect — and because they can’t tell us when something hurts, even small changes in behaviour or movement can go unnoticed. At Vetmed, we’re here to help you recognise the signs early and take action, because identifying pain sooner can make a real difference to your pet’s health and wellbeing.
The Top 5 Signs Your Pet Might Be in Pain
1. Changes in Movement or Mobility
Limping, stiffness, reluctance to jump up, or dragging a limb are all red flags. If your pet no longer bounds up the stairs or seems slow getting up after resting, they may be avoiding pain in their joints or muscles.
2. Altered Behaviour or Personality
Sometimes the clue is in how they act, not just how they move. A pet in pain may become withdrawn, less playful, avoid contact, or show signs of irritability or aggression. These changes in mood or behaviour may happen gradually.
3. Appetite, Grooming or Rest Pattern Changes
When pain enters the picture, eating, drinking or grooming can be affected. Your pet might skip meals, take longer at their bowl, lick or chew a particular spot or stop grooming altogether. They may also sleep more or lie in unusual positions to protect a sore area.
4. Vocalising, Panting or Breathing Differences
Dogs (and sometimes cats) may whine, whimper or give off unusual vocal sounds when in pain, especially during movement or when touched. Excessive panting (especially at rest), trembling, or irregular breathing can also be indicators of discomfort.
5. Hiding, Avoidance or Changes in Posture
Your pet may avoid being picked up, may retreat to a corner, or take up an unusual posture such as hunching their back, holding their head low, or tucking limbs under them. This is their way of protecting a painful area.
What You Can Do About It
When you notice any of these changes, you’re doing the right thing by paying attention. Here’s how you and your Vetmed team can work together:
Schedule a check-up sooner rather than later. The sooner we can examine your pet, the better we can pinpoint what’s going on. At Vetmed we’ll perform a careful physical exam, potentially followed by diagnostics like X-rays or blood testing to uncover the source of pain.
Document what you’ve observed. It helps if you can note when the behaviour started, what’s changed and maybe even take a short video of your pet in action. That gives your vet valuable insight.
Modify their routine and support comfort at home. While you await your appointment, gently reduce activities that seem to cause discomfort, provide soft bedding, easy access to water/food and help avoid exacerbation.
Discuss pain-management options. Modern veterinary care includes a wide range of treatments, from medications and joint supplements to physical therapy, laser therapy or behavioural support. Your Vetmed vet will help tailor the plan to your pet’s condition and lifestyle.
Stay vigilant and supportive. Pain can affect your pet emotionally and behaviourally as well as physically. Ensuring they feel safe, loved and calmly supported goes a long way.
The Vetmed Difference
At Vetmed, we believe identifying pain early is a key part of compassionate care. Our team of vets and nurses across our clinicsLindfield, Randwick, Forestville, and Northbridge are equipped with the experience and tools to diagnose and manage pain effectively. We’re not just treating symptoms, we’re working together with you to improve your pet’s quality of life.