Study finds pet parents still miss subtle signs of canine pain

A new PLOS ONE study suggests pet parents may be no better than non-pet parents at recognizing subtle signs of pain in dogs, even though both groups readily identify more obvious cues like limping. In an online questionnaire of 530 dog owners and 117 non-dog owners, researchers at Utrecht University found that behaviors such as changes in personality, reduced play, and hesitant paw lifting were more often linked to pain than yawning, nose licking, or air sniffing, which participants were less likely to interpret as pain-related. In case scenarios, dog owners were slightly better at spotting overt pain tied to movement problems, but not subtle pain signs such as nighttime restlessness and “shadowing” family members. The authors argue that education on dog behavior should more explicitly address pain recognition. (research-portal.uu.nl)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the findings reinforce a familiar clinical problem: chronic pain, including osteoarthritis pain, often presents first as behavior change rather than clear lameness. Prior research in canine osteoarthritis has shown that early signs can include slower walks, reluctance to jump, reduced play, panting, or a changed demeanor, and AAHA pain management guidance emphasizes client education as part of routine pain assessment. That creates an opening for practices to use more structured history-taking, owner-completed tools such as the Canine Brief Pain Inventory, and clearer counseling around the everyday behaviors that may signal pain before disease is advanced. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: Expect more attention on client-facing pain checklists, earlier osteoarthritis screening, and communication tools that help pet parents distinguish stress, aging, and subtle pain behaviors. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)