• Stepping on sharp objects such as rocks, glass, or metal
• Objects stuck in the ears or paws such as thorns, barbs, or splinters
• Injury from other animals such as bites, stings, or scratches
• Muscular or ligament injury from overexertion or hyperextension 
• Injury from man-made objects such as cars, fences, or tools

Aging

Aging is a part of life for both people and pets, but that doesn’t mean it’s always pleasant–and pain can be an unavoidable part of our pet’s aging process. As their ligaments, muscles, and joints weaken after years of activity, our pets may find themselves experiencing pain or discomfort in new ways. They may experience pain more often when:

• Running
• Jumping 
• Climbing
• Lying down 
• Standing up
• Playing 

Illness

When your pet is under the weather, they may not feel comfortable. Stomach issues can cause cramping and abdominal pain. Influenza–also called “canine flu”– can cause muscle aches and joint pain from inflammation. If your dog is sick from exposure to a parasite, any of the symptoms above could be causing them pain. Ear infections can also be excruciatingly painful–causing pressure, throbbing, and itchiness–and cause long-term damage if left untreated.

Dental Problems

Your pet’s teeth are one of the more complex causes of pain to identify. Tooth pain can be caused by abnormal growth, infection, gum disease, or structural damage (e.g., a cracked tooth). If your dog whimpers while chewing or seems to be avoiding meals, these behaviors could point to dental pain. Infected teeth if left untreated can lead to the formation of painful abscesses that often require surgical treatment.

Not all pain is felt the same way by your pet. Pain can happen anywhere in your pet’s body and in multiple places at once, making it difficult to identify the cause. The best way to approach pain management is with an awareness of how our pets experience pain and how it might manifest. 

Acute Pain 

Acute pain is pain that starts suddenly or without an obvious cause or has only been happening for a short time. Acute pain is the brain’s way of alerting your pet: “Stop! This area needs to be left alone while it heals.” It could also mean that an infection or illness is present and needs immediate attention. Acute pain may also be expected after certain procedures or surgery–but should be discussed with your vet for proper pain management. If the pain persists or gets worse, it must be addressed. 

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is pain that is predictable or ongoing for your pet. If your pet suffers from chronic pain, they’ll likely have lower energy levels and their mood may be affected on a long-term basis. Many senior pets are plagued by chronic pain most commonly due to age-related deterioration in the joints and muscles.

Emotional Pain 

Sometimes your pet’s pain won’t be associated with any bodily injury. It might come on suddenly or happen over time. Your pet’s emotional pain may take shape as stress, anxiety, fear, or depression. Dogs and cats experience emotional pain for a variety of reasons: 

One of our most important jobs as pet parents is to keep our pets safe and happy. This includes helping them with pain management by supporting nose-to-tail care for long-term health. Here are a few ways to keep your pet pain-free according to the experts:

Make note of symptoms

Is your dog in pain? Your pet’s pain tolerance and severity might fluctuate, but you’ll want to keep an eye out for worsening or long-lasting symptoms. Pain symptoms that seem to worsen or last longer than 24 hours should be reported to your vet.

Always be gentle

Use a tender touch when inspecting your pet’s painful spots. Handling areas that seem sensitive can cause further damage, so pay close attention to how (and where) your pet responds to your touch.

Support your aging pet

Senior pets–over the age of 7 years–can benefit from supplemental nutrients for their overall health. Decreased mobility can be a source of pain for aging pets, so using a hip and joint supplement can help support a more active lifestyle (also good for their health). Daily supplements that support mobility can help pets at any age to support joint comfort as they play all day.

Avoid stressors

While emotional pain may not seem as urgent as physical pain, it should still be addressed with the same level of care. Make note of places, people, or other stressors that trigger your pet’s distress–and avoid them whenever possible. If stressors can’t be avoided, support them with calming chews and lots of love and patience.

Scan your yard

For outdoor pets, hazards could be lurking right in their backyard! If your yard is shared with neighbors or used for alternate purposes like fix-it projects, it’s a good idea to regularly check for nails, sharp toys, and other hazardous debris.

Keep tabs on outdoor animals 

In addition to keeping outdoor areas safe, pet parents should also set up safe boundary zones. This is much easier to enforce with dogs than it is with cats who tend to roam wherever they please. For dogs, invest in fencing and always use leashes when on walks. For your outdoor cat, you could attach a small, lightweight GPS tracker to their collar to get a better idea of where they go–and how many risks there might be.

Seeing your pet in pain is always tough to see, but there are ways for you to help them through it. Keeping an eye on symptoms, areas of tenderness and other abnormal behaviors is the best foundation for a happier, pain-free pet!