MOBILITY & JOINTS

How to Tell If Your Dog Is in Pain and Hiding It

Last updated: September 21, 2026 · Written by Sam, Founder

A close-up of a dog's face showing a tense, uncomfortable expression

Dogs in pain may still wag and eat. Vets look for changes from normal: slower rising, less play, licking one spot, restlessness. Signs and when to call.

Short answer: Look for changes from your dog’s normal, not for crying or obvious limping. The 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines say dogs adjust their demeanor, posture and movement to minimize pain, and that eating less or being unusually calm can be subtle signs. The same guidelines put the prevalence of arthritis, the most common source of long-term pain, at close to 40% of dogs.

Dogs are remarkably good at carrying on despite pain, which means many owners don’t realize their dog is hurting until the discomfort has become significant. Recognizing the quieter signs earlier can make a real difference.

Why Is Pain So Easy to Miss in Dogs?

A common explanation is that dogs inherited a tendency to hide weakness from their wild ancestors. Whatever the reason, the practical problem is that pain rarely looks the way owners expect. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that a dog may still wag its tail and greet people despite being in pain.

Long-term pain is especially easy to miss because it creeps in. According to the AAHA guidelines, owners often notice changes but explain them away as aging and delay acting for months. In a 2024 study of dogs aged 8 months to 4 years, about 40% had arthritis on X-rays, owners had noticed signs of impairment in only about 30% of the dogs with painful arthritis, and just two of those dogs were receiving pain treatment (Enomoto et al., 2024).

A close-up portrait of a dog showing subtle facial tension — A tense face can be one clue, but changes in behavior and movement are more reliable.

What Signs of Pain Should You Watch For?

Area	What you might notice
Movement	Slower to rise, stiffness after rest, shorter stride, limping that comes and goes, hesitating at stairs or the car, sitting with a leg out to the side
Activity	Shorter walks, less play, lagging behind, sleeping more, or pacing and struggling to settle
Posture	Hunched back, head held low, weight shifted off one leg, reluctance to lie down or frequent position changes
Mood and behavior	Withdrawing, hiding, irritability or snapping when touched in one area, clinginess, or being unusually quiet
Appetite	Eating less or more slowly, dropping food, or reluctance to chew (a common sign of mouth pain)
Body care	Licking, chewing or rubbing one spot, or avoiding being groomed or picked up
Other	Trembling, panting at rest, whimpering, or a squinted, tense face

Merck’s list of pain signs covers much the same ground: eating less, wanting to stay still or trouble getting comfortable, restlessness, hiding or withdrawing, changes in mood, licking or biting a sensitive area, and irritability.

Can You Read Pain in a Dog’s Face?

Not reliably yet. Validated grimace scales exist for several species, including the Feline Grimace Scale for cats. But a 2021 review found no validated equivalent for dogs and noted that no research has yet linked specific canine facial features to pain intensity. Squinting, a tense brow or flattened ears are still worth noting, but treat them as one clue among several, not a test.

How Can You Check More Objectively at Home?

The AAHA guidelines point to free owner questionnaires designed for chronic pain, mainly arthritis. The best known are the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (11 questions) and the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs questionnaire (23 questions). Filling one in before a vet visit, and again a few weeks after treatment starts, turns vague impressions into scores you can compare.

Short videos help too. AAHA notes that vets can use owners’ videos and photos to discuss pain, which is useful because many dogs behave differently in the clinic. Film your dog getting up from its bed, walking on a leash, and going up and down stairs.

A dog's face showing a calm but slightly strained expression — Because dogs carry on despite pain, visible discomfort often means the issue has been present for a while.

Is It Pain or Something Else?

Some signs overlap with other conditions. Night-time restlessness and pacing in an older dog can be cognitive decline; see our guide to dog dementia signs. Panting can be heat, anxiety or breathing trouble. Your vet can sort these out, and the pain often turns out to be arthritis, dental disease, a back problem or an injury. Our guide to early signs of arthritis in dogs covers the most common cause in more detail.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Dog Is in Pain?

Write down what’s changed and when, and take a short video.
Book a vet visit for any change that lasts more than a day or two. Go the same day for severe or sudden signs.
Don’t give human pain medicine. The FDA warns that NSAIDs made for people may not be safe in dogs, and Pet Poison Helpline says as little as one 220 mg naproxen tablet can cause serious illness, even in a large dog. If your dog has swallowed any, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
Ask about the options. The FDA has approved several NSAIDs for dogs, including carprofen, deracoxib, firocoxib, grapiprant and meloxicam, and your vet may add weight loss, exercise changes or other treatments. Supplements play a smaller role; see whether joint supplements work for dogs.
Keep scoring. Repeat the questionnaire or video after treatment starts, so you and your vet can tell whether it’s working.

For an older dog, our quality of life checklist helps you track comfort over time. Cat owners face an even harder job spotting pain; see hidden arthritis in cats.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace guidance from your veterinarian.

Sources

American Animal Hospital Association — 2022 AAHA Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats, 2022
Merck Veterinary Manual — Recognizing and Assessing Pain in Animals, updated September 2025
Enomoto M et al., Scientific Reports — Prevalence of radiographic appendicular osteoarthritis and associated clinical signs in young dogs, February 2024
Mota-Rojas D et al., Animals — Current Advances in Assessment of Dog’s Emotions, Facial Expressions, and Their Use for Clinical Recognition of Pain, November 2021
U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Get the Facts about Pain Relievers for Pets, September 2022
Pet Poison Helpline — Naproxen

FAQ

Why don't dogs show pain more obviously?

Pain in dogs, especially long-term pain, mostly shows up as quiet changes in behavior rather than crying or limping. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that a dog may still wag its tail and greet people despite being in pain, and the AAHA pain guidelines say dogs adjust their posture and movement to minimize pain, so the signs are easy to explain away as age or mood.

What are the most reliable signs of pain in dogs?

A change from your dog's normal is the most reliable sign. That includes eating less, being quieter or more withdrawn, restlessness or trouble getting comfortable, licking one spot, irritability when touched, and changes in how the dog walks, sits, rises or uses stairs. The AAHA guidelines note that even inappetence and unusually calm behavior can be subtle signs of pain.

Can a dog's facial expression show pain?

Sometimes, but it's not a reliable tool for owners yet. A validated grimace scale exists for cats, but a 2021 review found no validated equivalent for dogs and no research linking specific facial features to pain intensity. Squinting, a tense face or flattened ears are still worth noting alongside changes in behavior and movement.

Should panting be considered a sign of pain in dogs?

Panting alone isn't a reliable sign, since dogs pant when warm, excited or anxious. Unusual panting at rest, especially with restlessness, reluctance to lie down or trembling, can be part of a pain picture and is worth mentioning to your vet.

What can I give my dog for pain at home?

Nothing without your vet's advice. Human pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen can cause stomach ulcers, kidney damage or liver damage in dogs; Pet Poison Helpline says as little as one 220 mg naproxen tablet can cause serious illness even in a large dog. Your vet can prescribe a dog-approved medicine if it's needed.

When is a dog in pain an emergency?

Go to a vet or emergency clinic right away if your dog can't stand or walk, cries out when touched, has pale gums, collapses, is in pain after an accident, or has swallowed a human medicine. For other signs that last more than a day or two, book a vet visit rather than waiting to see if they pass.