Welcome to another pooch corner blog. Over the last few weeks, we have covered gait, posture, and ADLs, but I think “behaviour” is probably the most common area where guardians are aware of when behaviours change but rarely understand the potential causes behind it.
So without further ado, let’s look at behavioural changes, that may also be indicators of pain in your dog:
- Reluctance to be petted/groomed. Working with your groomer in this area is vital, they can give you valuable info on which areas of your dog are sore. Does your dog now avoid certain areas being touched or patted by you? Moves away, turns over? Refuses to come to you or shies away?
- Disinterested in life/isolating themselves /depressed. Do you feel your dog is feeling low? Not engaging with you or the family as much as before? Staying away and watching from a distance? Not getting up for the things they once enjoyed?
- Self-mutilation e.g. nibbling their hind area. Dogs will tend to nibble the areas that are causing them pain, removing fur and damaging skin. Also, see lick granuloma (see below).
- Lick Granuloma e.g. excessive licking of wrist. This starts a cycle of trauma, inflammation, infection and pain. Starts as a ‘hot spot’, a red wet irritated area. N.B. The causes can be multiple and both psychological & physical.
- Snapping when touched or towel dried. Your dog is trying to tell you they don’t want to be handled in any way / in that area. Do they whip their head around when you dry their paws?
- Snapping at other dogs as a pre-warning for them to stay away. My old girl Lucy was very good at gently telling other dogs she met she was sore. She would first turn her hind area away (she had hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis) and bark. If they did not get the message the bark would get more insistent and she would eventually snap if they did not stop. We had usually stepped in at this point and managed the contact so she would not get injured or anxious, however. Another bugbear of mine – is that some owners are not very good at seeing when their dog is upsetting/pestering/hassling another dog!!! Not all dogs are good at manners and socialisation – they’re not born with them – they have to learn. And by that, I mean dog-to-dog socialisation and manners. Not the human interpretation of either!
- Anxiety. Does your dog seem more anxious than normal? Not settling? This could occur in any situation but especially think about times/places that once they were ok with.
- Frequent rolling on back. This can be a self-soothing technique for your dog – like we would rub out a knock, a knot, or a wound or trauma to a certain area. Also, think of constant stretching. Are they always stretching out the forelimbs but not the hinds? Or vice versa? This is something I do. I have painful quads at the moment (the large muscle at the front of your thighs) and I am constantly stretching them out to get some sort of relief.
Now we are in week four we can see how the indicators from previous principles are all linked and how important it is to look out for normal vs not normal for your dog. Listen to your gut. Gut instinct is a valuable tool and one we humans need to trust more. I ‘know’ when LJ is not herself and this is where I then review what’s happened to her/us as a family to see if there is a root cause. Did I see her jump into the ditch awkwardly? Did she jump off the sofa and slide on the mat?
Part of the consultation process during a Clinical Canine Massage Therapy session is we discuss your dog’s health & medical history. Especially any incidents that occurred when they were still growing, i.e. before the growth plates of their bones closed fully. If a puppy injures themselves as they are growing this could have potential long-term health implications. Hence the reason why walks/exercise is limited as they grow and mental stimulation is encouraged. So the history of your dog’s body helps us to piece together what’s happened to the body – what’s norm vs not norm!
Usual disclaimer – these indicators of pain act as a guide only. They are to help you identify symptoms of musculoskeletal conditions that could be treated by Clinical Canine Massage but it is important to remember that some of these symptoms may cross over with other diseases/issues that are not of musculoskeletal origin. Therefore, it is really important to seek a diagnosis from a vet – as Clinical Canine Massage Therapists do not diagnose.
Finally – What’s our mantra?
Preventative not reactive – I hear you shout – awesome thank you – I’m so pleased you are listening.
Namaste
Lou xx