Managing Pain in Your Senior Dog

Your dog may develop aches and pains from osteoarthritis, dental disease, cancer or other chronic diseases as he ages. In the wild, dogs will hide pain as a matter of survival since compromised animal is more likely to be considered prey. Thus your senior dog may get really good at hiding his pain. Look for increased whining or whimpering or limping, which are obvious signs of pain. Some signs are hard to identify as symptoms of pain. He may posture himself with pinned back ears or a hunched back. He may lick a part of the body repeatedly. He may have trouble eating or sleeping. Your dog may alternatively act quiet and then become restless or aggressive. This can be confusing but you can suspect a pain issue if your dog is acting out of character. If you notice any of these signs, make an appointment with your veterinarian Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for evaluation and treatment.