Introduction
I’ll never forget the day when my lovely boy Tabasco was attacked. It was completely unprovoked. There were no warning signs at all. The attacking dog had hold of the fleshy end of Tabasco’s nose in a vice-like grip, and wasn’t letting go. Tabasco didn’t need to tell me he was in pain - the blood from his nose and his ear piercing screams were enough of an indication.
The following essay discusses how dogs ‘tell’ us they are ill or in pain, via both physical and behavioural indicators. In addition, it briefly touches on the effects that old age has on a dog’s behaviour. It also details how we can try to be more aware and take an active approach in preventing illness and disease in our selected dogs.
Physical symptoms of pain and illness
There are a number of physical symptoms of pain and illness that dog owners can identify. These can be the result of a direct physical attack or accident, or something more difficult to diagnose, for example, an allergic reaction to food or the digestion of a dangerous object. The following is a general (but by no means an exhaustive) list of physical symptoms of pain and illness in dogs.
- continuous vomiting
- very loose motions, mucous or blood in stool, or diarrhoea
- loss of blood
- limping or holding leg off the ground
- abnormal breathing, including wheezing, coughing or breathing faster than normal
- rise in body temperature, fever
- unusual, bad odour, including bad breath
- excessive moulting
- oily, flaky, dull hair/coat
- mucous, tears or discharge in the eyes
- wax in ears, chronic ear irritation
- fleas or mites
- sensitivity (to petting or handling)
- licking at paws, scratching face
- unconsciousness
- having a fit or seizure
Tabasco is steadily making his way through this list - cut and bleeding ear and paw pad, insect bite allergy, pollen allergy, seed stuck in ear - and we always seem to need to take a trip to the vets on a Sunday afternoon - which equals emergency vet, which equals expensive.
There are also other occasions when a physical symptom masks the real underlying disease or illness. My cousin’s border collie, Timmy, was showing signs of losing his eyesight. He developed very bad cataracts which had to be operated on. It was later discovered that the cataracts he suffered were in fact a symptom of canine diabetes, a disease which he now takes daily medication for.
Behavioural symptoms of pain and illness
The following is a list of some of the behavioural symptoms you may see in a dog if he is suffering from pain or an illness:
- lethargy, idleness, not wanting to get up
- lack of appetite, digestive problems
- signs of ‘depression’
- lack of patience or general irritability
- phobias (fear of people, loud noises, etc)
- strange behaviour, suspicion, fear
- more frequent barking
- whimpering, crying
In ‘The Dog’s Mind’, Bruce Fogel suggests an explanation for the state of a dog’s mind, and hence his behaviour, when he is ill. The lethargy, dullness and perceived ‘depression’, as mentioned above, could be the way that dogs use a behavioural strategy to fight disease. It may be a dog’s ‘first line of defence against disease...before his immune system has a chance to get into action’.(1)
As a response to infection, a rise in body temperature can be expected. A direct consequence of this is a lack of appetite. A dog will therefore tend to eat less as a result of his fever.
The affects of age-related illnesses, such as hearing and eyesight loss, the onset of arthritis and senility can all have an affect on a dog’s behaviour. A dog who has impaired hearing or eyesight may be more easily startled and may react in an abnormally aggressive way, or he may act suspiciously or fearfully because he is unable recognise certain people, places or objects. A dog living with the constant pain of arthritis may become aggressive, or may whimper or cry more due to the non-ceasing ache. Older dogs suffering from senility can become more impatient and irritable. Unfortunately too, older dogs may begin to suffer from separation anxiety, similar to young puppies, which can lead to excessive barking and destructive behaviour.
Prevention
While it may not be possible to forecast when your dog may succumb to a particular illness or disease, by finding out which illnesses/diseases your dog is most susceptible to could help reduce its severity, and possibly lead to its prevention. For example, I am aware that large breed, deep chested dogs (like my dog Tabasco) are susceptible to ‘bloat’ or ‘twisted stomach’. I know what to look out for should Tabasco exhibit the symptoms, and I am prepared to immediately take him to the vets if necessary.
It is also useful to perform regular physical checks on your dog while grooming him. That way you can watch out for potentially harmful lumps or bumps which require treatment before they get any worse.
If you are responsible for a dog in your care, I cannot stress how important I think it is to keep up with regular health checks, inoculations, worming and flea treatments. In my opinion, all dog owners should be prepared to deal with the cost of their dog’s health and well-being, in additional to their own. And this includes pet insurance. I would be severely more out of pocket without pet insurance, than I am with - regular specialist tests for Tabasco’s heart condition would have cost a small fortune had it not been for pet insurance.
Conclusion
We all have our own pain thresholds, and we all have our ways of dealing with pain and illness through our behaviours. Dogs are no exception. As dog owners, we have a responsibility to ensure our furry friends are given the best opportunity to live a healthy, and pain free long life. This can be accomplished by understanding the symptoms of pain - both physical and behavioural - knowing how certain illnesses and diseases in our dogs can be prevented, in the short and long term.
Works Cited
(1) The Dog’s Mind, ch.13, p.186 (Fogel, Bruce 1990)
Bibliography
Curly Coated Retriever (Mathis, Phillip 2001)
Introduction to Canine Psychology, Unit 4 workbook
The Dog’s Mind (Fogel, Bruce 1990)
The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme (Responsibility and Care Fact Sheet)
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