The Signs Your Senior Dog May Be Giving You That They Are Experiencing Discomfort or Pain
- Dawn Mimnaugh
- 44 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Senior dogs have a quiet way of communicating with us. They may not speak in words, but they tell us so much through their eyes, their posture, their movement, and the little changes in their routines. The challenge is that discomfort and pain do not always show up in obvious ways. Sometimes the signs are subtle. Sometimes they happen so gradually that you do not fully notice them until you stop and realize just how much has changed.
I have been working with rescue dogs for 26 years and exclusively with senior German Shepherds for 16 years through Woody’s Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary, where I am the primary caretaker. Over the years, I have cared for many aging dogs with arthritis, mobility issues, neurological conditions, chronic pain, old injuries, and the physical wear and tear that often comes with growing older. One of the biggest things this work has taught me is that pain in senior dogs does not always look dramatic.
A dog does not have to cry out or show a pronounced limp to be hurting.
In many cases, the signs are quieter than that. A dog may become more withdrawn. More hesitant. More restless. More cautious. They may simply seem different. And often, those changes are the very clues we need to pay attention to.
Why discomfort and pain in senior dogs are so often missed
Dogs are incredibly stoic. Many of them continue eating, wagging their tails, following us around, and trying to be part of daily life even when they do not feel well. That is one reason discomfort can be easy to miss.
Another reason is that people often mistake pain for normal aging.
Yes, senior dogs do slow down. Yes, they change with age. But not every change should be brushed off as just getting old. Sometimes what looks like slowing down is actually discomfort. Sometimes what looks like confusion is pain. Sometimes what looks like irritability is a dog trying to protect a body that hurts.
" I beat his ass because he snapped at me when I tried to help him up the stairs."
This is a direct quote from an individual who was talking with me about their older dog, who could not make it up a flight of wooden steps due to advanced age, arthritis, and mobility issues. As you can imagine...I was not happy with this.
Aging itself is not a disease. But with age comes a higher likelihood of arthritis, joint degeneration, spinal issues, dental disease, muscle loss, internal illness, and other conditions that can absolutely affect comfort and quality of life.
Signs your senior dog may be experiencing discomfort or pain
Slowing down more than usual
Most senior dogs slow down with age, but there is a difference between the natural slowing that comes with getting older and the slowing that comes from pain.
You may notice your dog taking longer to get up after resting. You may see stiffness when they first begin walking. Some dogs seem to loosen up after a few minutes, which I have often seen in dogs with arthritis. Others become less eager to follow you around the house, less enthusiastic about going outside, or less interested in walks they once enjoyed.
Difficulty getting up or lying down
This is one of the most common signs I see.
A dog who struggles to rise, braces themselves before standing, lowers themselves carefully to the floor, circles repeatedly before lying down, or keeps shifting positions may be telling you that movement is uncomfortable. Many senior dogs in pain have trouble getting truly comfortable, especially after activity or at night.
Limping or favoring one leg
Sometimes this is obvious. Sometimes it is very subtle.
You may notice a slight limp, uneven weight bearing, or a change in gait that is more noticeable after rest or in colder weather. In some dogs, the signs are easy to overlook because they compensate so well. They may not dramatically limp, but they are still moving differently because something hurts.
Hesitation with stairs, jumping, or getting into the car
If your dog used to handle stairs easily or jump into the car, onto the couch, or over small obstacles without thinking, and now hesitates or refuses, that matters.
This can be a sign of arthritis, hip pain, knee pain, spinal discomfort, or weakness related to pain and muscle loss. It is not laziness. In many cases, it is a dog trying to avoid moving because movement has become difficult or painful.
Restlessness or inability to settle
Pain does not always cause a dog to sleep more. Sometimes it does the opposite.
I have seen senior dogs who pace, get up and lie down repeatedly, move from one spot to another, or seem unable to settle, especially at night. They are not being difficult. They are trying to find a position that does not hurt.
Panting when they are not hot or exerting themselves
Panting can be a sign of pain, particularly when it happens at rest or in a cool environment.
If your senior dog is panting indoors without a clear reason, it should not be ignored. There can be several possible causes, including discomfort, and it is something worth discussing with your veterinarian.
Changes in mood or temperament
One of the quieter signs of pain is a change in personality.
A dog who is uncomfortable may become withdrawn, clingy, quieter than usual, less tolerant of touch, or even a little irritable. A dog who once loved affection may start moving away when touched in certain places. Some become more sensitive around other dogs because they do not want to be bumped or jostled.
When your dog seems unlike themselves, pay attention.
Less interest in walks, play, or daily routines
If your dog no longer wants to walk as far, seems less interested in going outside, loses interest in play, or no longer greets daily life with the same energy, pain may be part of the reason.
Too often, people assume this is simply what happens with age. Sometimes age is part of it, but discomfort is often a much bigger factor than many realize.
Repeated licking or chewing at one area
Dogs often focus on areas that hurt.
If your dog keeps licking a joint, leg, paw, hip, or another specific area, it may be a sign of pain or inflammation. While licking can happen for other reasons, too, repeated attention to one area is worth noting.
Changes in posture or the way they carry themselves
Posture can tell us a great deal.
A senior dog in discomfort may stand with increased body tension, shift weight to one side, hold their head lower, walk with shorter steps, or seem guarded in their movement. These changes are not always dramatic, but they often tell a story.
Muscle loss and weakness
Pain can contribute to muscle loss because dogs naturally avoid using injured areas.
You may notice a weakening in the hind end, one leg looking thinner than the other, or a general loss of strength and stability. This can happen gradually, which makes it especially important to observe your dog over time.
Changes in appetite
Not all dogs in pain stop eating, but some do.
Pain can reduce appetite, slow eating, or make chewing uncomfortable. Dental pain is especially common in senior dogs and often goes unnoticed. If your dog is dropping food, avoiding harder treats, eating more slowly, or seeming reluctant at mealtime, discomfort may be at play.
Changes in sleep patterns
Some senior dogs sleep more because they are tired from carrying discomfort. Others sleep less because they cannot get comfortable.
You may notice more nighttime waking, more daytime fatigue, or unusual sleeping locations because your dog is trying to find relief.
Increased vocalization or unusual quietness
Some dogs whine, sigh, groan, or vocalize more when they are uncomfortable. Others become much quieter.
A dog who groans while lying down or getting up may be showing you that movement is painful. A dog who becomes unusually silent may also be communicating that something is wrong.
Accidents in the house
When an older dog begins having accidents, there can be several causes, but pain should absolutely be considered.
Sometimes getting outside on time is difficult because walking hurts. Sometimes squatting is uncomfortable. Sometimes the problem is not behavioral at all. It is physical.
Some of the more subtle signs I have personally seen
Over the years, some of the most meaningful signs I have seen in senior rescue dogs were not dramatic at all. They were the little things.
I have seen dogs stop circling before lying down because it had become too uncomfortable.
I have seen dogs hesitate at the edge of a slippery floor rather than cross it.
I have seen dogs still want to go outside, but avoid uneven terrain.
I have seen dogs who looked fine to other people, yet when you lived with them every day, you could tell they were becoming slower, stiffer, quieter, and more cautious.
This is why I always encourage people to trust what they are seeing.
If your dog seems different, there is a reason.
When you should take it seriously.
Sudden changes should always be taken seriously.
If your dog suddenly cannot get up, cries out, refuses food, begins panting excessively, becomes distressed, collapses, or has a rapid decline in mobility or behavior, seek veterinary attention right away.
But gradual changes matter too. Pain that comes on slowly is still pain. It still affects quality of life. And it still deserves care.
What you can do if your dog is experiencing pain
The first and most important thing you can do is get veterinary help. That always comes first. Your veterinarian can help identify the cause of your dog’s discomfort and guide you toward the safest and most appropriate treatment plan.
There are also many ways to support an older dog living with pain or discomfort. Depending on your dog’s condition, these may include:
• Orthopedic dog beds that better support aging joints
• Heating pads used safely in or near your dog’s bed area
• Laser therapy
• Acupuncture
• Hydrotherapy
• Short, frequent walks instead of long, strenuous ones
And of course, there is medication, which can be life-changing for many senior dogs when prescribed and monitored properly by a veterinarian. Some families also explore CBD oil as part of a broader support plan, and we have incorporated it here at the sanctuary. If you go this route, just be sure that it is a good product with third-party studies, because there's a lot of "snake oil" in a bottle out there claiming to be CBD oil.
For a list of our most used Palliative care products, click here:
To learn more about CBD oil for your dog, listen to this Life With Old Dogs podcast with our friends at Dr. Hempdog: https://www.wpsgss.org/lifewitholddogspodcast/episode/7c86fdca/dr-hempdog-how-this-product-can-help-your-older-german-shepherd-with-mobility-issues-and-anxiety
The most important thing to remember is that pain should never be dismissed simply because a dog is old.
There is so much we can do to help our senior dogs feel better, move more comfortably, sleep more peacefully, and enjoy a much better quality of life.
Call to Action
If you notice any of these signs in your senior dog, please do not ignore them. Trust your instincts, pay attention to the changes, and reach out to your veterinarian for guidance.
And if this post spoke to you, I would love for you to share it with another person who loves an old dog. So many people assume discomfort is just part of aging, when in reality, there may be ways to help.
Here at Life With Old Dogs, I am passionate about helping people better understand, care for, and advocate for their senior dogs. Be sure to subscribe, follow along, and share this post so together we can help more old dogs live with the comfort, dignity, and love they deserve.
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