09/05/2026
🐾 ANIMAL PAIN AWARENESS MONTH 🐾
September is Animal Pain Awareness Month, and one of the most important things we can learn as pet owners is that animals don't always show pain the way we expect them to.
Dogs and cats are experts at hiding discomfort. An animal doesn't have to cry, whimper, or limp to be in pain. Sometimes the signs are subtle changes in their normal behavior.
🚩 SIGNS YOUR PET MAY BE IN PAIN
Watch for changes such as:
🐶 Changes in behavior
• Becoming unusually quiet, withdrawn, anxious, or irritable
• Hiding or avoiding interaction
• Becoming unusually clingy
• Growling, snapping, or reacting differently when touched
• Restlessness or difficulty getting comfortable
🍽️ Changes in eating or drinking
• Eating less or refusing food
• Drinking more or less than normal
• Dropping food while eating
• Difficulty chewing
🚶 Changes in movement
• Limping or favoring a leg
• Reluctance to walk, run, jump, or climb stairs
• Difficulty getting up or lying down
• Stiffness, especially after resting
• Moving more slowly than usual
• Walking differently or changing posture
😿 Changes in body language
• Trembling or shaking
• Hunched or unusual posture
• Flattened ears
• Excessive panting when it isn't hot or after exercise
• Resting in unusual positions
• Holding the head or body differently
• Frequently changing positions because they can't get comfortable
🧼 Changes in grooming or bathroom habits
• Excessive licking or chewing at one area
• Suddenly stopping normal grooming, especially in cats
• Having accidents in the house
• Straining to urinate or defecate
• Changes in how often they use the bathroom
🐱 Cats can be especially difficult to read
A cat in pain may simply stop doing the things they normally enjoy. They may hide more, stop jumping onto furniture, groom less, become less social, or suddenly become irritable.
Don't assume that a quiet pet is a comfortable pet.
❤️ Know what's normal for your animal.
The better you know your pet's normal behavior, movement, appetite, and personality, the easier it is to notice when something has changed.
If you notice a sudden or significant change in your pet, contact your veterinarian. Pain can be caused by injuries, dental disease, arthritis, illness, infections, and many other conditions. Finding the cause is important because treating the underlying problem is the best way to help your pet.
Never give your pet human pain medication unless your veterinarian specifically tells you to. Some medications that are safe for people can be extremely dangerous or even fatal to dogs and cats.
Your pet can't tell you, "I'm hurting."
It's up to us to learn their language. 🐾
