Will my pet cry out if they're in pain?

Vocalising (whimpering, yelping, persistent yowling) is a sign of pain, but its absence does not mean the absence of suffering. Many animals, especially cats, suffer in silence. Behavioural signs — withdrawal, altered posture, appetite loss — are often more reliable indicators than sounds.

How do I distinguish normal ageing slowdown from pain?

This is a genuinely difficult distinction, and the two often coexist. Age-related slowing down shows as general lower energy without sudden behavioural changes or particular postures. Pain tends to signal itself through sudden shifts: refusal to be touched in a specific area, hesitation before climbing or descending, an evasive gaze or a prostrate posture. When in doubt, a vet can help you tell the difference objectively.

My cat hides a lot — does that mean they're in pain?

Not necessarily always. Cats hide when stressed or simply when they want solitude. But a cat withdrawing in an unusually persistent way, refusing all interaction and only emerging for basic needs — that is a signal worth taking seriously. Combined with other changes (appetite, posture, grooming), it warrants veterinary evaluation.

My dog is panting a lot — is that pain?

Panting can have several causes: heat, excitement, anxiety, pain. What distinguishes pain-related panting is often the context: at rest, in a cool environment, with no obvious reason for arousal. If it is combined with other signs (restless shifting, tense expression, refusal to move), contact your vet.

When should I go to an emergency vet?

Emergency situations: laboured or very rapid breathing, a visibly swollen abdomen (especially in dogs — potential bloat), sudden inability to walk or stand, repeated vomiting or blood in stools, loss of consciousness or seizures, dragging limbs. These require immediate veterinary attention without delay.

What pain assessment tools do vets use?

Vets use several validated tools. For cats: the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS), which assesses five facial action units (ear position, orbital tightening, whisker change, nose/cheek flattening, head position). For dogs: the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) and the Colorado State University Pain Scale. Describing precisely what you observed at home helps the vet calibrate their assessment.

My pet seems better on some days — is that a good sign?

Alternating good and bad days is characteristic of many chronic painful conditions. Good days do not mean the pain has gone — they may simply reflect a day when inflammation is slightly less severe or your pet has had adequate rest. Documenting the pattern over several days gives your vet much more useful information than a single observation.

What can I do at home while waiting for the appointment?

Limit physical demands (no intense play, no jumping). Make sure your pet is in a comfortable, warm spot. Do not administer any human medication without veterinary advice. Note precisely what you have observed — when signs started, their frequency, the circumstances — so you can describe them accurately to your vet.

End of life

How to recognise a pet is suffering: signs to watch for

Published on 22 April 20266 min read

Your pet cannot tell you they are in pain. That may seem obvious stated plainly, but it is a lot less obvious when you watch them every day, when changes are gradual, when you have learned to interpret a hundred different versions of "normal".

Learning to recognise pain in an animal is not an innate ability — it is something developed by understanding how animals express it and knowing what to look for.

Why animals hide their pain

Dogs and cats evolved in environments where showing vulnerability had consequences. A limping wild cat is easier prey; concealing the limp is adaptive. A dog that cannot keep up with the pack risks exclusion. These ancestral instincts persist in domestic animals: they have a natural tendency to minimise or mask signs of suffering, particularly around strangers.

This means your pet can be suffering significantly while appearing "fine" at first glance. And some signals that catch your attention are not exaggerations — they are signs that something has already crossed a certain threshold of tolerance.

General signs across species

Changes in eating habits. A pet that has eaten eagerly throughout their life and suddenly starts ignoring their bowl, eating more slowly, or leaving food behind is signalling something. Oral pain (teeth, gums) is one of the most common causes of appetite loss in pets and one of the most under-diagnosed.

Postural and movement changes. Reluctance to climb stairs, to jump onto the sofa, to get up or lie down. Hunched back, lowered head, front legs set wide apart (often seen in abdominal pain). These postural compensations are the animal adopting the position that minimises discomfort.

Withdrawal and hiding. A pet that hides more than usual, avoids normal interactions, refuses touch where they used to seek it, or chooses unusual resting spots — this is often an animal trying to protect themselves from contact that might worsen the pain.

Grooming changes. A cat that stops grooming (ruffled, matted coat) is suffering or physically unable to maintain themselves. Conversely, excessive licking of a specific area usually indicates localised pain or irritation in that spot.

Accidents indoors. A house-trained pet that starts toileting indoors is not regressing — they are frequently indicating pain (toileting has become painful, or they cannot make it in time), cognitive decline, or an underlying illness. This behaviour always warrants veterinary evaluation.

Mood and temperament shifts. A normally placid animal that growls or snaps when approached from a certain angle. A normally playful animal that becomes flat and unresponsive. Unusual aggression or withdrawal are frequently expressions of pain.

In dogs: species-specific signals

Dogs communicate pain more visibly than cats, but not always in obvious ways.

Panting at rest is one of the most important signals. A dog panting in a cool room without having exercised is often signalling pain, significant anxiety, or respiratory distress. Combined with a tense posture, it should not be dismissed.

Restless shifting and inability to settle are characteristic of abdominal or back pain. The dog lies down, gets up, changes position, lies down again — unable to find a comfortable posture.

Trembling or shivering at rest — particularly when it does not coincide with cold or strong emotion — is a common pain signal, especially in cases of severe muscular or joint pain.

Altered gait can be subtle: a slight favouring of one leg, refusal to weight-bear on a paw, a head-bobbing movement as the dog walks (the classic bobbing of a limping animal). Even mild changes are worth reporting to your vet.

In cats: even more subtle signals

Cats are the masters of pain concealment. Research has shown that even experienced vets sometimes underassessed pain in cats before the development of standardised grimace scales.

The Feline Grimace Scale is now the reference tool: it assesses five facial action units — ear position and tension, orbital tightening (partially closed or squinted eyes), whisker change (flattened or pulled back), nose/cheek flattening, and head position (lowered, slightly tucked in). A cat scoring on several of these facial indicators is very likely in pain.

The "loaf" position (hunched back, paws tucked under, half-closed eyes) is often a sign of abdominal pain in cats, particularly pancreatitis or intestinal discomfort.

Whiskers flattened backward (instead of pointing forward) and ears slightly flattened and rotated outward are tension signals that few owners spot spontaneously but which are reliable indicators.

A sudden stop in purring in a cat that habitually purred, or conversely continuous unusual purring with no social context (some cats purr as a self-soothing mechanism in the face of pain), both deserve attention.

When to go to an emergency vet immediately

Some signals require immediate veterinary attention without waiting:

Very rapid or laboured breathing, blue-tinged tongue or gums
Visibly swollen abdomen (gastric dilation-volvulus in dogs — a life-threatening emergency)
Sudden inability to walk or stand
Repeated vomiting, blood in stools or vomit
Seizures or loss of consciousness
Dragging limbs or partial paralysis

These can indicate medical emergencies where hours matter.

How vets assess pain

Vets have standardised tools to objectify pain you cannot always quantify by eye.

For cats: the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS), developed by the University of Montreal, evaluates pain using five facial action units, each scored 0–2. A score of 4 or higher indicates moderate to severe pain.

For dogs: the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) is the most validated tool; it assesses both pain intensity and how much pain interferes with daily function (walking, playing, mood). The Colorado State University Feline/Canine Pain Scale is also widely used in clinical settings for rapid assessments.

Describing precisely what you observed at home — when signs started, how often, in what context — helps your vet calibrate their assessment and choose the most relevant tests.

What to do while waiting for the appointment

If you observe concerning signs but the situation does not yet warrant an emergency visit, here is what you can do in the meantime:

Limit physical demands: no intense play, no jumping, avoid repeated contact on identified sensitive areas.

Document your observations precisely: time of onset, duration, context, frequency. A few days of notes is often more useful to your vet than a description from memory.

Do not give human pain medications: the impulse to reach for your own pain relief is understandable but can be dangerous or fatal. Wait for veterinary advice.

If you are watching a build-up of concerning signs in an older or ill animal, our article on pet euthanasia: how to know when it's the right time can help you think through next steps.

When you're ready, Animal Paradise lets you create a memorial page for your companion. Create a memorial

Frequently asked questions

Will my pet cry out if they're in pain?: Vocalising (whimpering, yelping, persistent yowling) is a sign of pain, but its absence does not mean the absence of suffering. Many animals, especially cats, suffer in silence. Behavioural signs — withdrawal, altered posture, appetite loss — are often more reliable indicators than sounds.
How do I distinguish normal ageing slowdown from pain?: This is a genuinely difficult distinction, and the two often coexist. Age-related slowing down shows as general lower energy without sudden behavioural changes or particular postures. Pain tends to signal itself through sudden shifts: refusal to be touched in a specific area, hesitation before climbing or descending, an evasive gaze or a prostrate posture. When in doubt, a vet can help you tell the difference objectively.
My cat hides a lot — does that mean they're in pain?: Not necessarily always. Cats hide when stressed or simply when they want solitude. But a cat withdrawing in an unusually persistent way, refusing all interaction and only emerging for basic needs — that is a signal worth taking seriously. Combined with other changes (appetite, posture, grooming), it warrants veterinary evaluation.
My dog is panting a lot — is that pain?: Panting can have several causes: heat, excitement, anxiety, pain. What distinguishes pain-related panting is often the context: at rest, in a cool environment, with no obvious reason for arousal. If it is combined with other signs (restless shifting, tense expression, refusal to move), contact your vet.
When should I go to an emergency vet?: Emergency situations: laboured or very rapid breathing, a visibly swollen abdomen (especially in dogs — potential bloat), sudden inability to walk or stand, repeated vomiting or blood in stools, loss of consciousness or seizures, dragging limbs. These require immediate veterinary attention without delay.
What pain assessment tools do vets use?: Vets use several validated tools. For cats: the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS), which assesses five facial action units (ear position, orbital tightening, whisker change, nose/cheek flattening, head position). For dogs: the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) and the Colorado State University Pain Scale. Describing precisely what you observed at home helps the vet calibrate their assessment.
My pet seems better on some days — is that a good sign?: Alternating good and bad days is characteristic of many chronic painful conditions. Good days do not mean the pain has gone — they may simply reflect a day when inflammation is slightly less severe or your pet has had adequate rest. Documenting the pattern over several days gives your vet much more useful information than a single observation.
What can I do at home while waiting for the appointment?: Limit physical demands (no intense play, no jumping). Make sure your pet is in a comfortable, warm spot. Do not administer any human medication without veterinary advice. Note precisely what you have observed — when signs started, their frequency, the circumstances — so you can describe them accurately to your vet.

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