“He’s not in pain, he’s just limping.”

I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve heard something along those lines during my years working in veterinary practice.

In fact, I even had my own brother ring me from interstate about his dog and tell me those very words!

My response was pretty much what I’ve said to countless clients over the years: “If he’s limping, then something is bothering him, and there’s a good chance it’s pain!”

It just goes to show that even after more than 30 years in veterinary nursing, I can still find myself having the same conversations with my own family!

But not all animals show discomfort through limping, crying or other obvious signs.

Sometimes it’s their behaviour that tells us something isn’t right.

Sometimes the signs are subtle

One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that animals don’t necessarily show pain in the ways we expect.

They don’t always cry, whimper or make a fuss. In fact, some animals can be remarkably good at hiding their discomfort.

Perhaps your dog has started licking one particular area of their body more frequently, or is constantly changing position and struggling to get comfortable.

Maybe your cat has stopped jumping onto their favourite chair, is grooming less, or has become less tolerant of being handled.

Even changes such as excessive scratching, lip licking, withdrawal or irritability can be worth investigating.

Of course, these behaviours don’t automatically mean an animal is in pain. There can be other explanations, including skin conditions, nausea, anxiety and environmental stress.

But a change in behaviour is a symptom, and it’s worth asking why.

Is it really just old age?

It’s easy to put changes down to ageing.

We often hear things like “He’s just getting old” or “She’s slowing down a bit.”

But as veterinary behaviour specialist Dr Kersti Seksel, whom I’ve long considered a mentor, has often said:

“Old age is not a disease.”

And it’s something I’ve always believed is important to remember.

An animal experiencing ongoing discomfort may become less confident, less interested in playing or interacting with others, or simply seem quieter than usual.

Sometimes these changes happen so gradually that we don’t notice them until we look back and realise just how much has changed.

Yes, our animals will change as they age, but that doesn’t mean we should automatically accept reduced activity, discomfort or changes in behaviour as an inevitable part of getting older.

There may be an underlying medical condition, reduced mobility or another health issue that could benefit from veterinary assessment and appropriate support.

The little changes matter

Just because an animal can still walk, eat, play or go about their daily routine doesn’t necessarily mean they’re comfortable.

Sometimes it’s the little changes that tell us the most.

So, if you’ve noticed your pet doing something differently, don’t be too quick to dismiss it.

It may be their way of telling you something isn’t quite right.

And recognising those changes early can make a real difference to their comfort, wellbeing and quality of life.

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