could your grumpy dog be painful? yes!

Grumpy Old Men - Grumpy Old Dogs = Often Painful

Pain can make us all grumpy. We know that, right? Have you ever snapped at your kids or your partner, and said, “ I am sorry, I have a headache or my back really hurts?”

Dogs often redirect their frustrations as well, to other dogs, to other people to objects like shoes or stuffed toys (those are emotionally healthier options, really, but don’t they get in trouble for destructive behaviors too?). Dogs, just like all animals, need a way to blow off steam.

We see a lot of painful and sometimes frustrated dogs in my practice, dogs who are:

1. Grumpy or aggressive with other dogs

2. Overly protective of their people

3. Grumpy with touch

We see a lot of painful and often fearful dogs in my practice. Consider for a moment what it is like to have pain and not know why, and then not be able to stop it. That is awful, we are so sorry to see you all going through this. It is sad to think our animals are hurting and we don’t know it, especially when they are trying to play.

Painful dogs are sometimes:

1. Hiding (Read the story about my patient Harper)

2. Fearful of strangers/noise/other dogs

3. Fearful of slick floors

4. Fearful of touch

How to know your active dog is physically uncomfortable:

1. Sit straight if asked?

2. Lay and stretch forward with the back legs tucked under in full flexion?

3. 3 legged stand for 10 seconds with good posture and strong core?

4. Do full stretch of the hips in an elevated stand?