Foundations: Understanding Pain in Dogs Pain is not simply a sore paw or an “ouch” moment – it’s a complex experience involving sensory input, emotional processing, and behavioural expression. Because dogs can’t verbalise pain, it often lurks under the surface, disguised in subtle ways. Professor Daniel Mills (University of Lincoln) has highlighted in several studies that pain is a major but under-recognised contributor to behavioural problems. In one review, nearly a quarter of behavioural referral cases involved pain as a key factor. In others, the percentage was even higher. Mills argues strongly for a “pain-first” mindset: if a behaviour change could be …
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Foundations: Understanding Pain in Dogs Pain is not simply a sore paw or an “ouch” moment – it’s a complex experience involving sensory input, emotional processing, and behavioural expression. Because dogs can’t verbalise pain, it often lurks under the surface, disguised in subtle ways. Professor Daniel Mills (University of Lincoln) has highlighted in several studies that pain is a major but under-recognised contributor to behavioural problems. In one review, nearly a quarter of behavioural referral cases involved pain as a key factor. In others, the percentage was even higher. Mills argues strongly for a “pain-first” mindset: if a behaviour change could be …