I know there is nothing worse than seeing your dog in pain, but sometimes its really hard to tell.

I know there is nothing worse than seeing your dog in pain, but sometimes its really hard to tell.

It's not like the dog is going to run up to you and to tell you, so you are going to have to be a little more focused and pay attention to the warning signs.

What makes it really difficult is that most pains that dogs have, aren't sharp, stinging pains that will make him cry. The majority are slow, nagging pains.

The best way to compare it is, if you look at a human. Humans get all kinds of nagging pains. They get arthritis, headaches, backaches, earaches, etc...

Now, by looking at a person, could you tell if they had any of those problems? Probably not, unless it was really severe. I wouldn't presume to know how you can spot somebody having a headache :)

So, you can see where the problem lies with knowing if your dog is in pain. This is when you have to notice for odd behavior.

One such way to do this, is to sit down to pet your dog. Notice if he winces in any of the areas that you pet him. Sometimes, if he is really sensitive, he might even snap at you.

Obviously, then you know something is wrong. DON'T get mad at him for snapping at you. It would be the equivalent of somebody having a backache, and you coming up behind him and patting him right on the back.

The person might snap at you. Obviously, though you didn't know. It's all about spotting the actions and demeanor. Do some kind of activity that he always loves.

Fetch, play with toys, etc... If you notice the dog giving you a distant response, something might be the matter. Keep an eye on erratic behavior.

However, there are some obvious examples that your dog is in pain, such as limping, listless energy, scratching uncontrollably, running around in circles, just to name a few.

You should obviously check with your vet, if you notice any of these signs, and get him checked out.