„Silent pain“ in dogs and how to recognize it

Owners of senior dogs (older than 7-10 years), who gave them VetHealth oil for some other ailment (allergies, for example), often remark: "He/she became livelier, running, playing, behaving as if reborn!"

We're thrilled to hear that, but there is a logical explanation!

At that age, most of our pets are starting to be considered seniors, although not all of them age at the same rate.

Of course, all dogs experience wear and tear during aging, just like us. Large dogs, unfortunately, tend to age faster and experience painful bone changes earlier than small breeds (provided that small breeds are not overweight, which is a topic we will also have to address).

Playing with friends, chasing a ball, running on the beach (or jumping on furniture and running around the garden), even a daily walk - in a certain period of life, all of it begins to cause the so-called "silent pain" and tension that accumulates in soft tissues over time.

Silent pain in soft tissues occurs primarily in the fascia (connective tissue). Professional working and sporting dogs and guide/therapy dogs are often the most affected, as their job causes additional stress and strain.

However, the truth is that, according to some experts, more than half of dogs suffer from silent pain that their owners are unaware of. And that is not all - silent pain is difficult to diagnose even in veterinary practice for one simple reason: most dogs in the waiting room at the vet (or already in the car/on the way to the veterinary clinic) feel the adrenaline rush that blocks their pain receptors!

Additionally, dogs are masters at hiding chronic pain because nature is cruel, and weakness is not something the animals want to show. Also, working, sporting, and hunting breeds tolerate pain better than others, so the underlying problem might be well-developed when they finally reveal the signs.

So, there are several reasons why dog owners and veterinarians often fail to notice silent pain, the main ones being:

• Silent pain develops slowly, gradually, over a long time. Subtle signs such as slow or less fluid movements or the absence of former enthusiasm for work or play are often attributed to normal aging.
• Dogs often do not want to vocalize their silent pain, even when it is severe. Most people expect the dog to whine in pain, but sometimes the pain is only manifested through increased panting, for example. Unless you know your dog is in pain, you might not associate panting with pain, let alone more subtle signs like smacking, turning the head away, looking sideways, and being reluctant to petting/avoiding the touch.
• Dogs have a strong instinct to hide pain or weakness because nature is sometimes cruel, and the pack may attack sick or injured members.
• Silent pain is soft tissue pain, invisible on X-ray, CT, magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound. Therefore, many veterinarians fail to diagnose it.
• The only way to accurately and consistently find silent pain in your dog's body is by your assessment - whether it becomes sensitive to touch (therefore they should be consciously touched with the aim of looking for the cause) or to make a video of the dog walking or running to be able to show to your vet.
• Hunting and working breeds and sporting dogs often have higher pain tolerance, so it is easy to overlook the subtle signs they send out. The first thing to pay attention to are changes in behavior, and even a seemingly minor behavior change can be the tip of a giant iceberg of silent pain.

Vital signs that indicate silent pain:

• Any feeling, clear or vague that something is wrong with your dog
• Any increase in your dog's reactivity or aggression
• Any decrease in playfulness/shortening of play/impatience with others/avoidance of play
• Trembling, excessive panting
• The look in the eyes that tells you 'I don't want/hesitate' to jump on the couch, bed, or in the car

This last one is crucial. If your dog is used to jumping on the couch, bed, or in the car and now seems to be asking for help - this is a clear sign of pain.

Another thing to pay attention to is:

• Changes in the way your dog moves and responds to your touch
• Any signs of slowness or stiffness when getting up and lying down
• Flickering or twitching of the skin under your hands when you pet your dog
• Warm or hot areas on the body
• Absence of regular stretching or noticeable and increased stretching
• Changes in body posture while moving and at rest (does he spare one leg when standing, is his back slightly bent, and how are his head and tail positioned?)
• Tremors in dogs that do not usually tremble - pay attention to which part of the body is shaking.

Unfortunately, some dogs do not show any of these indicators. Finding and treating silent pain in service dogs is real detective work.

When we see these dogs regain their mobility, they become happier, more playful, more active, and in the case of working dogs, better able to focus and do their job - no one is happier than us! Thanks to the absence of psychotropic substances in VetHealth oil, service dogs can take it daily without fear of unwanted side effects. But the pain is sometimes not (only) physical - psychological trauma and PTSD are far more common in professional working and service dogs because many work in stressful situations, which wears them out physically and mentally.

For instance, did you know that search and rescue dogs suffer from depression if a long time passes without finding a living person?

Some working dogs are retired due to behavioral problems from PTSD or anxiety, and ever more pet dogs suffer from anxiety-related problems.

Our dogs' mental and emotional health is vital because psychological trauma and anxiety also affect the body.

After all, paying attention to our emotions is easier when we are free from pain and tension accumulated in the body. VetHealth oil reduces psychological stress without side effects! Over time, it helps with anxiety and seasonal horrors, such as thunderstorms or fireworks.

As a result, with our product, your pets become mentally relaxed and physically healthier.

Your VetHealth

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