Pain Can Look Like Behaviour
Behaviour and health cannot be separated. A dog cannot learn comfortably while their body is asking for help. A sudden behaviour change should be treated as possible health information until a vet has helped rule out a medical cause.
Behavioural presentations of pain
Pain can show as irritability, growling, withdrawal, reduced tolerance, night waking, pacing, panting, reluctance to move, slower rising, refusing stairs or jumping into a car, difficulty settling, changed posture, reduced play, lowered appetite, house-soiling, sudden reactivity, sensitivity to touch or changed gait.
German Shepherd-relevant examples
Hip discomfort, elbow discomfort, osteoarthritis, lumbosacral or spinal pain, dental pain, ear pain, skin irritation, gastrointestinal discomfort and neurological change can all present as behaviour.
Do not diagnose a condition from behaviour. A sudden behaviour change should be treated as possible health information until veterinary assessment has helped rule out a medical cause.
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