A sick pet tells you. You see it in their appetite, in their movement, in their desire to hide. But the first signals are much more quiet. Small changes in the way they behave, in the way they sit, in the way they move through a day; these little clues can alert you to pain or stress months or even years before a big problem surfaces.
Taking forever to finish meals
The pet is hungry and still it’s a chore to get through a meal. A pet may eat slowly with pauses when they feel pain in their mouth, jaw or throat. They’ll stop and walk away then return. The prolonged time between starting and finishing meals causes people to overlook any differences that occur.
Standing up, then lying right back down
This movement doesn’t mean your pet is bored or restless. It’s how animals react when something feels “off” in their body. A little pressure, queasiness or pain doesn’t let them settle. So they keep rising and falling again and again until they feel comfortable.
Sudden tolerance to touch or restraint
I’ve noticed when I pick my doggies up and they don’t wiggle and squirm and protest. When they just stand or sit there and don’t seem to want me to put them down, it’s not just a new mood of tranquility. More often, it’s a hint that something’s bothering them. They have pain, or weakness, or some health thing they can’t communicate to me.
Sleeping more, but waking up tired or restless
Some pets could be constantly tossing and turning, wandering around at night, or experiencing difficulty to fall asleep and get a proper good night’s rest. If your pet has been suffering from chronic pain, stress or some other chronic illness, it may be preventing them from reaching that deep sleep where they can feel restored.
Losing interest in guarding their favorite things
Occasionally pets lose interest in toys, food dishes and territorial “staking.” They have not become more mellow or mature overnight. They just don’t have enough energy (from pain, stress or illness) to bother. Limited energy forces pets to place less importance on defending their possessions. This is one of the earliest subtle signs of internal problems.
Licking the air or snapping at nothing
We see this one and it looks weird. So we just brush it off. But it’s almost never random. Unexplained mouth movements such as snapping or licking at the air can occur because your pet’s internal body signals demand it. It’s the coming and going of it that matters.
Following you only at certain times
Your pet is communicating with you in this late-night/early-morning behavior. When everyone is asleep or in their rooms, discomfort can feel more acute. Remaining near you is a way of managing that discomfort. It’s about timing, not sentiment.
Reacting late to familiar sounds
I have noticed at times that my dogs will have a delayed response to noises or sounds that they would normally instantly be aware of. It’s not that they did not hear me, because they obviously did, but that their body may be taking some time to respond. Pain, stress or internal discomfort can be a reason for this.
Slacking on grooming
The coat gets a bit drabby, the nails get a little long, and it’s obvious the dog’s either not very active or just not maintaining themselves like they used to. It’s not because they’re lazy or old, it’s because pain, stiffness, or just plain feeling yucky makes grooming an ordeal. You notice it subtly, before you notice much else wrong.
Sitting or lying in a twisted position
Your dog or cat may curl up in a bent-over position, or perch sideways in their chair. They may sit on one side with their head leaning to one side and their rear end to the other. It’s a little difficult to describe, but it is not uncommon for a dog or cat to be compensating for a tender area by trying to shift their weight off it. Pain can be insidious and not always so obvious with grumbling, limping, or howling. Changes in body posture can be some of the first clues.
Laying on tile or concrete or the bathtub floor
Pets tend to shift suddenly from all of their favorite napping places to just lounging on a cool surface. Tiles, concrete and even the bathtub can make them feel so much better when their muscles are aching or when they have an upset tummy. It’s a common symptom and can be an early indication that something is bothering them.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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